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TOGETHER    WITH 


PORTRAITS   AND    BIOGRAPHIES    OF    ALL    THE    GOVERNORS    OF    ILLINOIS, 
AND    OF    THE    RESIDENTS    OF    TIIE  ""UNITED    STATES. 


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ALSO  CONTAINING   A   HISTORY   OF  THE   COUNTT,  FROM  ITS  EARLIEST  SETTLEMENT 

TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 


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HAVE  completed  our  labors  in  writing  and  compiling  the  Portrait  and  Bio- 
graphical Album  of  this  county,  and  wish,  in  presenting  it  to  our  patrons,  to  speak 
briefly  of  the  importance  of  local  works  of  this  nature.  It  is  certainly  the  duty 
of  the  present  to  commemorate  the  past,  to  perpetuate  the  names  of  the  pioneers, 
to  furnish  a  record  of  their  early  settlement,  and  to  relate  the  story  of  their  progress. 
The  civilization  of  our  day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age,  and  this  solemn  duty  which 
men  of  the  present  lime  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to  themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives  and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  local  history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to  enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and  to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a  safe 
vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the  people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  region  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly  the  noble  men,  who  in  their  vigor  and  prime 
came  early  to  the  county  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their  heiitage,  are  passing  to  their 
graves.  The  number  remaining  who  can  relate  the  history  of  the  first  days  of  settlement  is 
becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an  actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preservation  of  his- 
torical matter  without  delay,  before  the  settlers  of  the  wilderness  are  cut  down  by  time.  Not  only 
is  it  of  the  greatest  importance  to  render  history  of  pioneer  times  full  and  accurate,  but  it  is  also  essen- 
tial that  the  history  of  the  county,  from  its  settlement  to  the  present  day,  should  be  treated  through  its  various 
phases,  so  that  a  record,  complete  and  impartial,  may  be  handed  down  to  the  future.  The  present  the  age 
of  progress,  is  reviewed,  standing  out  in  bold  relief  over  the  quiet,  unostentatious  olden  times;  itis  abrilliant 
record,  which  is  destined  to  live  in  the  future;  the  good  works  of  men,  their  magnificent  enterprises,  iheii 
lives,  whether  commercial  or  military,  do  not  sink  into  oblivion,  but,  on  the  contrary,  grow  brighter  with  age, 
and  contribute  to  build  up  a  record  which  carries  with  it  precedents  and  principles  that  will  1  e  advanced  and 
observed  when  the  acts  of  soulless  men  will  be  forgotten  and  their  very  names  hidden  in  obscurity. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  personal  sketches  contained  in  this  volume,  unusual  care  and  pains  were 
taken  to  have  them  accurate,  even  in  the  smallest  detail  Indeed,  nothing  was  passed  lightly  over  or  treated 
indifferently;  and  we  flatter  ourselves  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  accurate  works  of  its  nature  ever  published. 
As  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  work,  we  present  the  portraits  of  numerous  represent- 
ative citizens.  It  has  been  our  aim  to  have  the  prominent  men  of  to-day,  as  well  as  the  pioneers,  represented 
in  this  department ;  and  we  congratulate  ourselves  on  the  uniformly  high  character  of  the  gentlemen  whose 
portraits  we  present.  They  are  in  the  strictest  sense  representative  men,  and  are  selected  from  all  the  call- 
ings and  professions  worthy  to  be  given.  There  are  others,  it  is  true,  who  claim  equal  prominence  with 
those  given;  but  of  course  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  give  portraits  of  all  the  leading  men  and  pioneers 
of  the  county.  We  are  under  great  obligation  to  many  of  the  noble  and  generous  people  of  this  county 
for  kindly  and  material  assistance  in   the  preparation  of  this  Album. 


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33  OB  BE  WASllIPJBTD^, 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
¥)  born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
i  Feb.  22,  1732.  His  parents 
were  Augustine  and  Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and  became  a  prosperous 
planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
Lawrence  and  John.  The 
former  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  three  children,  John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,   when    he    received    private     instruction    in 


lathematics. 


r  *  ^  -    * 


His    spelling   was   rather   defective. 

=^11 II 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physical 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  14  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  \ .  i\ 
essential  to  him.  In  1 75  r,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinvviddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  lo  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  bv  Indians.     The 


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trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says:  "I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
of  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia,Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  lo  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country- 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever)'  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  17S3,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February,  17S9,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  Man  h, 
1797,  at  the  expiratbn  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  1 2,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tall,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


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S^SSJe  . 


OHN    ADAMS,     the     second 
President  and  the    first    Vice- 
'President  of  the  United  States, 
was   born   in  Braintree    ( now 
Quincy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
w  miles   from    Boston,    Oct.    19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,   emigrated    from    England 
about  1 640,  with  a  family  of   eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents   of  John    were   John    and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.     His 
father   was    a    farmer    of    limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.      He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion   at    Harvard    College.      John 
graduated  in  1755,  and   at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in   Worcester,  Mass.      This  he  found  but    a 
"school   of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in   addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.     For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.     He 
had   thought    seriously   of    the    clerical    profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cils, of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature," 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been   a  witness  in 
his  native  town.       Pie  was   well   fitted   for  the    legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.     He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.     Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (1765),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
-    tion  turned  him  from  law  to  politics.     He  took  initial 
Y  steps  toward  holding  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  popular 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  five 
appointed  June  n,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  the 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says, "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  will 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God.     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  shows. 


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JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
he»e  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  seethe 
ra  ^  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
Wjtth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  pioposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  still  drooping  anddespond- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,hemade  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

While   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
class  of  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  r824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  In- 
dependence forever."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"  Tefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests,was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


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THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


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HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
born  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
jSpwell,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obode  of  fashion 
and  splendor.  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences, that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard'  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  lie  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action; 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  In 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776.     What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


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THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


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>>  man — what  the  emotions   that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the   wrongs  of 
•'America,  ivas  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
[    soverign  and  independent.     It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
»^of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In    1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected   successor   to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.   At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monticello,  to  capture  the  Governor.     Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
.-'  ferson  and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.     His  wife's   health,  never 
^  very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
'in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  yerrs  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  ^89,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  r,  1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
IN.  1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
aand  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
^ition  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
^tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
'yspiracy  of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
.to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
)  military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.     For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in   offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service   of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which   his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in   March,  1809,  he  b'd  fare- 
:  'well  forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticelio. 
Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
A-j.  families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
I  fathers   and   mothers,   boys   and    girls,    babies    and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,   for  years,   resembled   that   at   a 


fashionable  watering-place. 


The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver 


sary  of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer, 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  airof  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life !  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom  ;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  tiie  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


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FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


»3JIEQB8  IIPDISOI}. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
g  of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
"W  President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
/^&  June  28,  1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great   republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called    to   his    eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
es! pie  and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
18  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  177  1,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subse- 
quent career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election  ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the    Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;    and  their  appreciation  of  his 


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JAMES  MADISON. 


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intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
'  Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia   Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
earned  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar   society 

t  which  lias  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 
Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destroyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat ;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  iSth  of  June,  18  r  2,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  T813,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infant 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
r8t3,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
ditator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  18 15,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1ST7,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  r836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


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AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
President  of  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
4>  of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry ;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy- 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp ;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served,  as  a  volun- 
teer, during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


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JAMES  MONROE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen    a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United'  States. 

Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
thinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  party, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
lames  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured.  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  years.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  of 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the    "  Monroe  doctrine.'' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  T823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  Vork  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.     In  that  city  he  died,on  the  4th  of  July,  1831. 


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SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


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1       20m  QUI1)6Y  P^EQS.      1 

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.   OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
m  sixth  President  of  the  United 


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y   home   of  his 


born  in  the   rural 
honored   father, 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass., 
k    on  the  i  ith  cf  July,  1767.  His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the   almost    constant    ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When    but 
eight  years  of  age,  he   stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  nattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
John  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  study;  then  accompained  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  178T,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
whiter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.   Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  r7 82,  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the- most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent; 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings, 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After 
a  short  visit  to  England  lie  returned  to  Paris,  and 
'consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive; 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Great  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  in 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Berlin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  London; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  the 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 


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JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


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He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  '  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations  ;  while  he 
kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  181 9,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
1 8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty-one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
the  past  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams ;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle'  for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"  the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination ; 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  even' night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prayer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2 1st  of  February,  T848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of earth  /'then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "  /  am  content. "  These  were  the 
last   words  of    the    grand    "Old    Man    Eloquent." 


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NDREW  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  C, 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
blow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
diiabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  in   obtaining   their  exchange, 

S&&U 3*^ — ^^n  n ' 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illness 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  such  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
with  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack- 
son was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress   then    held  its 


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sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offeied  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
?  in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
2  expedition  reached  Natchez  ;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
.  the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
)  devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
1  army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men,  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
■J  days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
,  Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1S14.     The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow- 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands/;aine  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola, landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault.  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  TS24, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's  life   were   that   of  a   devoted  Christian    man. 


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ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July   24,    1862.      His 
body   rests  in   the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite   shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up   on   one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  six  years  in  an  office  in  his   native  village, 

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he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him, 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  the 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  the 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mr. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  181 2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1S15,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  had 


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MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  182 1  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
the  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
"State  Rights"'  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion ;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  'Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

§When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused    to   ratify  the  nomination,    and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled ;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson ;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu- 
tive. On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in- 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1S48, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  part)',  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald, 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  T862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


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NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


51 


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ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth  President  of 
the   United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and   John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice  re-elected.  His  son, 
William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 
in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
then  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


H4E!! 

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dent  Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  "  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap- 
pointed by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  Oneof  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrison 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  About 


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52 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
an  orator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator :  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompanied  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
ous yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned  :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore   them,    and    completely    routing    the    foe. 


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Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  theCan- 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.     His  whole   baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the    Thames;  was    carried    in    a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.      Thirty-five  Britisli  officers,   .' 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle.    : 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted  "■ 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1 819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re-nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen.  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
■more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisy-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States, 


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He  was  bom  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and   Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted   him- 
self with   great    assiduity  to    the 
study    of    law,    partly    with     his 
father    and    partly  with    Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
I  et  of  the  court  in  which   he  was 

not  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
"'.■  Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was    elected 

a  member  of  Congress.     Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 

,;  ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 

n^,  bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 


ment, a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.  His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 
John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.     There  was  a  split  in  the   Democratic 


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party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder ;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Hanisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  North:  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommended  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.      He   suggested,   however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Potts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,   he   was  taken    sick   and  soon   died. 


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|  AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 

^President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C,  Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 
ents were   Samuel   and    Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1S06,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  famly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


fey 


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sedentary  life,  got  a   situation   for   him   behind    the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With  ' 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed  : 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half  ! 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore  ] 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel  » 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of  ■ 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished    morals,   genial   and    > 


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JAMES  K.  POLK. 


,  courteous  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
g  nature  in  the  jo)  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 


.  him  troops  of  friends 


In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
U  Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 
In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous  ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
)  ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

;.  During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
>>  Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
=  and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
jfe  formed  his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
=  ti«n,  and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
y  March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
J1  Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
*  to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,    President    Polk   urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with   the 
,  other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


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with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  war 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  ''observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion,"  was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Ml.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1S49,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr.  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge— was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.     This   he   contracted, 


and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fifty-fourth 


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TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
^  President  of  the  United  States, 
$)  was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
is  father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  Lis 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1S0S,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  18 12,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
led  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


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company  of  infantry  numbering 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely  ; 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before  * 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips  ( 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor  was  placed  /' 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.     He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox    River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.     Here   there  was  but  little   ) 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one   \ 
best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in-  < 

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ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


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tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black-Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
had  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
here  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  sucli  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
spread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
their  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose   name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short, 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortable,  labor- 
saving  contempt   for  learning  of  every  kind." 


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ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth President  of  the  United 


States,    was  born   at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,   N.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances.    Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it   has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and   ex- 
quisite sensibilities.      She   died   in 
1 83 1 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
'         young  man   of  distinguished    prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 

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enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate ; 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
r.o  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halls 
and  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means  as 


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MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1S23,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail   Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degree  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress.  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  r837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  strength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
vere  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he   was   elected  Comptroller   of    the   State. 

— ^^ — sA^nns 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con-  •? 
siderable  fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi-  » a 
dent  at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesof  Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,    1850,  President  Taylor,   but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura-  J 
tion,  was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.     By  the  Con-  _J 
stitution,  Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi-  - 
dent.      He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State.   - 

Mr.  Fillmore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contends 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation,  j 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The  », 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more, having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.     After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.     During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.     It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en-  1 
deavoring  to  overthrow  our  institutions.      President    I 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from   the   conflict,  without   any  ;> 
Cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.     He  lived  to   a   ripe    - 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,    1874.  -] 


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RANKLIN     PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth    President  of  the 
I*  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,    who, 
with   his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a   home   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though    uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.     He  won    alike    the 
p  love  of  old  and  young.     The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
|  loved  him.     His  teachers  loved  him.     The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.      He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing   kind  deeds,  with    a   peculiar   unstudied   tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.     Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
*  devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in    body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the   year    1820,    he 

entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me.   He  was 

£  one  of  the  most  popular  young  men    in  the  college. 

The    purity   of  his   moral  character,  the    unvarying 


^ 


courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,   and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  years.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied.    Of  the 


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three  sons  who  were  born  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States ;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States   on   the  4th  of  March,    1853. 

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His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict  "  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years1  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slaver)-  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slaver)'  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al-  - 
leviation  of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 


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AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
ILteenth  President  of  the  United 
*  States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
.  eastern  ridge  of  the  Allesha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The -lace 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  was  called  Stony 
Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers    en- 


abled  him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  with 
facility. 

In  the  year  1S09,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in' the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  for 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  aO 
quired  an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri- . 


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JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the    payment    of  our 

claims  against  that  country;  and  defended  the  course 

\)  of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 

removal  from  office  of  those  who  were    not  the  sup- 

I    porters  of  his  administration.     Upon  this  question  he 

was  brought  into   direct  collision    with   Henry   Clay. 

r^He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated   expunging 

from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the   vote  of  censure 

against    Gen.    Jackson    for    removing    the    deposits. 

Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in    the 

District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 

circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 

States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
Hhe  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
>the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
'  ^territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
^of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
^account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
^movement 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
'  ^the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
1  to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1S50, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  r85 6,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
ceived r  14  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  r, 224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March  4th,  1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 
Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
;•  years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered.    He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples, consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws, 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic.    He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword-hilt,  he  exclaimed,  "The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston;  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion. 
He  died  at  His   Wheatland   retreat,   June    1,    1868, 


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SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


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BRAHAM    LINCOLN, 
sixteenth    President     of 
United   States,   was   born 
Hardin    Co.,  Ky.,    Feb. 
1S09.     About  the  year  1 7  S 


the 
the 
in 
12, 
o,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
**  Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  built  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"All  lhat  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated  f 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teacli  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few  ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family  ( 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and  ^ 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister  a 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  e 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr. 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830,  = 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for-  • 
tune.  Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education,  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.      In  this   adven- 


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So 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLX. 


«5T 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon 
his  return  they  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
[ackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  T>f  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  lie 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1 S34  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
waiked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
begin  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandaha,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1S39  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1S56,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher   prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  16th  of  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
orominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
and  aslittle  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  1S0 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  upon   this    good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any' other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  frought 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to  "get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people. 
In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  lie 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1S61,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  be  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witli  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  his  country- 
men being  unable   to  decide    which  is    the   greater. 


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SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


kV\>f  D:R fl^W  MKCCM!:^  (1 


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NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
was  born  December  29,  180S, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.     The  owner, 

Nttj,  /«Xi\  jffl^  • — «.      A.    /'riH 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  on- 
ward laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos- 
sessed some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature, 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  those 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  responsible  posi- 
tions, lie  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abil- 


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ANDRE  W  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  free  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston-Baltimore  convention  of  i860,  he 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
ern Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.  In 
1 8 64,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15, 
1S65,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  *  The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1S68,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the    trial   began    March   23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotently, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  a.m.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August. 


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LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
J|  eighteenth  President  of  the 
H* United  States,  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
he  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  animal,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent, with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant   re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an   immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion   to    Fort   Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants.    Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.    He  had  but 
little  skill  as    a  farmer.      Finding  his    toil    not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at   Ga- 
lena, 111.     This  was  in  the  year  i860.    As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of    Capt.   Grant  in    his   counting-room,    he   said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.    I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too. " 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.  *  On  the  15th  of 


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June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
district  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
pushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &:  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the~ 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
whichmet  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being   cast   for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States.  It 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  his  modest,  courteous,  and 
dignified  demeanor  in  the  presence  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  in  the  different  nations  in  the  world, 
reflected  honor  upon  the  Republic  which  he  so  long 
and  so  faithfully  served.  The  country  felt  a  great 
pride  in  his  reception.  Upon  his  arrival  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, Sept.  20,  1S79,  the  city  authorities  gave  him  a 
fine  reception.  After  lingering  in  the  Golden  State 
for  a  while,  he  began  his  tour  through  the  States, 
which  extended  North  and  South,  even- where  mark- 
ed  by   great    acclamation    and    splendid    ovations. 


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RUTHERFORD  B,  HAYES. 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune overtaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  was  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
lied  Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  and  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  NewHaven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes,   the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


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born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  18 13,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  o'f  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious, 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  i8r2,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day, 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter- 
mined to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son, of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


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RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


'    subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble   at  birth   that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a   month  or  two   at 


most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
him,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right!  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "You 
wait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of   his   character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  bat  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
;  Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,3!  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in    1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1 S45,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
i  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  as  Chief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


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Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many- 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood. The  Literary  Club  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness'  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  ;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1S61,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious. 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "forgallant  and  distinguished  fervices 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in   187^. 

In  1S76  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hewever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  one. 


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AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    19, 
1S31,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His    par- 
Jj\f^/     ents  were  Abram  and    Eliza 
AV^y^C  (Ballou)    Garfield,   both   of  New 
WrS      England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 


fe  tory  of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
fflbSft  try,  but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
<yLf     Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
was  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
tween the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
hard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
their  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
James.  In  May,  1S23,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
tracted in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
tell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  brother's 
toil  and  self-sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  her  struggles  to  keep  the  little   family  to- 


gether.  Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor, 
the  humblest  fiiend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simpie,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  he 
was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtain 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city. 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
home,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way. 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams'College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  stated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion  : 


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JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  love  our  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  186 1  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  i86r.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  history  of  Gen,  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gen.  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men— Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  18S0. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  rS8i,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Blaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed 


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HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

twenty-first    President   of  the 

United   States,   was    born    in 

Franklin  County,  Vermont,  on 

thefifthof  October,  1830,  and  is 

the  oldest   of  a   family    of  two 

sons  and   five   daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  who 

emigrated  to  this  country  from 

the  county  Antrim,   Ireland,    in 

his  18th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 

Newton  ville,   near  Albany,   after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  Schenectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  married  the  daughter   of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomination  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon- 
athan Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs. 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  Genera] 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and   the  other  car  companies  quickly 


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followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  York,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
was  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


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tions  were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  ]»sition  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  never 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York, 
Sept.  20,  i88r.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all  ^ 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se-  1 
lect  as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been  * 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of  ^ 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so  i 
wisely  that  but  few  criticised  his  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity  (£• 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo-  ■ 
pie,  whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself.  ^ 


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TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty-second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "  good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most   I 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an   academy.     To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.     Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become    self-supporting    by    the    quickest   possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in   Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father    ; 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable    ' 
influence.    Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $ioo  the  second  year.     Here  the  lad  com-   ' 
menced  his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired   to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.     Otherwise   he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of   genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.     He  was  simply  a  good  boy.  \ 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette-  0 
ville,  he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high    school.     Here    he    industriously  pursued    his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.     At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.     This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a  rt 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.     He  taught  faithfully  for  two  ^ 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in  ( 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


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5.    GROVER   CLEVELAND 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
ask  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  "  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
the  old  gentleman;  "do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"    "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 

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any. 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "  look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  them  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Graver's  persistency  won,  and 
he  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Graver  out  of  his  plans  ; 
but  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
elected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  1881  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning  contract :  "  This  is  a  time  for 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos'.  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
ir,  18S4,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.;  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Yilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


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HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  as  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
1812,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 


Territory.      In   company    with   John   G.    Comyges 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W. 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6, 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  18 18,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros- 
ecuting attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was    honored  by   the   naming  of  a 


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county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  S,.ate,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "  internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Kent  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  famous  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  1818  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and  de- 


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clared  that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State  " 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
10  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution ; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole,  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bestowment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islalure,  with  Wm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position,  a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap-  ' 
preciation  of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  11,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 

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DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
iSo7,ashort  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Win.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.     He   read    every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  the  non-slaveholding  portion  of  the  Union  he  would 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the   Emperor   (Alex- 


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ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  desciibed  in  his  own  language  : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsville, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  quesiion  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
Browne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  which  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution ;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cams  to  this  country  with  Wm.   Penn  in    1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


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,  INIAN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
from  1827  to  1830,  was  a  sou 
of  Benjamin    Edwards,  and 
was     born    in    Montgomery 
j/o  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
1775.     His  domestic  train- 
ing was  well  fitted  to  give 
his   mind    strength,  firmness  and 
honorable    principles,    and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to   which    he  afterwards 
attained.     His    parents   were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
principles.     His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company   with    and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wm. 
Wirt,  whom  his   father  patronized, 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.      An     intimacy    was     thus 
formed  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.     He 
was  further  educated  at   Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.     He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before   completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm   for  his  father  and  to 
purcjiase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.     Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.     He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
County  before  he  was  2 1  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age  !  In  addition,  in 
r8o2,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  r8o4  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  1  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal 


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vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  r8ro  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  tSt2,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  years 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
i8t2,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  T8T5  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
seriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  T821,  but  was 
persuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Win.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
the  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
this  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
actor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victor}' 
for  his  par*y  in  1824. 

In  1826-7  tne  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soue  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  lands 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "  Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-Vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  was  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
r8o3,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  well 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield. 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  1S09  to  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date   at   Belleville,   St.  Clair   County,  until  his 


death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.     Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


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:^:OHN  REYNOLDS,  Governor  1831- 
4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
posed to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.     In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  20th  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himself 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville !  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
goii\g  through  the  principal  Latin  authors ;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social   intercourse. 


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From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  181 2, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1 814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
judicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
of  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
the  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  recemmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
it  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
and  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
he  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
days  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


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sentially  adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex-Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "My  Own  Times"  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord' ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  i860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


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[LLIAM    LEE    D.    EWING, 

Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
'■k$  to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Moneys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
this  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
were  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
at  the  present  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
robbed,  rjy  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
he  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
when  it  was  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  and  his  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
subordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  19th  of 
July,   early  in  the   morning,   five   baggage    wagons, 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  the  worst  thickets;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skins  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


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WILLIAM  L.  D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "General,"  which  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Charles  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  17th  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  17th  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor ;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
was  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes,  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie  ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Auditor  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.    He  died  March  25,  1846. 


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OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
he  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
As  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  military  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


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obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr. 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  pergonal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete ;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


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sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
had  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
against  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
he  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
mainly  to  banks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
rupted the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
these  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  one  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public  ; 
but  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
for  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve- 
ments were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
placed  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  than  half  enough !  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000  !  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,   even  counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
in  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
joy  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
term  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


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^pJ|pHOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
18,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
to  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  18 10. 

In  18 1 2  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri, where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
rollton,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill   the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 

While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times  "  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Carlin 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573 ;  Ander- 
son, 30,335;  Edwards,  29,629;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

7i.S- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  (Duncan)  in   his  mes- 


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sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  §4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Chicago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scates,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  not  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ng  to  the  New  Testament — that   they  should   have 


"all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  to 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  T841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


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JHOMAS    FORD,     Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a    very   interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at   Uniontown,  Pa.,  in    the 
year  1  Soo.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.     She  was  conse- 
quently  left   in   indigent    circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
'j^Sv    girls.     With  a  view   to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
'^fir  tomary   by   the   Spanish   Govern- 

ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi  bluffs.     Here   young   Ford    received    his  first 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.     Through  the  advice  of 


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this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,^nd  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  Dower  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
sound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
the  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
administration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
the  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
to  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the    notorious  "internal  improvement"   schemes   of 


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the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  to 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
theirleader,  Jo  Smith, by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  non-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  successor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


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143 


Augustus  c.  French. 


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jUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846  to  1852,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Hill,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  16S7  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction from  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school  afforded.  For  a 
brief  period  he  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scates, 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Win.  McMurtry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election ;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152    votes. 


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AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first    Lieutenant   Governor),   4,748    for   Charles    V. 


Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1S48.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  lime,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1S39,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 

— =*©^ — ^-^raiif^ 


In  1S49  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  185  1.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions. 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  there  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project ;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his 
tory  of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to 
pletion,  which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 


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In  1851  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con-; 
victions  of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St. 
Clair  Co.,  111. 


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:OEL  A.  MATTESON,  Governor 
fe*  1853-6,  was  born  Aug.  S,  1808, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  Au 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
three  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.     His   family  was  boarded   12 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  daring  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  lie  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apportionment,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however, 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


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JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


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greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $r, 600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross,  of  Fulton  ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
virtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


■^^^    Q/^nngnii&A^ — ^c^ 


gress,  under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "Anti-Nebraska"  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  few  ballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,079  to  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3,000  ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He  died  in   tiye  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


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GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


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ILLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
1  April  25,  181  r,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
w  ho  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
le  but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local   notoriety.     It  soon  came  to  be  under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


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of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1S40, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1 846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote,— 7807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  up 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.     The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
implicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.     (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned,  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
i860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  his 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  had  been  a  member  since  1854. 


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GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


V 


%  ;i  ^fe'Mi  fiOHN  WOOD,  Governor  1 860-1,  and 
the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  languages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  nis  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown. 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  ^he  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1821  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


18  x  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  yet 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  a 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male  residents  and  half 


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that  number  of  females.  Since  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  i860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  i860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nauon  from  destruction.  ( 

In  186 1  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the    Rebellion,   he    was    appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  137th  m-  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married,— first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughterof  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


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GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


4- 


HCHARD  YATES,  the   "War 
Governor,"  1 86 1-4,  was  born 
Jan.  18,  1818,  on  the  banks  of 
the   Ohio   River,   at    Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.     His  father 
^  moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  and 
after   stopping   for   a   time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at   Island 
Grove,    Sangamon   County.      Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.    Subsequently  he  entered 
t  V^tt?  Illinois     College     at      Jacksonville, 

JlW?£1l*  where,   in    1837,  he  graduated  with 

first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West,  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
the  party  of  his  idol.  In  1 840  he  engaged  with  great 
ardor  in  the  exciting  "  hard  cider  "  campaign  for 
Harrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
tory that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
north  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
the  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
ular man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
beaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


h s^s — %^mw&*& — ^ 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  was 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates'  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  i860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.    Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the   State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.     Francis  A. 
Hoffman,   of  DuPage   County,    was    nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.     This  was  the   year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for   President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated   J.   C.   Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and   Lewis  W.  Ross, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.     The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.     After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the    election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and   Mr.   Allen   159,253.     Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 
Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


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RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battleof 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism  ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
the  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
had  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  sine  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !"  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — -Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  27th  of  November  following. 


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^"/nUCHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in   1872  and    1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky., — the   State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."     Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early   education 
was   neglected.     When    12   years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he    removed    with   an   uncle,  Willis 

t-  ^>J[  Oglesby,   into    whose   care    he    had 

been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  lie  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


prenticeship  as 


pany  of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  .for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  i860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


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RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


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mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gallantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1S63  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  16th  Army- 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeort  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  returned  home. 

The  Republican,  or  Union,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,  May  25,  when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon, and  John  M.  Palmer,  of  Macoupin.  Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.  On  the  Democratic  State  ticket  were 
James  C.  Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.  The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  the  Legislature  and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  T865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the  election  of  ex-Gov.  Yates  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  r3th 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.  This  session  also  signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  181 9.  Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature. But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,  granted  in  1S59  for  25  years,  and  now 
sought  to  be  extended  99  years.  As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt  to  check  their  headlong  career.  At  this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless  we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867  was  still  more  productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.  Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proposed,  and  some  passed.  The  contests  over  the 
location  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


5 


Southern  Penitentiary,  and  the  canal  enlargement 
and  Illinois  River  improvement,  dominated  every- 
thing else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  if 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35'334  t0  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1879,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1S84  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "  third  term "  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  '.'stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  joint 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  i5,or8  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  jovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost ;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure. 


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jjOHN  Mc  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
Ikv**  ernor  1869-72,  was  bom  on 
Eagle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  18 1 7.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
',  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  181 2,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
i»  and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
eaily  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
18  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 
During    the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 


quaintance of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then  making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  In 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slavery 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op- 
position to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise; 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  party 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  the 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.     A    few    weeks   afterward, 


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JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the  ^United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  i860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
14th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  14th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
persistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  f  jr 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "  tax-grabbing  law  "  to  pay  railroad  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  187  t,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles. 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principles 
of  statesmanship. 


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OHN   LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE,  Governor  187  3-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July    6,    1824.      His   parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge.     His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore  their    marriage    emigrated 
from    Scotland  just   before   the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling   in 
Washington  County.    His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.     His    mother's   parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
jy  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "  was 
the  wild  ocean.     His  parents   and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.     They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate  Church,"   a    seceding    Presbyterian    body    of 


4— 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  19th 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  18th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  njt  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40   in  money   started    South    to  seek    his  fortune. 


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JOHN  L.  BEVERIDGE. 


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Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, T847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  it,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days' 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  anothercom- 
pany,  against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  17  th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1S66  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 187 1,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  2t,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large,  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge's  administration  were : 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "Haines"  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov. 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1881,  he  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer :  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


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V  HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1S77— 83,  is  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  [being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 
*873- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Within  this  time, 
however,  he  spent   several   months  teaching  school, 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  lie  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  Peoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  Anti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1S56  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.    Practicing 


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law  until  i  S6o,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  }  oungest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1861,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  party 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Charles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.     He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1S64  he  entered  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4  103  !  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories  ■ 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25. 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed    in    nomination   Lewis   Steward,    a  wealthy 


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farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  1S81.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  of  law  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field ;  and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1S55,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


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OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  VVm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMorris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
21  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  the  land  and 
making  a  comfortable  home.     John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Mu»h  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to"  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  i860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  ne 
attended  an  academy  at   Henry,   Marshall  County, 


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JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


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and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  141st  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  100-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 

The  following  winter,  1864-5,  Mr.  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  18S3,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
oi~  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  187  1.  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  Wm.  G,  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1S76  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  olde^ 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  "  on  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 

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elect  John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  against  so 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peni- 
tentiary, which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President  pro  tern. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  rSSo,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  r883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 
1884.  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 
r885,  when  the  great  favorite  "  Dick  "  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


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jJ,HE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  lo  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
of  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
The  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements. 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-budders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  ot  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  lives 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


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OLONEL  GEORGE  DAV- 
ENPORT was  the  first  white 
man  to  make  a  permanent 
settlement  in  what  is  now 
Rock  Island  County,  arriv- 
..V- v/W  v  ing    here    in    the    spring   of 

'.   e        «  :      1 S 1 6.      He   was  a    native  "I    England, 
■^ .'^  ® <:-J) '     born  in   Lincolnshire,  in  1783.      At  the 


age  of   17    he  enlisted   as  a  sailor  on  a 
,\  ■.©:' '"'■  S  '     merchant  vessel,  and,  foi  the  next  three 


t^I^iSl  years,  he  visited  France,  Spain  and 
j^ijf^.       Portugal.       In    the    fall    of    1S03,    his 

-£f ¥&?"*•  vessel  sailed  from  Liverpool  to  St. 
rj&i,1,  Petersburg,  Russia,  and  shortly  after 
its  arrival  there  an  embargo  was  laid 
upon  all  English  vessels  in  that  port,  the  vessels 
taken  possession  of  and  their  crews  thrown  into 
prison  by  the  Russian  government.  In  the  follow- 
ing spring  they  were  released  and  returned  iiome. 
The  next  voyage  was  to  New  York,  in  the  summer 
of  1804,  where  they  arrived  in  safety.  After  dis- 
charging their  cargo  and  taking  another  on  board 
for  Liverpool,  as  the  vessel  was  upon  the  point  of 
sailing,  one  of  the  sailors  was  knocked  overboard. 
Mr.  Davenport  quickly  jumped  into  a  small  boat  and 
rescued  him.  In  jumping  into  the  boat  he  fractured 
his  leg  very  badly,  and,  there  being  no  surgeon  on 
board,  the  captain  had  him  taken  to  the  city  and 
placed  in  a  hospital,  returning  without  him.  After 
remaining  in  the  hospital  about  two  months,  he  was 
advised  to  go  into  the  country  to  recruit  his  health. 
Acting  upon  this  advice,  he  went  to  Rahway,  N.  J., 


and  subsequently  to  Carlisle,  Pa.,  where  he  after- 
ward enlisted  in  the  regular  army. 

In  the  spring  of  1806,  he  went  with  his  regiment 
to  New  Orleans,  and  in  the  fall  received  orders  to 
march  to  Sabine  River.  While  there,  he  was  sent 
with  dispatches  to  Fort  Adams,  and  while  on  the 
way  his  canoe  struck  a  snag  and  he  was  upset  in 
the  river.  Clinging  to  some  drift-wood,  he  managed 
to  reach  the  shore,  and  was  then  obliged  to  strike 
across  the  country  to  the  Mississippi,  traveling  over 
swamps,  bayous  and  sloughs.  He  was  several  days 
in  reaching  the  fort,  living  upon  what  berries  and 
wild  fruit  he  could  find.  For  ten  years  he  served 
his  adopted  country  as  a  soldier,  principally  against 
the  Indians.  In  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain 
the  most  important  battle  he  was  engaged  in  was 
that  of  Lundy  Lane.  He  secured  a  British  musket 
at  this  battle,  which  is  still  kept  in  the  family  as  a 
relic  of  the  war. 

On  receiving  his  discharge  in  1815,  he  was  em- 
ployed by  Col.  Win.  Morrison,  of  Kentucky,  Govern- 
ment contractor,  to  supply  the  troops  with  provisions. 
Going  to  St.  Louis,  he  took  charge  of  several  keel- 
boats,  loaded  with  provisions.  A  large  drove  of  cat- 
tle were  also  purchased  and  driven  through  the 
country.  They  started  up  the  river  and  arrived  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Des  Moines  River  late  in  the  fall, 
and  concluded  to  stop  there  for  the  winter.  In  the 
spring  of  18 16,  in  company  with  Col.  Lawrence,  in 
command  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  United  States 
Infantry,  they  again  embarked  on  boats  and  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river.     Arriving  at  the  mouth  of  Rock 


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River,  they  examined  the  country  for  a  site  for  a 
fort,  resulting  in  the  selection  of  the  lower  end  of 
Rock  Island  as  the  most  suitable  point.  They  landed 
on  Rock  Island  May  10,  1816,  and  here  Mr.  Daven- 
port made  his  home  until  his  death.  His  residence, 
a  double  log  cabin,  was  near  the  foot  of  the  island, 
where  he  subsequently  erected  a  large  two-story 
frame  house,  a  fine  sketch  of  which  is  shown  in  this 
work. 

The  Indians  at  that  time  were  not  very  friendly  to 
the  Americans,  but  soon  took  a  fancy  to  Mr.  Daven- 
port, giving  him  the  name  of  Sag-a-nosh,  meaning 
"an  Englishman."  During  the  second  year,  with 
what  little  money  he  had  saved,  he  purchased  a 
stock  of  goods  and  began  trading  with  the  Indians. 
As  an  Indian  trader  he  was  remarkably  successful, 
securing  and  retaining  their  good  will  and  confidence, 
although  for  a  time  he  had  more  or  less  trouble  with 
the  Winnebagoes,  at  one  time  narrowly  escaping  be- 
ing massacred. 

In  1823,  the  first  steamboat — the  "  Virginia  "—ar- 
rived at  the  island,  loaded  with  provisions  for  Prairie 
du  Chien,  and  Mr.  Davenport  was  called  upon  to 
pilot  her  over  the  rapids. 

In  1825  a  postofhce  was  established  upon  the 
island,  with  Mr.  Davenport  as  Postmaster.  He  held 
the  office  until  its  removal  to  the  mam  land,  on  the 
organization  of  the  county. 

In  1827  he  visited  his  native  land,  after  an  ab- 
sence of  23  years,  returning  in  1828. 

During  this  year  the  first  settlements  were  made 
in  this  vicinity.  As  they  were  poor,  Mr.  Davenport 
furnished  many  of  them  with  provisions  and  groceries 
until  they  could  raise  a  crop.  When  the  Indians 
returned  in  the  spring  of  1829,  Mr.  Davenport  used 
all  his  influence  to  induce  them  to  remove  to  the 
west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  partially  succeeded. 
Waupello  removed  his  village  to  Muscatine  Slough, 
and  Keokuk,  with  part  of  the  Sacs,  to  the  Iowa 
River;  but  Black  Hawk  and  the  remainder  of  the 
Sacs  refused  to  go,  claiming  that  they  never  had  sold 
their  land.  During  the  Black  Hawk  War  that  fol- 
lowed, Mr.  Davenport  was  appointed  Quartermaster 
General,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel. 

On  the  organization  of  the  county,  Col.  Davenport 
was  elected  o.ie  of  the  first  County  Commissioners, 
and  served  some  two  or  three  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  in  company  with  several  others, 


he  purchased  a  claim  of  Antoine  Le  Claire,  across 
the  river  in  Iowa,  and  proceeded  to  lay  out  a  town. 
To  this  town  was  given  the  name  of  "  Davenport," 
in  his  honor. 

In  the  fall  of  1837  he  visited  Washington  City,  in 
company  with  a  number  of  chiefs  of  the  Sac  and 
Fox  nations,  and  aided  the  Government  in  the  pur- 
chase of  a  large  portion  of  Iowa.  In  1842,  Gov. 
Chambers  made  another  treaty  with  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes.  He  told  the  chiefs  to  select  any  of  their 
white  friends  they  might  choose  to  assist  them  in 
making  a  treaty.  They  selected  Col.  Davenport  as 
one  of  four.  By  this  treaty  the  Indians  sold  all  of 
their  lands  within  the  State  of  Iowa.  Shortly  after 
this,  Col.  Davenport  withdrew  from  the  Indian  trade 
and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  the  improve- 
ment of  his  property  in  Davenport  and  Rock  Island. 

"  Col.  Davenport,"  said  a  well  known  writer,  "  was 
of  a  very  free  and  generous  disposition,  very  jovial 
and  very  fond  of  company.  After  retiring  from  the 
Indian  trade,  he  spent  the  winters  generally  in  St. 
Louis  or  Washington.  Whether  traveling  on  a  steam- 
boat or  stopping  at  a  hotel,  he  would  always  have  a 
crowd  around  him  listening  to  his  stories  and  anec- 
dotes. He  never  sued  any  one  in  his  life,  and  could 
not  bear  to  see  anyone  in  distress  without  trying 
to  relieve  him.  He  enjoyed  excellent  health  and 
spirits,  and  had  the  prospect  of  living  many  years 
to  enjoy  the  comfort  for  which  he  had  toiled  so  hard 
for  many  years,  but  he  was  struck  down  by  one  of  a 
band  of  robbers,  in  his  own  house,  on  the  fourth  of 
July,  1S45.     He  died  aged  62." 

A  full  account  of  this  tragedy  will  be  found  in  the 
article  on  the  "  Courts  and  the  Bar,"  in  this  volume. 
The  life  of  Col.  Davenport  was  a  long  and  active 
one.  "Although  of  trans-Atlantic  extraction,"  says 
the  writer  already  quoted  from,  "  he  was  a  true  type 
of  the  American,  possessing  indomitable  resolution, 
a  restless  desire  to  progress,  with  an  invincible  de- 
termination to  overcome  obstacles  and  achieve  suc- 
cess. Much  as  his  cor  severance, enterprise 
and  ability  demand  admiration,  there  is  still  some- 
thing more  than  these  commanding  our  respect  and 
honor — something  which  is  more  lustrous  than 
wealth,  better  than  position  or  title  :  it  was  his  hu- 
manity !  Had  men  of  his  bias  dealt  with  Black 
Hawk  and  his  '  British  Band,'  less  gory  scalp  locks 
would  have  decked  the  belts  of  warring  savages,  less 


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blood  would  have  been  shed,  and  the  entire  fearful 
drama  of  devastation,  slaughter  and  carnage  which 
was  enacted  upon  our  frontiers  a  few  years  since, 
would  have  been  wholly  omitted.  Honor  to  his 
ashes !  He  sleeps  in  a  grave  whose  proud  epitaph 
reads,  '  Here  lies  a  friend  to  humanity!'  " 

A  portrait  of  Col.  Davenport  necessarily  occupies 
the  place  of  honor  in  this  volume.  A  view  also  of 
his  residence,  in  which  he  was  murdered  and  which 
is  preserved  as  a  relic  by  the  Government,  is  also 
given  in  this  woik. 


#-# 


fyjjiles  Nicholson,  a  pioneer  of  the  county  of 
Rock  Island  of  1842,  settled  in  the  same 
flfljsK-  vear  m  t'le  township  of  Coe.  He  lived 
'•*»%  on  the  place  and  pursued  his  agricultural 
projects  with  success  until  1S82,  when  he 
rented  the  farm  and  located  at  Port  Byron. 
He  had  previously  purchased  three  acres  of  land  on 
the  hill  which  overlooks  the  village  and  situated 
withing  the  corporate  limits.  The  location  is  one 
of  the  best  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  owner  has  erected 
good  and  suitable  buildings.  He  indulges  in  ama- 
teur farming  in  miniature  on  the  estate  which  forms 
his  homestead. 

Mr.  Nicholson  was  born  in  Lewis,  Essex  Co.,  N 
Y.,  March  4,  1S13.  His  father,  James  Nicholson, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  he  married  Edie 
Mason,  who  was  born  in  the  same  State.  After  their 
marriage  they  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York,  lo- 
cating in  Essex  County  about  1800,  where  they  were 
among  the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  element.  The 
senior  Nicholson  bought  a  tract  of  timber,  cleared  a 
farm,  and  was  its  owner  and  occupant  until  his 
death.  The  son  was  reared  through  boyhood  and 
youth  on  the  home  farm,  and  was  married  at  19  years 
of  age  to  Maria  Pierce.  She  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. Two  years  after  their  marriage  they  went  to 
the  State  of  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Cleveland.  Mr. 
Nicholson  obtained  a  situation  in  a  meat  market, 
where  he  was  occupied  two  years.  Meanwhile,  his 
true  wife  opened  a  millinery  and  dressmaking  shop, 
which  she  managed  the  same  length  of  time. 

In  1835  they  came  to  Illinois.    Mr.  Nicholson  pur- 


chased a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  and  with  his 
wife  made  the  journey  overland.  On  the  route  he 
was  seized  by  illness  of  the  character  most  dreaded 
in  those  days  by  the  emigrants  from  the  East  (chills 
and  fever),  from  which  he  suffered  for  a  long  time. 
Nearly  three  weeks  was  consumed  on  the  journey, 
and  when  they  arrived  in  Green  County  Mr.  Nichol- 
son rented  a  farm.  On  this  they  resided  until  1842, 
when  they  came  to  Rock  Island  County.  They 
reached  the  house  of  the  brother  of  Mr.  Nicholson  in 
the  month  of  July,  1842,  the  inventory  of  the  hus- 
band's possessions  being  one  wife,  two  children  and 
$[.62  in  cash  with  which  to  begin  life  in  the  West. 
His  illness  had  exhausted  the  little  fortune  which 
represented  so  much  in  a  new  and  untried  place,  but 
he  found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  employ  as  a  farm 
assistant,  and  in  September  of  the  same  year  he  ne- 
gotiated for  a  farm  of  1 20  acres  of  land,  for  which  he 
gave  his  note  and  took  a  bond  for  a  deed.  During 
the  summer  following  he  worked  at  farming  for  $1 
per  day,  and  with  the  money  earned  he  made  the 
first  payment  on  his  land.  At  the  time  of  his  pur- 
chase the  improvements  on  the  place  consisted  of  a 
small  log  structure  that  was  little  better  than  the 
style  of  abode  called  hovels  in  the  place  whence  they 
came,  standing  on  a  tract  of  ten  acres  which  had 
been  broken.  He  labored  during  the  days  for  his 
employer,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  wife  worked 
by  moonlight  and  put  in  a  crop  which  furnished  sub- 
sistence for  his  family.  He  continued  this  method  of 
operation,  and  through  good  management  and  fru- 
gality won  reasonable  success.  He  paid  for  the  first 
purchase  of  land,  and  bought  additional  tracts  ad- 
joining, until  he  is  the  owner  of  360  acres  situated  on 
sections  27,  28  and  29.  With  the  exception  of  20 
acres  his  land  is  all  under  cultivation.  It  is  fenced 
and  supplied  with  the  necessary  farm  structures. 
There  is  also  a  good  collection  of  fruit-trees  and 
small  fruits  on  the  place. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Nicholson  died  Dec.  16, 
1854,  leaving  four  children,  two  of  whom  have  fol- 
lowed the  mother  to  the  silent  land.  Duane  lives  in 
Coe  Township.  William  is  a  resident  of  the  same 
place.  Mr.  Nicholson  was  a  second  time  married, 
Dec  28,  1856,  to  Nancy  McLaughlin.  She  was  born 
in  Ireland  and  came  to  the  United  States  when  an 
infant.  Anna  M.,  wife  of  John  Christie,  of  Coe 
Township,  is  the  only  issue  of  the  second  marriage. 
Albert,   third   son   of  the    first   marriage,  was   born 


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^<9C^T  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


in  1844,  and  died  Dec.  26,  1863.  Sarah  E.,  born 
March  22,  184S,  died  Jan.  19,  rS67.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nicholson  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  political  faith  and  connections  he  is  a 
Republican. 


-•*■.- 


.  >  (     antes    Bailey,    farmer,    section    2,    Rural 

.'J;.~    Township,  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ire- 

fj&>',>        land,  Jan.  6,  1829.     He  lived  in  his  native 

%$Z    land  until  1849,  when  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 

|L      ica,   coming  directly  to   Rock  Island.     After 

i  spending  a  short  time  in  Rock  Island  and  vi- 
cinity, he  purchased  80  acres  of  land  in  Rural 
Township,  settled  upon  it  and  has  since  resided 
there,  an  exemplary  farmer  and  estimable  citizen. 
He  is  now  the  proprietor  of  240  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  has  erected  a  fine  residence.  His  place  is 
put  in  good  condition,  and  his  home  is  a  very  desir- 
able one.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views, 
and  both  himself  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church. 

Dec.  5,  1861,  is  the  date  of  his  marriage  in  Rural 
Township,  this  county,  to  Miss  Margaret,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Campbell)  VVarnock,  who  are  al- 
so natives  of  County  Down,  Ireland.  (See  sketch  of 
John  Wamock.)  Mrs.  Bailey  was  born  in  that 
county  July  7,  1 841.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  have  seven 
children,  namely:  Mary  E.,  Anna,  William  W. 
Jane,  John,  Hugh  W.  and  Ella. 


-i — <-i-^ 


ames  M.  Davis,  a  general  farmer  and  stock- 
grower,  residing  on  section  iS,  Edgington 
Township,  and  also  a  dealer  in  agricultural 
implements  at  Edgington,  is  a  son  of  Joseph  S. 
and  Hermanda  (Johnson)  Davis.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  of  Welsh 
and  German  extraction.  They  were  farmers  by  oc- 
cupation, and  were  married  in  the  Empire  State. 
After  the  birth  of  their  first  child  they  came  West, 
settling   in   Buffalo    Prairie    Township,   this    county, 


where  they  located  on  a  farm  of  120  acres.  They 
were  very  early  pioneers  to  this  county,  coming  about 
the  year  1834.  The  parents  ever  afterward  remained 
in  that  township  and  on  the  old  homestead,  respected 
and  honored  by  the  people  throughout  that  section 
of  the  county.  The  mother  was  first  to  be  called  to 
her  eternal  home,  her  death  occurring  Aug.  18,  rS8r,- 
and  the  father  died  May  1,  18S3.  Both  were  promi- 
nent in  the  early  history  of  the  county,  and  did  much 
towards  developing  the  country. 

Our  subject  was  the  youngest  but  four  of  a  family 
of  13  children,  and  was  born  in  Buffalo  Prairie 
Township,  March  2,  1S50.  He  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  and  lived  on  the  old  homestead  un- 
til his  marriage,  which  occurred  April  15,  1S72. 
Miss  A.  Martha  Spickler  was  the  lady  of  his  choice. 
She  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  12,  1850, 
and  came  with  her  parents  to  Illinois  when  a  small 
girl.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  children  :  Delos  I., 
born  Aug.  29,  1872,  and  Mary  G.,  born  Oct.  17, 
18S4.  Within  a  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Davis 
very  wisely  purchased  a  farm  on  section  18,  Edging- 
ton Township.  This  farm  consisted  of  206  acres,  all 
well  improved.  He  has  served  his  township  as  Col- 
lector and  his  school  district  as  Director,  and  politi- 
cally is  a  stanch  Democrat. 


•^&i 


f  fiP\<;  hilip  J.  Deal,  a  reliable  citizen  and  pro- 
7  Eft]  gressive  farmer,  residing  on  section  14, 
■   [i  i-i>    Rural  Township,   is  a  son  of  George    and 


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~j    Margaret  (Myers)    Deal,  natives  of  Germany. 

^  The  father  was  living  in  Pennsylvania  during 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  took  part  in  that 
struggle  on  the  side  of  the  Colonists.  The  parents 
both  died  in  Pennsylvania,  the  father  in  his  88th 
year  and  the  mother  when  she  was  74  years  of  age. 
Their  children  were  seven  in  number,  of  whom  Phil- 
ip was  the  youngest. 

Philip  J.  Deal  was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Providence 
Township.  Pa.,  Dec.  16,  1802.  When  nearly  16 
years  of  age  Mr.  Deal  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the 
blacksmith's  trade  and  served  four  years.  After 
learning  the  trade  he  continued  to  follow  the  same 
until  1873,  when,  on  account  of  age  and  failing 
health,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  trade.     He 

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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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came  to  Rock  Island  County  in  May,  1S43,  and  re- 
sided for  two  years  in  Rock  Island,  then  live  years  in 
Moline  In  1848  Mr.  Deal  purchased  80  acres  of 
land  in  Rural  Township,  on  which  he  located,  and  in 
1850  he  built  a  shop  on  his  farm  and  worked  at  his 
trade  in  connection  with  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
erected  a  good  residence  and  other  necessary  farm 
buildings  on  his  place,  and  at  present  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  200  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  under  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Deal  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Bedford  Co., 
Pa.,  Dec.  6,  1829,  with  Miss  Susan  Bollman,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Barbara  (Sills)  Bollman,  of  German 
ancestry.  They  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
resided  until  their  deaths.  Mrs.  Deal  was  the  eldest 
of  14  children,  and  was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.. 
Feb.  7,  1S04.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deal  are  the  parents  of 
three  children:  Rachel  A.,  born  June  3,  1832; 
Sarah, -born  Oct.  3,  1S35  ;  and  Henry  \V.,  born 
May  19,  1837;  Rachel  A.  is  the  wife  of  Archibald 
Cook,  a  resident  of  Rock  Island.  Politically,  Mr. 
Deal  votes  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held 
various  minoroffices,  and  religiously  he  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


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nson  M.  Hubbard,  one  of  the  old  settlers 
of  Moline,  was  born  in  Bergen,  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  10,  18 1 8,  his  parents   being 

J'ito  Rufus  and  Laura  (Squires)  Hubbard.  Mr. 
j|£  Hubbard,  our  subject,  attended  school  in  his 
I  native  town,  also  assisting  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  18  years,  when  lie 
came  to  Adams  County,  III,  with  his  father,  where 
he  remained  one  year,  after  which  their  family  came 
to  Geneseo,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  where  they  settled  in 
1837.  There  he  alter. lately  farmed,  studied  and 
taught  music  until  1844,  when  he  (having  been  mar- 
ried in  1843)  with  his  family  moved  to  Moline,  this 
county.  He  taught  the  first  singing-schools  in  the 
county,  at  Rock  Island  and  Moline,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1844  organized  and  led  the  first  brass  band  in  the 
county,  also  at  Moline,  consisting  of  the  following 
named  persons,  to-wit :  Anson  M.  Hubbard,  Jona- 
hs,    than   Huntoon,  Joseph  Huntoon,  Wm.  H.  Edwards, 

— %H>W 


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Thomas  Merryman,  Joseph  Merryman,  Thos.  Davis, 
Henry  Keyes  and  Newman  Benedict.  The  first  four 
named  are  still  residents  of  Soline.  This  band  was 
playing  at  a  celebration  in  Rock  Island  July  4,  1845, 
at  the  time  Col.  Davenport  was  murdered  on  the  isl- 
and, and  afterwards  assisted  in  the  search  for  the 
murderers,  in  connection  with  the  band  was  a  club 
of  singers,  and  they  furnished  music  and  singing  for 
conventions, festivals,  celebrations,  etc.,  for  nearly  all 
the  towns  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Hubbard  also  organized  the  first  choir  in  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Moline,  and  led  it  for  ten 
years  with  most  admirable  success,  and  then  return- 
ed to  Geneseo  and  engaged  in  farming  there  until 
1S62,  when  he  went  back  tc  Moline.  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  In  1862  he  became  landlord  of 
the  "  Moline  House,"  and  kept  it  for  three  and  a  half 
years,  and  afterward  the  old  "  Central  House  "  about 
the  same  length  of  time,  or  until  1869,  meanwhile 
leading  the  Congregational  choir  until  1876,  when  he 
resigned.  During  his  first  residence  in  Moline  he 
held  the  office  of  Constable  for  several  years  and  was 
Trustee  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  for  four 
years.  After  his  return  to  Moline  in  1S62,  he  held 
the  office  of  Police  Magistrate  for  seven  years,  being 
the  successor  of  E.  S.  Waterman,  Esq.,  in  that  of- 
fice, and  was  Clerk  of  the  Congregational  Church 
for  14  years,  from  1865  to  1879.  For  years  he  has 
dealt  in  music  and  musical  merchandise,  and  is  a 
genuine  and  enthusiastic  expert  in  that  business. 
When  he  first  came  here  Moline  contained  only 
about  200  peopie,  and  he  has  lived  to  see  it  a  mar- 
vel of  progress  and  industry. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  March  31,  1843,  at 
Ellisville,  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  with  Marietta  M.  Moore, 
who  was  born  Jan.  7,  1825,  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  have  had  four  children,  namely  :  Charles  E  , 
born  Jan.  19,  1844,  and  died  June  22,  1878;  Geor- 
giana  M.,  born  Oct.  29,  1846;  William  H.,  Feb.  7, 
1848  ;  and  Horace  S.,  Jan.  30,  1850. 

Rufus  Hubbard,  the  father  of  Anson  M.,  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Glastonbury,  Conn.,  June  19,  1789, 
and  was  by  trade  a  tanner  and  currier.  That  busi-  ' 
ness,  together  with  farming,  he  carried  on  there  for 
26  years.  He  resided  in  Rome,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
for  two  \  ears,  then  for  a  time  at  Bergen,  Genesee 
Co.,  same  State.  Next  he  removed  to  Adams  Co., 
Ill,  in  1866,  and  next  to  Henry  County,  this  State, 
in  1837,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  finally  came 


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^OCI  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


to  Moline,  this  county,  in  1845,  where  he  worked  at 
shoemaking  and  subsequently  several  years  in  the 
tub  and  pail  factory  of  Dimock  &  Gould.  He  was 
a  Deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church  several 
years,  participated  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  while  at 
Bergen  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Supervisor  for 
many  years.  He  died  in  Moline  in  1880,  at  91 
years  of  age. 


>elville  C.  Crandell,  Postmaster,  and  also 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  at  Rey- 
nolds, was  born  in  Switzerland  Co.,  Ind., 
Nov.  16.  1842.  His  father,  O.  B.  Crandell, 
was  a  native  of  Xew  York,  a  farmer  by  voca- 
tion, and  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
J.  Kerr,  in  Indiana.  She  was  the  daughter  of  an 
Indiana  farmer,  and  was  born  in  Switzerland  County, 
that  State. 

Melville  C.  Crandell,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  was  next  to  the  youngest  in  order  of  birth  of 
seven  children.  He  resided  at  home,  attending  the 
common  school  and  assisting  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm  until  he  attained  his  iSth  year.  In  1862  he 
responded  to  the  second  call  for  soldiers  to  de- 
fend the  nation's  honor,  enlisting  August  22d  of 
that  year  in  Co.  C,  67th  Ind.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Capt. 
Day,  and  his  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  13th 
Army  Corps — the  Army  of  the  Mississippi.  He 
participated  in  13  of  the  hardest-fought  battles  of 
the  war,  of  which  the  following  are  the  most  promi- 
nent:  Mumfordville,  Ky.,  Chickasaw  Mountain, 
Ark.,  Arkansas  Post,  Champion  Hill,  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  sieges  of  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines,  and  the 
battle  of  Blakely,  Miss.,  and  many  other  skirmishes. 
He  was  imprisoned  twice  while  in  the  army,  the  first 
time  at  Mumfordville,  Ky.,  Aug.  16,  1862,  but  was 
afterward  paroled.  His  second  imprisonment  was 
at  Grand  Coteau,  La.,  Nov.  3,  1863.  He  was  kept 
for  three  weeks  at  Alexandria,  Ala.,  and  after  an  at- 
tempt to  escape  was  re-taken  and  placed  in  jail, 
though  in  more  favorable  quarters  than  he  had  pre- 
viously occupied.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Galveston,  Tex.,  July  19,  r865. 

On  receiving  his  discharge  he  went  to  Madison. 

1    — -^mm 


Ind.,  whence  he  came  to  Milan,  this  county,  where 
he  opened  a  restaurant  and  conducted  the  same  for 
a  year.  He  then  went  to  Nebraska,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  farming  for  five  years,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  this  State,  and  clerked  in  a  mercantile 
establishment  in  Mercer  County.  In  January,  1878, 
Mr.  Crandell  came  to  Reynolds,  this  county,  opened 
a  restaurant,  and  continued  in  the  business  for  three 
years,  meeting  with  financial  success.  Closing  out 
his  restaurant,  he  purchased  a  store  building  and 
lot  and  engaged  in  the  drug  trade,  including  notions, 
etc.,  which  business  he  is  at  present  conducting. 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Reynolds  in  1883. 
and  holds  that  position  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Crandell  was  united  in  marriage,  while  resid- 
ing in  Nebraska,  Feb.  14,  187  1.  with  Miss.  Margaret 
Cathcart,  wiio  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Oct.  28, 
1850,  and  came  West  with  her  parents  when  young, 
they  settling  in  Rock  Island,  where  she  resided,  re- 
ceiving the  advantages  of  a  common-school  educa- 
tion until  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crandell  are 
the  parents  of  three  children — Walter  K.,  born  Feb. 
14,  1S73;  Vina  M.,  born  Sept.  7,  1S77  ;  and  Elisha 
M.,  born  Dec.  25,  1878. 

Politically,  Mr.  Crandell  votes  with  the  Repub- 
licans. 


— .:e-— »— ■$- 


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illiam  S.  Bailey,  a  farmer  on  section  2, 
Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Jane  (Campbell)  Bailey,  who  were  natives 
of  the  north  of  Ireland,  near  Belfast.  He  is 
the  seventh  generation  in  the  line  of  descent 
from  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  and  his  mother,  now 
living  at  the  age  of  78,  is  the  last  of  the  sixth  gener- 
ation. In  his  father's  family  there  were  seven  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  lived  to  become  of  adult  age 
namely  :     William  S.,  James,  John  C.  and  Anna. 

The  subject   of  this   sketch   was  born   in  County  A 
Down,  Ireland,  Nov.  5,  1826.     He  lived  in  Ireland 
until  the  age  of  2  r  years,  and  in    184S   he   came  to    • 
America  and  settled   in   Rock  Island,  making   the  ^ 
journey  in   two   months,  coming  through  from  Chi- 
cago in  a  spring  wagon.     From    that    time    to   the 


present  time  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county.  ~v 


He  is  now  the  proprietor  of  400  acres  of  land  in  Ru- 


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RES  .OF  THE   LATE   COL. GEORGE  DAVENPORT    ON   THE     ISLAND  Of    ROCK      ISLAND. 


ILEY  DAVENPORT,  ROCK    ISLAND,  ILLS. 


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ral  Township  .and  about  320  acres  of  his  ground  is 
in  a  well  cultivated  condition. 

He  was  married  in  Rural  Township,  March  25, 
1858,  to  Miss  Ann  Bailey,  daughter  of  Hugh  and 
Mary  (Aiken)  Bailey,  natives  of  Belfast,  Ireland. 
Nine  children  were  born  of  the  union,  six  of  whom 
survive,  viz.  :  Mary  J.,  Lizzie,  Anna  M.,  Robert  J., 
Alice  and  Isaac  J.  William  and  two  others  died  in 
infancy,  the  former  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

Mr.  Bailey  has  been  Warden  of  the  County  Farm, 
located  in  Rural  Township,  19  years  and  7  months. 
He  has  also  held  the  offices  of  Constable  and  Notary 
Public  four  years,  Township  Clerk,  etc.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  in  political  matters  he  sympathizes  with  the  Re- 
publicans. 


<* 


fTJ  K-  ames  W.  Berry,  painter,  Moline,  was  born 
in  London,  England,  Feb.  6,  181 1,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Davis)  Berry, 
also  natives  of  London,  England.  As  soon  as 
he  was  old  enough,  James  was  placed  at  school 
in  London,  and  kept  there  until  he  was  14 
years  of  age,  about  which  time  he  entered  the  Gov- 
ernment Custom-House,  where  he  clerked  for  one 
year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  went  out  on  a  voy- 
age as  cabin  boy  on  a  Government  vessel,  which  was 
transporting  troops  to  Malta  and  Gibraltar.  He 
spent  some  time  with  his  ship  about  the  Mediter- 
ranean, and  upon  his  return  he  shipped  as  seaman 
for  a  three-years  cruise  on  a  whaler,  searching  for 
sperm  whales. 

During  that  time  he  suffered  all  the  dangers,  pri- 
vations and  hardships  of  those  who  "  go  down  to  the 
sea  in  ships,"  narrowly  escaping  shipwreck,  and  loss 
of  life  and  ship  by  fire,  and  on  one  occasion  he  came 
near  being  captured  or  killed  by  savages.  His  ship 
was  lying  near  the  Navigator  Islands  and  the  chief 
and  some  30  of  the  natives  came  on  board.  The 
party  was  accompanied  by  a  young  Englishman,  who 
had  when  a  boy,  sometime  before,  ran  away  from  a 
whaler  and  remained  on  the  islands,  where  he  had 
so  conducted  himself  as  to  become  next  to  the  chief 
in  authority.  It  happened  that  sperm  whale  ap- 
peared some  distance  from  the   ship,  and   the  boats 


were  ordered  out  and  manned  for  their  capture,  leav- 
ing only  one  of  the  boat's  crew  on  the  ship  with  the 
captain,  Mr.  Berry  being  one  of  those  on  board.  The 
chief  suggested  to  his  followers  that  as  the  seamen 
had  nearly  all  left  the  ship,  it  could  easily  be  cap- 
tured, and  that  they  had  better  do  it.  The  idea  was 
communicated  to  the  Englishman  for  His  opinion, 
who  suggested  that  they  better  make  a  sure  thing  of 
it  by  sending  one  of  their  canoes  back  to  the  island 
for  a  large  crew  of  natives  on  one  of  their  doublr  «  at 
canoes,  and  to  have  them  cover  their  arms  and  mu- 
nitions with  fruit,  so  that  if  they  should  deride  it 
would  not  be  safe  to  attempt  the  attack  they  could 
claim  they  had  only  come  out  to  barter  fruit.  The 
young  Englishman's  idea  was  adopted,  and  while 
orders  were  being  sent  for  the  war  canoe  he,  not 
caring  to  see  his  countrymen  butchered,  sought  the 
captain  of  the  whaler  and  unfolded  the  plan  to  him, 
whereupon  he  instantly  signaled  to  his  boat's  crews 
to  cut  away  from  the  whaler  and  return  with  all 
speed  to  the  ship,  which  they  instantly  did,  and 
reached  the  vessel  and  got  aboard  when  the  native 
war  canoe  was  within  80  yards  of  the  ship.  A  breeze 
had  sprung  up  meanwhile,  and  the  whaler  ran  30 
miles  offshore,  and  then  compelled  the  chief  and  all 
the  natives  with  him  to  jump  into  the  sea.  The 
young  Englishman  returned  to  England  in  the  ship. 
The  people  of  those  islands  can  swim  all  day. 

After  whaling  for  three  years,  Mr.  Berry  went  to 
Australia  in  a  merchant  ship,  which  carried  out  30 
families  of  old  soldiers  who  had  been  given  farms 
there  by  the  Government.  On  the  return  voyage  the 
ship  encountered  a  terrible  storm  while  rounding 
Cape  Horn,  and  he  was  washed  out  of  the  rigging 
when  going  up  to  reef  the  main  topsail,  and  would 
have  perished  in  the  sea  had  he  not  been  caught  and 
held  by  the  main  storm  topsails.  When  he  reached 
England  he  concluded  to  emigrate  to  America  ;  and 
he  accordingly  landed  in  this  country  in  rS_;4.  Lo- 
cating at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  he  went  to  carriage-painting 
for  a  brother-in-law  for  one  year  and  then  went  to 
Buffalo  and  worked  a  month  for  Mr.  Mayburn,  who 
may  be  said  to  have  built  Buffalo;  thence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  painted  for  four 
years;  and  next  went  to  Tecumseh,  Mich.,  and 
Waukegan,  111.,  and  then  settled  in  Racine,  Wis., 
where  he  lived  and  labored  from  1S4S  to  1872,  dur- 
ing a  part  of  which  time  he  carried  on  general  paint- 
ing, with  the  exception  of  12  years  of  the  time  that 


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he  was  foreman  in  the  immense  and  extensive  works 
of  |.  I.  Case.  In  1872  Mr.  Berry  came  to  Moline 
and  began  painting  wagons  for  the  Moline  Wagon 
Company,  under  his  son,  E.  H.  Berry,  who  has  had 
the  contract  for  several  years,  and  where  he  still  re- 
mains. He  has  been  a  full  partner  ten  years.  He 
possesses  great  natural  talent  for  paintings,  especi- 
ally of  animals,  and  had  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  study  of  painting  instead  of  deciding  to  be  a 
sailor  he  would  have  gained  sure  renown  as  a 
painter. 

May  16,  1839,  Mr.  Berry  formed  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Miss  Susanna  Spicer,  and  their  chil- 
dren are:  Welthy,  who  was  born  Sept.  26,  1841, 
and  is  the  wife  of  Geo.  A.  Ludington  ;  their  marriage 
occurred  May  25,  1S5S;  Mary  Jane,  born  March  25, 
1845,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Penrose  Packerd, 
Nov.  12,  1867.  Mr.  Packerd  is  a  prominent  man  in 
Racine,  Wis.,  and  was  Mayor  of  the  city  twice;  Ed- 
win H.  was  born  Dec.  11,  1S47,  and  April  25,  1S70, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Roxey  Lefler,  who  died 
in  October,  rS7o.  Jan.  9,  1878,  he  formed  a  second 
marriage  with  Ida  Hartwell ;  William,  born  Aug.  27, 
1851,  has  become  the  husband  of  Lizzie  Kelso,  the 
event  occurring  Oct.  24,  1872;  James,  born  June  9, 
1853,  and  Jan.  r3,  1876,  chose  for  his  better  half 
Miss  Esther  Gannon;  John,  born  Sept.  13,  1856; 
Clara  E.,  born  Dec.  26,  1859,  and  formed  a  matri- 
monial alliance  Feb.  iS,  1S7  7 ,  with  George  Lee;  and 
Frank,  born  June  30,  1863,  was  married  Aug.  3T, 
1S81,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  God- 
frey. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  are  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  having  joined  at  Racine,  Wis.,  16 
years  ago.  Mr.  B.  is  a  Freemason,  and  in  politics 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 


.  —sai- 


mil    Heimbeck,   druggist  at   Moline,  was 
.    born    in    Davenport,   Iowa,    May    7,  1858, 
and  is    the    son    of     Fritz     and    Minna 
.    Heimbeck.      His   father  is  a  native  of  Prussia, 
and    his    mother    of  Alsace.     They    came    to 
America    about     1852.       Mr.     Heimbeck  was 
educated  at    the  Griswold    College  and  Bryant  and 


Stratton's  Commercial  College  at  Davenport.  He 
learned  the  drug  business  in  Rock  Island,  having 
spent  five  years  with  Mr.  C.  Speidel,  druggist  of  that 
city,  and  two  years  with  Mr.  Koehler  of  the  same 
town.  He  began  business  for  himself  Jan.  r,  188 1, 
at  Moline,  and  has  carried  it  on  successfully  ever 
since.  His  long  experience  has  fully  qualified  him 
to  prepare  prescriptions  with  great  reliability  and 
care.  He  has  a  fair-sized  stock  of  pure  drugs,  med- 
icines, paints,  oils,  etc.,  and  his  place  of  business  is 
at  the  corner  of  Sixth  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue. 

He  was  married,  in  Moline,  Nov.  22.  1882,  to  Miss 
Catharine  Klattenhoff,  daughter  of  T.  H.  and  Mar- 
garet (Nutzhom)  Klattenhoff.  Mrs.  Heimbeck  was 
born  in  Rock  Island  County,  111.,  May  24,  1862. 
The  issue  of  their  union  is  one  son,  Carl,  born  Aug. 
15.  1SS4. 

Mr.  Heimbeck  is  independent  in  political  action, 
taking  his  choice  among  the  candidates  of  all  the 
parties. 


ohn  Kennedy,  fanner  and  blacksmith,  re- 
siding on  section  36,  Drury  Township,  was 
■"**  born  in  Aimstrong  County,  Pa.,  Jan.  29, 
V  1825.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Sarah 
jL  (Smith)  Kennedy,  and  were  natives  of  Penn- 
|  sylvania.  His  father  followed  the  vocation  of 
a  blacksmith,  and  Mr.  Kennedy  of  this  sketch  learned 
the  trade  under  his  instructions,  remaining  under  the 
parental  roof-tree  until  he  attained  the  age  of  21 
years.  On  becoming  his  own  master  he  set  out  to 
fight  the  battles  of  life  single-handed  and  alone.  Re- 
alizing that  the  West,  with  its  broad  and  unculti- 
vated prairies,  offered  better  inducements  for  the  ac- 
cumulation of  a  competency,  he  determined  to  cast 
his  lot  with  the  early  pioneers  of  Rock  Island  County. 
He  consequently  came  here  and  settled  himself  at 
Illinois  City,  where  for  two  years  he  followed  his 
trade.  In  18=57  he  located  in  Drury  Township,  where 
he  rented  land,  which  he  cultivated  until  1859.  Dur- 
ing that  year  he  purchased  land,  and  by  economy  and 
energetic  labor  he  has  added  to  his  original  purchase 
until  at  the  present  he  is  the  proprietor  of  335  acres, 
all  the  accumulation  of  his  own  indomitable  energy, 
pluck  and  perseverance.  On  his  farm  he  has  a  good 
residence,    with    substantial  outbuildings,    and    his 


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acreage  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Kennedy  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Armstrong  County,  Pa.,  May  18,  184S,  with  Miss 
Mary  A.  Mechlin.  She  was  born  in  the  county  in 
which  she  was  married,  Aug.  16,  1832.  They  are 
the  parents  of  seven  living  children  :  Rose  A.,  James 
F.,  Luther  M.,  Margaret,  William,  RossM.  and  Les- 
lie. They  have  also  buried  six  children  :  Mary  E., 
Jacob  M.,  Sarah  M.,  John  N.,  Nora  B.  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Kennedy  has  held  the  office  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner two  terms  and  also  Overseer  of  Highways. 
In  1876  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Ferdinand. 
Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party. 


*tasstf&&r—$& 


>^&mnn- 


eorge   D.   Gould,    Sr.,    Moline,  was  born 
in    Hancver,   Grafton  Co.,   N.  H.,  March 

*cPfi  K  2^'  '^35'  and  's  tne  son  °f  Amos  and 
iV\  Nancy  (Bartlett)  Gould.  He  received  an  ac- 
ademic education  and  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  at  Piermont,  N.  H.  He  was  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  same  business  at  Bradford, 
Vt.,  and  came  from  the  last  named  place  to  Moline 
in  1855.  On  coming  to  this  city  he  was  first  em- 
ployed as  merchant's  clerk  and  subsequently  as 
book-keeper.  He  was  also  Deputy  Postmaster  from 
1856  to  1859,  and  then  spent  a  year  in  travel  on  the 
Pacific  coast. 

In  i860  Mr.  Gould  returned  to  Moline  and  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  until  1865,  when  he 
was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Moline  by  Abraham 
Lincoln.  The  signing  of  his  commission  was  one  of 
the  latest  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  official  acts,  as  he  was  as- 
sassinated on  the  following  day.  He  served  as 
Postmaster  two  years,  and  was  removed  by  Presi- 
dent Johnson.  In  1867  he  began  traveling  as  an 
adjusting  agent,  and  for  18  years  has  been  continu- 
ously on  the  road  in  that  business.  He  adjusted  the 
first  loss  in  the  great  Chicago  fire  of  October,  1871, 
for  the  New  York  Underwriters'  Agency. 

In  the  fall  of  1872  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court  and  served  from  January,  1873,  to 
January,  1877,  and  under  the  amended  constitution 


he  was  the  first  salaried  officer.  Mr.  Gould  was  ad- 
juster for  the  New  York  Underwriters  17  years. 
Since  January,  1S84,  he  his  been  doing  an  independ- 
ent adjusting  business.  Mr.  Gould  has  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in 
the  State  on  the  subject  of  laws  and  rulings 
relating  to  insurance.  He  is  constantly  being 
retained  in  disputed  and  complicated  cases.  The 
subject  of  insurance  with  him  has  been  a  life  study, 
and  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  a  man  of 
ripe  experience  and  sound  judgment. 

Mr.  Gould  was  united  in  marriage  in  Henry 
County  January  27,  1861,  to  Miss  Emma  F.  Seeley, 
daughter  of  Orin  Seeley,  of  Niagara  County,  N.  Y. 
The  issue  of  their  union  was  five  children,  three  of 
whom  survived,  namely  :  George  D.,  born  April  2, 
1883;  Clyde  A.,  bom  Aug.  2,  1865,  died  aged  17 
years;  May,  born  Nov.  2,  1869,  died  aged  13  years; 
Ruth,  born  May  7,  1877  ;  John,  Feb.  5,  1S79.  Mrs. 
Gould  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  but  Mr- 
Gould  is  not  a  professor  of  religion.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican and  has  been  since  the  organization  of  that 
party  in  1856.  Mr.  G.  is  prominent  in  the  various 
branches  of  Masonry  and  has  been  elevated  to  the 
32d  degree.  He  is  connected  with  Doric  Lodge, 
No.  319,  Moline;  Barrett  Chapter,  No.  20,  Rock 
Island;  Evert 's  Commandery,  No.  18,  Rock  Island; 
and  Oriental  Consistory,  Chicago. 


^■HHNI3-*" 


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V. 


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g|j  B.  Denlinger,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Denlinger  &  Casteel,  at  Port  Byron, 
-  '"  was  born  in  that  place  Feb.  3,  1856.  He 
5  \  is  the  only  son  of  M.  S.  Denlinger.  His 
■'1"  father  was  born  in  Frankstown,  Blair  Co.,  Pa., 
Nov.  25,  1830.  In  1S50  he  left  his  native 
State  for  Illinois,,  and  located  at  Albany,  Whiteside 
Co.  He  obtained  a  position  there  as  a  clerk,  and 
later  embarked  in  mercantile  business  with  Henry 
Pease,  of  that  place.  He  was  married  Dec.  27, 
1853,  to  Emily  Durfee.  In  the  summer  of  1854  he 
was  obliged  to  retire  from  business  on  account  of 
failing  health,  and  he  removed  to  Port  Byron  and 
took  charge  of  the  hotel  property  known  as  the  Port 
Byron  House.     He  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge 


(Z) 


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202 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Holmes,  and  their  relationship  continued  until  the 
death  of  the  father,  which  took  place  November  20th 
of  the  same  year. 

The  son  was  five  years  of  age  when  he  entered 
the  family  of  Judge  Holmes,  his  grandfather,  and  he 
was  reared  in  the  home  of  his  grandparents.  In 
1847  he  commenced  his  business  career  as  a  grocery 
and  provision  merchant,  in  which  he  was  occupied 
four  years.  In  1879  he  began  to  travel  as  a  com- 
mercial salesman  in  the  wholesale  notion  trade,  and 
transacted  business  in  that  capacity  until  1S84. 
Within  that  year  the  present  business  of  Denlinger 
&  Casteel  was  organized.  The  firm  have  built  up  a 
prosperous  trade  and  exhibit  a  valuable  assortment 
of  goods. 


r? 


I  Charles  S.  Hepburn,  foreman  of  Deere  & 
$'/  Co.'s  paint  shops,  Moline,  111.,  is  a  son  of 


George  F.    and   Anne   (Berry)    Hepburn, 
{   9     and  was  born  in  London,  England,  Dec.  26 
yf      1849.     His    father    was    of  Scotch    and    his 
1        mother    of    English    descent.     Charles,  the 
subject  of  this  writing,  was   married   at   Moline,  III., 
Dec.  25,  1874,  to  Mary  Ella  Mitchell,  born  in  Adams 
County,  Feb.  19,  1855,  and  they  have  four  children, 
viz. :  Grace  E.,  born  in  Moline  Dec.  30,  1S75  ;  Leon- 
ard  P.,  born   in   Moline  Aug.  27,   1S78;  Daisy  M., 
born  in   Moline  July  2,  1S81  ;    Zeta,  born   in   Moline 
Jan.  23,  1S84. 

Mr.  Hepburn  attended  school  to  some  extent  in 
London  in  the  acquisition  of  an  education,  and 
worked  in  a  woolen  warehouse  there  for  one  year. 
In  June,  1S65,  he  came  to  New  York,  and  from  there 
went  at  once  to  Racine,  Wis.,  and  engaged  in  the 
shops  of  Miner  &  Co.,  at  which  place  he  wished  to 
learn  the  trade  of  making  sash,  doors  and  blinds. 
Remaining  there  for  two  and  one-half  years,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  painting,  and  at  length  se- 
cured a  position  in  the  paint  shop  of  Mitchell,  Lewis 
&  Co.,  wagon  manufacturers,  for  some  one  and  a 
half  years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Moline  and  obtained 
employment  in  the  paint  shop  of  the  Moline  Wagon 
Company,  where  he  remained  for  about  three  years. 
Being  fortunate  in  obtaining  the  entire  charge  of  the 
paint  department  of  the  Union  Manufacturing  Com- 


pany, of  Rock  Falls,  111.  (farm  wagons),  he  accepted 
the  position,  which  he  filled  for  two  and  one-half 
years.  He  again  returned  to  Moline  and  worked  in 
the  paint  shop  of  Deere  &  Co.,  thence  to  Racine 
again,  and  engaged  for  four  months  for  Fish  Bros.' 
Wagon  Company;  then  returned  to  Moline  and  en- 
gaged as  painter  for  the  Moline  Pump  Company  for 
about  a  year  and  a  half,  after  which  he  worked  again 
for  the  Union  Manufacturing  Company,  at  Rock 
Falls,  for  a  short  time.  He  then  returned  to  the 
Moline  Wagon  Company  and  worked  at  his  trade 
there  for  about  two  years,  when  he  accepted  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  foreman  of  the  paint  shop  of 
Deere  &  Co.'s  Plow  Works. 

Mr.  Hepburn  has  been  Secretary  of  his  Lodge  of 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  a  "  Modern  Woodman."  Has 
been  President  of  the  Deere  Band,  has  also  been 
quite  prominent  locally  as  a  Greenbacker,  being  Sec- 
retary of  their  various  meetings,  working  on  commit- 
tees and  their  candidate  for  Alderman  from  the 
Second  Ward. 

He  was  elected  a  Director  of  the  Moline  Co- 
operative Association  in  January,  1884,  and  elected 
Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Directors  the  same  month, 
which  position  he  now  holds. 


-IpSfp/ndrew  Kittelsen,  one  of  the  early   settlers 

i;p(!     of  Rock  Island  County   (1848),  is  a    native 

|I|j5>s5-bS  of  Norway,  and  was  born  at  Skjan,  Dec.  8, 

^'wk    1817.     He  emigrated  to  America  in  1843,  and 

located  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  he  worked 


at  farming  two  years,  then  going  to  Galena, 
111.,  where  he  spent  the  succeeding  three  years,  and 
in  October,  1848,  came  to  Moline,  which  he  has 
made  his  home  ever  since. 

Mr.  Kittelsen  was  united  in  marriage  in  Moline, 
in  1853,  to  Miss  Frederika  Johnson.  She  was  born 
at  Ulrisham,  Westerjutland,  Sweden,  Oct.  27,  1825, 
and  came  to  America  in  July,  1852,  coming  direct  to 
Moline.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children 
(sons)  :  Edward,  born  July  19,  1S54,  married  Miss 
Rillia  Stewart,  and  is  the  present  City  Marshal  of 
Moline.  The  younger  son,  John  A.,  was  born  March 
7,  1 860,  and  is  book-keeper  for  the  Moline  Stove 
Company. 


& 


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ROCK  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


205 


=|f^j&oii.  John  Deere,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
Js'  of  Moline,  111.,  ex-king  plow-manufacturer 
OTpr**  of  the  world,  and  third  son  of  Wm.  Rinold 
and  Sarah  (Yates)  Deere,  was  born  at  Rutland, 
Vt.,  Feb.  7,  1804.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
England  and  his  mother  of  Connecticut.  His 
grandfather  Yates  came  to  this  country  as  a  Captain 
in  the  British  Army  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  served  his  king  right  royally  until  the  independ- 
ence of  the  colonies  was  no  longer  a  question,  when 
he  forswore  allegiance  to  all  foreign  powers,  par- 
ticularly to  that  of  King  George,  and  lived  thereafter 
in  strict  loyalty  to  the  stars  and  stripes.  In  1805 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  to 
Middlebury,  Vt.,  and  there  carried  on  merchant 
tailoring  for  about  seven  years.  He  died  in  181 2, 
at  the  age  of  55  years,  while  in  England  for  the  pur- 
pose of  purchasing  goods.  His  widow  conducted 
the  business  left  by  her  husband  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1826,  at  the  age  of  about  46 
years. 

John  Deere  attended  the  common  schools  of  Ver- 
mont while  a  boy,  and  acquired  a  good  ordinary  ed- 
ucation. Without  the  knowledge  of  his  mother,  he 
worked  for  a  tanner  at  grinding  bark,  and  earned  a 
pair  of  shoes  and  a  suit  of  clothes  before  he  was  16 
years  of  age.  When  17  years  of  age,  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  Capt.  Benj.  Lawrence,  of  Middlebury,  to 
learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  fully  mastered 
in  four  years,  receiving  in  the  meantime  for  his  ser- 
vices, each  year  respectively,  the  sum  of  $30,  $35, 
$40  and  $45.  After  a  year  or  two  at  "jour."  work, 
he  removed  to  Burlington,  Vt.,  where  he  hammered 
out  by  hand  the  iron  work  for  a  saw  and  oil  mill, 
erected  at  the  neighboring  town  of  Colchester,  and 
acquired  thereby  quite  a  local  reputation  as  a  me- 
chanic and  iron-worker.  After  carrying  on  his  trade 
for  several  years  at  various  places  in  his  native 
State.  His  shops  and  other  property  had  been  twice 
burned  in  quick  succession.  He  was  a  married 
man,  with  a  small  family  to  support,  and  profits 
were  small;  so  he  accumulated  slowly;  but  by 
perseverance  and  economy,  the  year  1837  found 
him  ready  and  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 


great  West.  Via  canal  and  the  lakes,  he  landed  at 
the  sickly  little  village  of  Chicago,  a  place  opulent  in 
chills  and  fever  but  frugal  indeed  in  essential  re- 
source,— at  least,  so  it  appeared  to  Mr.  Deere,  and 
he  at  once  transferred  all  his  effects  to  wagons, 
nor  lingered  he  until  he  planted  himself  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Grand  de  Tour,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  An  inven- 
tory of  his  material  wealth  at  that  that  time  showed 
him  the  possessor  of  $7  3. 7  3  in  cash,  a  good  set  of 
blacksmith's  tools  and  a  limited  complement  of 
household  goods;  but  he  had  the  muscles  of  a 
giant,  brains  enough  to  successfully  command  an 
army,  and  a  heart  that  never  shrank  within  him. 

A  good  mechanic  is  always  an  important  acces- 
sion to  a  new  country,  and  his  arrival  was  particu- 
larly opportune  for  this  little  settlement,  and  his 
mechanical  ability  was  immediately  brought  into 
requisition  to  put  into  repair  a  saw-mill  which  was 
standing  idle  from  the  breaking  of  a  pitman  shaft. 
There  was  no  forge  in  readiness,  but  he  at  once  set 
to  work,  and  with  stone  from  a  neighboring  hill  con- 
structed a  rude  forge  and  chimney,  by  digging  a  hole 
in  clay  soil  and  making  the  mortar  of  the  clay;  and 
within  two  days  after  his  arrival  the  mill  was  run- 
ning, thus  saving  to  the  owners  and  customers  many 
days  that  otherwise  would  have  been  occupied  in 
procuring  the  work  from  far  distant  shops. 

Mr.  Deere  was  an  excellent  mechanic,  and  the 
few  people  residing  in  his  vicinity  at  that  time  soon 
found  it  out;  and  they  piled  upon  the  floor  of  his 
shop  their  broken  trace  chains  and  clevises,  their 
worn-out  "  bull  tongues  "  and  worse  worn  shares  ; 
and  while  the  young  blacksmith  hammered  out  lap 
rings  for  their  chains,  welded  their  clevises,  "  drew 
out  "  their  "bull  tongues  "  and  "  laid  "  their  "  shares,1' 
his  mind  dwelt  upon  the  improvement  of  the  plow, 
the  implement  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  pio- 
neer. Mr.  Deere  soon  added  the  building  of  plows 
to  his  general  work.  He  soon  began  to  see,  how- 
ever, that  the  iron  plow  with  wooden  mold-board 
could  not  be  made  to  do  good  service  in  the  prairie 
soil.  They  entered  the  ground  with  difficulty,  clog- 
ged up  and  failed  to  scour.  Then  began  the  series  of 
experiments  and  improvements,  which,  not  successful 
at  first,  to  be  sure,  yet  finally  resulted  in  the  present 
perfect  steel  plow;  and  John  Deere  has  lived  to 
know  that  his  name  is  familiarly  spoken  in  every 
civilized  tongue  on  the  globe. 

With  characteristic  energy  and  will,  the  battle  was 


fs 


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■^€3^ — eA^nn®Dii^A^ 


vi* 


206 


ACCA'  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


pushed  until  success  came.  There  was  a  demand 
for  a  good  plow,  and  the  good  plow  must  be  made. 
The  first  one  that  did  satisfactory  work  was  made  in 
this  way:  Wrought-iron  land-side  and  standard, 
steel  share  and  mold-board  cut  from  a  saw-mill  saw, 
and  bent  over  a  log  shaped  for  the  purpose,  and 
beam  and  handles  of  white  oak  rails.  In  1838  two 
of  these  plows  were  made,  with  which  the  farmers 
were  well  pleased,  doing  unusually  good  work  for 
those  days.  And  after  these  first  plows  he  had  a 
great  deal  of  trouble  experimenting,  in  getting  a 
plow  to  scour  satisfactorily  in  ground  that  had  been 
plowed  four  or  five  times,  especially  on  the  bottom, 
black,  sticky  soil.  He  went  to  different  farms  to  try 
his  plows,  in  Ogle,  Lee,  Whiteside  and  other  coun- 
ties where  farmers  had  never  been  able  to  make 
plows  scour. 

During  this  year  Mr.  Deere  built  a  dwelling-house 
iS  x  24  feet,  and  brought  his  wife  and  five  children 
from  the  East.  It  was  not  then  a  few  hours'  ride  in 
a  moving  parlor,  as  now,  but  a  weary  journey  of  six 
weeks  by  stage-coach  and  lumber-wagon. 

Settled  in  his  little  home,  often  shaking  with  the 
ague,  the  work  was  pushed,  and  in  1839  ten  plows 
were  built,  and  the  entire  iron  works  of  a  new  saw 
and  flouring  mill  made,  with  no  help  except  that  of 
an  inexperienced  man  as  blower  and  striker.  In  1840 
a  second  anvil  was  placed  in  the  shop,  a  workman 
employed  and  40  plows  made. 

His  fame  as  a  plow-maker  was  now  rapidly  ex- 
tending, and  in  1841  he  built  75  steel  mold-board 
plows,  and  a  brick  shop,  30  X45,  was  erected,  and 
the  year  following  100  new  plows  were  added.  The 
tide  which  was  then  set  clearly  in  his  favor,  after- 
waid  bore  him  steadily  on  to  fortune.  In  1843  ne 
took  a  Maj.  Andrus  into  partnership,  enlarging  his 
buildings  by  electing  a  brick  shop  two  stories  high, 
added,  horse-power  for  the  grind- stone,  established  a 
small  foundry,  and  turned  out  400  improved   plows. 

In  1846  the  annual  product  had  increased  to 
1,000,  and  as  time  advanced  improvements  were 
made;  but  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  steel  of  proper 
dimensions  and  quality  was  found  to  be  a  great  ob- 
stacle to  the  complete  success  of  the  business.  Mr. 
Deere  accordingly  wrote  to  Nailor  &  Co.,  importers, 
ot  New  York,  explaining  the  demand  of  the  growing 
agricultural  States  of  the  West  for  a  good  cast-steel 
plow,   and    stated  the  size,   thickness  and  quality  of 


s^Dff- 


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<-M§mi^ 


the  steel  plates  he  wanted.  The  reply  was  that  no 
such  steel  could  be  had  in  America,  but  they  would 
send  to  England  and  have  rollers  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  producing  the  special  sizes  of  steel.  An  or- 
der was  sent  and  the  steel  made  and  shipped  to 
Illinois. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  proper  to  say  that  it 
was  in  the  shaping  of  the  mold-board  that  Mr. 
Deere's  ingenuity  more  particularly  manifested  itself. 
He  was  undoubtedly  the  first  man  to  conceive  and 
put  in  operation  the  idea  that  the  successful  self- 
scouring  of  a  steel  mold-board  depended  pre-emi- 
nently upon  its  shape.  This  idea  was  his,  and  he 
worked  upon  it  until  the  correctness  of  it  was  fully 
demonstrated. 

Mr.  Deere's  practical  foresight  enabled  him  to  see 
that  his  location  was  not  advantageous  for  a  growing 
business.  Coal,  iron  and  steel  must  be  hauled  by 
team  from  La  Salle,  a  distance  of  40  miles,  and  his 
plows  taken  a  long  distance  to  market  in  the  same 
slow  and  expensive  manner.  He  therefore  sold  his 
interest  in  the  business  at  Grand  de  Tour  to  his 
partner,  Mr.  Andrus,  and  removed  to  Moline,  111., 
in  1847.  Here  was  good  water-power,  coal  near  in 
abundance,  and  cheap  river  transportation.  A  part- 
nership was  formed  between  Mr.  Deere,  R.  N.  Tate 
and  John  M.  Gould,  shops  built  and  work  com- 
menced, resulting  the  first  year  in  the  production  of 
700  plows. 

About  this  time  the  English  steel  arrived,  and  50 
plows  were  made  from  it  and  sent  to  different  parts  of 
the  country,  where  the  soil  was  known  to  be  most  dif- 
ficult of  plowing.  The  test  proved  the  success  of  the 
implement  and  the  manufacture  sprang  at  once  to 
the  enormous  number  of  r,6oo  plows  a  year,  which 
number  were  made  in  rSso. 

In  1853,  Messrs.  Tate  and  Gould  retired  from  the 
firm,  Mr.  Deere  buying  their  interest.  In  1852  the 
shops  were  enlarged,  new  machinery  added  and  the 
sales  continued  to  increase.  Mr.  Deere  continued 
alone  until  1S57,  which  year  he  made  10,000  plows. 
In  1858  he  took  his  son,  Charles  H.,  and  Stephen 
H.  Velie,  one  of  his  sons-in-law,  into  the  business 
as  partners,  and  the  business  was  continued  un- 
der the  name  of  Deere  &  Co.  until  1S68,  when  it 
had  assumed  such  proportions  that  a  company  was 
incorporated  under  the  general  laws  of  the  State, 
with  John  Deere  as  President,  a  position  he  has 
since  held;  Charles  H.  Deere,  Vice-President  and 


% 


<v. 


V 


S 

A 


4S± 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


207 


>7S 


9 

> 

Co 


ind  Stephen  H.  Velie,  Secretary.  During 
all  the  subsequent  years  the  business  has  had  a 
steady  and  marvelous  growth,  requiring  the  annual 
addition  of  shop  room,  men  and  machinery. 

The  history  of  Deere  &  Co.,  from  its  earliest 
inception  down  to  July  1,  1885,  the  current  year, 
will  be  found  in  another  part  of  this  Album,  and 
therefore  will  not  be  noticed  further  in  this  sketch. 
We  can  truthfully  say  that  John  Deere  has  been  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortune.  His  great  wealth  has 
been  acquired  by  his  individual  effort  and  industry. 
Since  Moline  was  a  struggling  and  unimportant  little 
village,  Mr.  Deere  has  been  identified  with  its  inter- 
ests. The  silent  and  unwritten  history  of  her  streets, 
her  railroads  and  her  public  institutions  is  replete 
with  his  spirit  and  untiring  energy. 

It  is  conceded  that  John  Deere,  of  this  sketch,  is  the 
originator  of  the  steel  plow.  When  he  manufactured 
his  first  steel  plows,  there  were  not  only  no  steel 
plows  in  America,  but  no  steel  manufactured  of 
which  to  make  them.  The  influence  of  this  im- 
provement in  the  manufacture  of  plows  cannot  be 
estimated.  The  name  of  John  Deere  is  a  familiar 
one  throughout  the  West,  and  his  plows  are  sent  to 
South  America,  the  West  Indies,  New  Zealand,  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  South  Africa,  Australia,  France, 
Germany,  Holland,  Belgium,  Russia  and  the  British 
possessions  in  America.  They  have  been  awarded 
medals  at  almost  numberless  county,  State  and  na- 
tional exhibitions  in  this  country,  and  were  awarded 
the  same  way  at  the  Paris  Exposition  in  1878  in  a 
field  trial,  in  which  over  50  plows  from  all  nations 
competed. 

Mr.  Deere  has  been  twice  married:  In  1827,  at 
Granville,  Vt.,  to  Miss  Damaris  Lamb,  who  died  at 
Moline,  Feb.  17,  1865.  Of  the  eight  children  she 
bore,  five  only  survive  (July,  1885):  Charles  H., 
Mrs.  Jennette  D.  Chapman,  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Webber, 
Mrs.  Emma  C.  Velie,  and  Mrs.  Alice  M.  Cady.  His 
second  marriage  occurred  in  1867,  also  at  Granville, 
and  to  a  younger  sister  of  his  first  wife. 

Mr.  Deere  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Moline 
and  served  two  years.  He  was  also  President  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Moline,  and  a  director  to 
the  present  day.  He  was  also  a  large  contributor 
toward  the  founding  of  the  public  library,  and  was  a 
director  of  the  same  for  many  years. 

In  personal  appearance,  Mr.  Deere  is  large,  well 
proportioned  and  strongly  built,  and  has  been  blessed 


with  strength  capable  of  almost  unlimited  endurance. 
In  his  better  days  he  would  stand  at  his  anvil  from 
five  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  nine  at  night,  build- 
ing plows,  shoeing  horses  and  constructing  ma- 
chinery for  saw-mills.  His  features  are  strong, 
indicating  great  power  and  decision  of  character. 
His  face  is  frank  and  open,  and  his  address  generally 
bespeaks  him  what  he  is,  a  man  of  tender  social  na- 
ture and  noble  character.  His  feelings  lie  near  the 
surface,  and  he  is  singularly  sensitive  to  pathos, 
whether  of  sorrow  or  of  joy.  His  sympathy  and 
help  quickly  respond  to  the  call  of  trouble  or  of  mis- 
fortune, and  he  rejoices  in  the  prosperity  of  all  about 
him.  Absorbed  in  business,  he  has  not  had  the  de- 
sire nor  time  for  public  office,  which  has  at  times 
sought  his  services.  He  has,  however,  always  been 
in  sympathy  with  public  interests,  and  has  given 
liberally  of  his  means  to  advance  them.  He  has 
been  a  Republican  in  politics  since  the  organization 
of  that  party.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  and  a  generous  contributor  to 
local  and  foreign  objects  of  benevolence.  The  re- 
ligious, moral  and  educational  interests  of  society 
have  had  in  him  a  friend  and  patron.  A  generous 
hospitality  is  shown  at  his  comfortable  home,  and 
few  men  are  more  entertaining  in  the  social  circle, 
or  have  a  more  happy  faculty  of  making  every  one 
feel  at  ease. 

Mr.  Deere  is  still  active  and  strong,  and  many 
years  may  he  live  to  enjoy  his  success  and  the  friend- 
ships he  has  made,  and  to  do  good,  and  then  may  he 
possess  the  immortality  in  a  higher  than  material 
sense  that  comes  to  those  who  have  done  well.  It 
is  a  pleasure  to  the  publishers  of  this  Album  to  pre- 
sent in  its  pages  a  portrait  of  a  man  like  Mr.  Deere, 
and  we  know  it  will  be  gladly  received  by  the 
patrons  of  the  work.  The  portrait  of  Mr.  Deere 
which  appears  in  connection  with  this  sketch,  is  en- 
graved from  a  photograph  taken  in  1885. 


^OOO^ 


— ~n  ■* 

j;isOri  obert  H.  Munro,  senior  partner  of  Munro 

alii:    Bros.,  carriage  manufacturers,  was  born  at 


Davenport,  Iowa,  March   16,    1857,  and  is 

WV    tlle  son  oi  Rol;)ert  anc*  Isabel  (Ewing)  Munro. 
His  parents  were  from  Scotland,  his  father  a 
native  of  Edinburgh,  and  his  mother  of  Glas- 
gow. They  emigrated  to  America  in  1850.  His  father 


V" 


4> 


t 


£rXHn  n  §  n  ns^ — ^^- 


208 


•  7*v^ 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY 


4?@>>(<s) 


was  an  early  settler  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  has 
long  been  engaged  in  carriage-manufacturing. 

Robert  H.,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  and  then  found 
employment  with  Mason  &  Evans,  carriage-makers 
of  Davenport,  where  he  commenced  learning  the  car- 
riage-making trade,  and  completed  his  apprenticeship 
with  a  firm  in  Chillicothe,  IU.  He  traveled  and 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  various  cities,  and  finally 
returned  to  Davenport,  where  he  operated  in  George 
A.  Bain  &  Company's  carriage  shops  one  year.  In 
February,  i8Sr,  he  formed  the  existing  partnership 
with  his  brother  John,  and  established  the  Moline 
Carriage  Works. 

In  politics  Mr.  Munroe  is  a  Republican. 


— *= 


4_ 


\Yf$(k\  illiarn  Marshall,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
iatsO'fl  Rock  Island  County,  and  a  resident  of 
1  •  ~|  Cordova,  was  born  in  Hopewell,  Hunter- 
don (now  Mercer)  Co.,  N.  J.,  Nov.  22,  1S15. 
He  was  a  son  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Larison)  Marshall,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  same  State.  His  father  was  of  German  an- 
cestry and  his  mother  of  English. 

He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  town,  reared  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  1837  he  came  with  a  horse 
team  to  the  great  Prairie  State,  bringing  with  him 
provisions  and  cooking  utensils,  and  camping  by  the 
way,  the  journey  consuming  52  days.  The  family 
then  consisted  of  himself,  wife  and  eight  children. 
They  arrived  at  Cordova,  where  there  was  a  log 
house,  nearly  completed,  and  which  they  occupied. 
He  made  a  claim  of  Government  land  adjoining  the 
town  plat,  and  entered  it  when  it  was  surveyed  and 
placed  in  market.  The  parents  both  died  here. 
The  names  of  their  children  were — John  and  Jona- 
than, now  deceased;  William,  who  lives  in  Port  By- 
ron ;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Dallas,  Tex. ;  Rebecca, 
who  resides  in  Cordova  ;  George,  who  is  a  resident 
of  Fort  Worth,  Tex.;  Elijah  L.,  a  practicing  physi- 
cian at  Keithsburg,  111.;  and  Elizabeth,  now  de- 
ceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  made  his  home  with  his 
parents  until  the  time  of  his  marriage,  in  1S47,  t0 
Priscilla  C.  Marshall,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
them  located  on    land  which   he   had   previously  en- 


tered near  the  village,  and  engaged  in  farming  pur- 
suits. He  has  planted  fruit  and  shade  trees  upon 
the  place,  and  otherwise  improved  it,  and  rendered 
it  a  valuable  farm.  In  i860  he  built  a  house  in 
Cordova  village,  moved  into  it,  and  has  since  resided 
there.  He  has  since  been  interested  in  railroad 
matters,  having  taken  numerous  contracts  in  this 
State  and  Missouri.  In  his  political  views  he  stands 
upon  the  Democratic  platform,  and  he  has  long  been 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  township  and  county. 
He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Cordova  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  also  Assessor,  etc.  In  1852 
he  was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  State 
Legislature,  receiving  the  unanimous  vote  of  his  own 
township;  and  he  was  re-elected  in  1854. 

His  first  wife  died  Sept.  12,  1848,  and  his  second 
marriage  occurred  April  17,  1849,  when  he  united 
his  fortunes  with  those  of  Rebecca  Hennes,  widow 
of  Horace  Wilson,  and  a  native  of  Fayette  Co,  Ind. 
By  this  marriage  there  have  been  four  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall,  namely:  Flora,  now  the 
wife  of  John  Willet,  and  living  in  Iowa  ;  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  William  Phillips,  now  residing  in  Port  Byron; 
Annie,  who  lives  in  Cheyenne;  and  Norman  B.,  a 
practicing  physician  in  Geneseo,  111.,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia. 
Mrs.  M.  had  one  child  by  her  first  marriage,  named 
Sophia,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Rodney  K.  McCor- 
mick,  and  is  living  in  Coe  Township. 


i 


^ndrew  Friberg,  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Moline  Plow  Company,  a  stockholder  in 
the  same,  and  inspector  of  agiicultural  im 
plements,  and  general  superintendent  of  the 
shops,  was  born  in  Sweden,  April  8,  1828.  He 
learned  the  blacksmith  trade  in  his  native 
country,  and  in  1850  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
Arriving  at  Chicago,  he  spent  nine  months  in  that 
city,  and  then,  in  1851,  came  to  Moline,  this  county. 
He  immediately  began  work  for  Deere,  Tate  &  Gould,  K 
and  seven  months  later  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  foreman  of  the  blacksmith  department,  which  he 
held  for  12  years.  In  1864  Mr.  Fnberg  went  to 
Idaho  and  Montana  Territories,  spent  about  seven  ^> 
months  in  the  mountains,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  returned  to  Moline,  and  in  1865  formed  a  part- 


^nu^mi^^s — 5»e- 


4^^ 


mm 


§ti| 


fvi«a 


View  fp?om   north! 


Residence  of  HON.  JOHN 


SOUTHWEST      PROSPECT. 


DEERE ,  MOLI  NE,  ILLS 


■evcamsiw^ 


ROCK  ISLAND    COUNTY 


2J3 


nership  with   Henry  VV.  Candee  and  R.    K.   Swan, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Candee,  Swan  &  Co.,  for  the 
manufacture  of  agricultural  implements,  Mr.  Friberg 
acting  as  mechanical  manager  of  the    works.     Soon 
afterwards  Mr.  George  Stevens  bought  an  interest  in 
the  works  and  subsequently  Mr.  S.  W.  Wheelock  be- 
came a  partner.     In  1S70,  the  company  was  incor- 
porated under  the  State  laws,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$400,000,  under  the  name  of  the  Moline  Plow  Com- 
pany.    (See  history  of  this  important  manufacturing 
establishment  elsewhere  in  this  work.)     Mr.   Friberg 
was  elected  one  of  the  directors  of  the  company,  and 
superintendent  of  the  shops,  and  served  as  such  until 
1876,  when  he  retired  on  account  of  impaired  health. 
Three  years  later,  he  resumed  active   relations   with 
the  company,  since  which  lime  he  has  been  inspector 
of    agricultural    implements    and    general     superin- 
tendent. 

Mr.  Friberg  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Rock 
Island,  Nov.  20,  1854,  to  Miss  Louisa  Peterson,  who 
was  born  in  Sweden.  She  has  borne  her  husband 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Albert  B., 
born  at  Moline,  Nov.  15,  1855,  died  Sept.  20,  1862; 
Cassius  D.,  born  Aug.  19,  1858;  Edward  F,  born 
March  24,  1861,  died  Nov.  12,  1862;  George  H., 
born  Oct.  25,  r863;  Ina  J.,  born  June  9,  1866; 
Kornelia  L.,  born  July  10,  1S69;  Minnie  N.,  born 
April  17,  1872,  died  April  7,  1875;  and  Oliver  P, 
born  Aug.  9,  1876.  The  wife  and  mother  died 
March  5,  1883,  at  Moline,  mourned  by  many  rela- 
tives and  a  host  of  friends. 

Mr.  Friberg,  as  is  shown  by  the  above  sketch,  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  one  of  the  most  important  es- 
tablishments in  the  Northwest,  and  is  the  only  re- 
maining partner  of  the  original  firm  now  connected 
with  that  institution.  He  has,  with  the  exception  of 
two  or  three  years  (during  which  time  he  was  in- 
capacitated by  impaired  health),  been  one  of  the 
leading  spirits  of  the  business.  His  thorough  me- 
chanical knowledge  and  faithful  supervision  of  the 
work  has  done  much  to  insure  the  perfection  of  the 
work  turned  out,  and  to  aid  in  bringing  the  quality  of 
the  plows  and  other  farm  machinery  made  by  this 
company  up  to  the  high  standard  which  it  has  at- 
tained. As  a  business  man  and  citizen,  he  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  his 
broad  and  cosmopolitan  views  of  life  having  led  him 
easily  into  the  ways  and  habits  of  the  people  of  the 


New  World,  with  whom  he  fraternizes  so  naturally.    'Vf 
He  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views,  while   a  friend   to 
Churches    in    general.     He  has  never    been    ambi-    jjp 
tious  of  the  honors  of  office,  and  it  is  said  was  never 
known  to  accept  any  offers  but  that  of  Village  Trus-    ^ 
tee  of  Moline  in  the  early  days  of  the  history  of  that 
town.     Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party. 


"S~3%"is^-S"~ 


I 


I  gnatz  Huber,  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  of  Rock  Island  city,  engaged 
in  the  brewing  business,  came  to  this  place 
in  185  1,  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  was  born 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  Feb.  1,  1826,  and  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  1849.  His 
younger  days,  until  the  age  of  18  years,  were  spent 
in  school  in  his  native  country.  It  was  in  that  coun- 
try also  that  he  first  learned  the  trade  of  brewer,  be- 
sides working  on  a  farm.  His  father  followed  the 
same  vocation  in  life  (that  of  a  brewer),  and  it  was 
in  his  brewery  that  Mr.  Huber,  subject  of  this  notice,  j 
first  learned  the  secrets  of  that  business. 

Coming  to  the  United  Slates   in   the  year  named,    ; 
Mr.  Huber,  having  expended  what   little  money  he    *i 
had,  and  being  of  that  disposition   which   would  not    ,  } 
allow  him  to  pass  his   days  in   idleness,  even  had  lie 
the  competency  of  a  "  Vanderbilt,"  he   engaged  to 
work  on  a  farm  for  the  "  magnificent  "  wages  of  62^ 
cents  per  day  for  the  first  month.    Leaving  the  farm, 
he  engaged  to  work  in  a  brewery  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and    followed    that    vocation    for  ten   months;  then 
worked  at  the  same  business  in  Cincinnati  one  year. 
At  this  point  of  Mr.    Huber's   history,  he  came  to 
Rock  Island  city,  and  engaged  in  the  brewing  busi- 
ness for  one  month,  when   he   formed   a  partnership 
with  August  Lettig,  which  partnership   existed  until 
April  1,  1854,  when  Mr.  Huber  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  his  partner  and  has  since  continued  in   the 
business  alone,  covering  a  period  of  3T  years.     Since 
that  time  he  has  spent  over  $100,000  in  improvements. 
He  employs   some   16  men   and  four  teams   on    the 
road.     He  also  owns  the  beer-bottling  establishment 
on  Third  Avenue,  and  also  his  large  brewery  on  Elm 
Street,  besides  property  in   Milan   and   Moline.     He 
is  a  director  in  the  People's  Bank,  and  has  been  such 
since  its  organization.     Coming  to  Rock  Island   city 


K-MSSHIB^A;©- 


m* 


^/\ 


<«HIH>r 


214 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


^ 


A 


r 


V 


^> 


when  that  village  was  in  its  infancy,  and  locating 
there  with  a  firm  belief  in  the  future  development, 
not  only  of  the  city,  but  also  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, and  remaining  as  he  did,  and  meeting  with  the 
success  that  he  has,  the  latter  can  be  but  attributed 
to  his  good  judgment,  energetic  determination  and 
active  co-operation  of  his  good  helpmeet. 

Mr.  Huber  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine Koehler,  a  native  of  Germany.  Their  children 
are  Amelia,  Lillie  and  Otto,  all  of  whom  are  living  at 
home. 

Politically,  Mr.  Huber  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  one 
of  those  men  of  whom  it  can  be  said  he  takes  an 
interest  in  any  movement  calculated  to  benefit  the 
city  and  community  in  which  he  resides,  and  that, 
although  he  has  met  with  success  in  his  accumula- 
tions, none  can  attribute  to  him  any  degree  of  selfish- 
ness. He  has  a  beautiful  residence  on  Third  Avenue 
between  23d  and  24th  Streets,  where  he  owns  a  half 
block  of  land. 


>;  f^W  ddison  N.  Philleo,  deceased,  formerly  a 
r^MM{  res'dent  of  Coe  Township,  was  born  in 
ii W@f  Connecticut,  Dec.  25,  1805.  When  he  was 
~^j!tai  young  his  mother  died,  and  at  the  tender  age 
!^       of  15  he  struck  out  into  the  world  to  take  care 

)  of  himself,  first  peddling  Yankee  notions  for  a 
time,  in  Connecticut,  and  next  in  selling  goods  by- 
wholesale  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1836  he  emi- 
grated \Vest,  coming  by  way  of  the  Erie  Canal  to 
Buffalo,  and  the  lakes  to  Chicago.  He  first  made  a 
claim  on  section  18,  of  township  21,  range  2  east, 
now  known  as  Coe  Township.  After  the  land  was 
surveyed  by  the  Government  and  placed  in  market, 
he  entered  his  claim.  He  had  just  erected  a  log 
cabin  in  the  timber,  which  he  afterwards  moved  to 
the  prairie  in  the  southeastern  part  of  section  18, 
and  occupied  it  as  a  residence  for  a  number  of  years, 
when  he  built  another  near  by  and  moved  into  it. 
In  1850  he  erected  a  good  frame  residence,  and 
since  put  up  several  good  farm  structures  and  other 
wise  improved  the  farm  until  he  made  it  a  valuable 
one;  it  comprised  320  acres. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Philleo  occurred  June  n,  1880. 
He  was  first  married  March  5,  1835,  to  Lovina  Cum- 
mings,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  who  died 


T 


Sept.  26,  1845,  leaving  four  children,  viz.:  Russell 
C,  who  enlisted  in  the  late  war  and  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Shiloh;  William  W.,  who  lives  in  Ad- 
ams Co.,  Neb.  ;  Thomas,  who  resides  in  Washington 
Territory ;  and  Edward  A.,  a  resident  of  Adams  Co., 
Neb.  Mr.  Philleo  was  married  a  second  time,  July 
15,  1846,  to  Mary  M.  Willman,  who  was  born  in 
Williamsburg,  Canada,  Dec.  24,  1821.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  are  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living,  namely:  Emily,  Livonia  C,  Jane  Kate, 
Bradford  N.  and  Eveline  L. 

* -^- 

§]Jj|[  ev.  Allen  B.  Hitchcock,  deceased,  was 
■SeHf:  born  in  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  March 
20,  1815,  and  was  the  son  of  Harvey  and 
'*v\  Caroline  Hitchcock.  He  was  one  of  a  family 
of  five  ministers,  having  had  four  brothers 
and  one  brother-in-law  in  that  holy  calling. 
He  united  with  the  Congregational  Church  when 
15  years  of  age,  was  a  graduate  of  Illinois  College 
and  the  Theological  Department  of  Yale  College, 
also  attended  Harvard  for  a  short  time,  and  was  or- 
dained a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  early  manhood. 
He  came  West  in  1S40  in  search  of  a  field  of  labor 
where  he  might  be  useful,  and  located  at  Davenport, 
Iowa,  where  he  organized  the  Congregational  Church 
of  that  city,  of  which  he  was  the  Pastor  until  trie 
autumn  of  1844.  In  October  of  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  Moline,  and  was  chosen  Pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  of  that  place.  He  was  the 
second  Pastor  in  succession,  and  continued  to  hold 
that  position  for  20  years,  during  which  time  he  la- 
bored with  great  ardor  to  build  up  a  Christian  com- 
munity at  Moline.  In  the  pulpit,  Sunday-school, 
lecture  room,  or  in  private  discourse,  his  influence 
was  always  exerted  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-man, 
and  his  teachings  were  always  calculated  to  make 
people  better  and  happier. 

Mr.  Hitchcock  was  a  man  of  superior  attainments, 
gifted  with  a  good  command  of  language,  logical  in 
argument,  quick  to  sound  the  depth  of  his  subject 
and  clear  in  the  presentation  of  his  views.  His  zeal 
and  earnestness  sometimes  led  him  to  forget  the 
lapse  of  time,  a  fault  his  congregation  was  ever  ready 
to  excuse,  in  view  of  the  interesting  nature  of  his 
discourse.     It  is   said  that  on  one  occasion  his  ser- 


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mon  lasted  two  and  a  half  hours,  during  which  time 
he  held  his  audience  in  earnest  attention  by  his 
eloquence  and  fervor.  His  great  desire  was  to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  and  happiness  of  his  fellow  crea- 
tures and  to  cultivate  peace  and  good  will,  as  well 
as  to  instruct  in  things  spiritual.  He  was  thorough 
in  his  investigation  of  the  subject  under  consider- 
ation, then  positive  and  independent  in  his  conclu- 
sions. He  loved  argument,  and  was  always  interesting 
and  instructive  in  conversation.  Possessed  of  a  fine 
sense  of  honor,  he  admired  honesty  and  truth,  and 
his  teachings  were  always  calculated  to  develop 
those  great  principles.  He  was  noted  for  his  habit 
of  industry  and  desire  to  be  always  doing  something 
useful.  But  where  he  was  known  at  his  best,  was  in 
his  home  and  in  the  social  circle.  No  one  had  more 
friends  among  both  young  and  old.  His  home  was 
a  favorite  resort,  and  all  were  glad  to  partake  of  his 
genial  hospitality.  So  thoroughly  was  he  beloved 
and  respected  regardless  of  creed  or  social  position, 
that  it  is  said  that  the  saloon-keepers  of  Moline 
closed  their  doors  and  suspended  business  during 
his  funeral,  out  of  respect  to  his  memory.  While  he 
had  spoken  fearlessly  against  their  traffic  while  liv- 
ing, he  had  done  so  in  so  fair  a  manner  that  he  com- 
manded their  respect  and  esteem. 

In  his  political  views,  he  was  a  pronounced  anti- 
slavery  man  from  early  manhood  and  later  an  earn- 
est Republican.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late 
war  he  was  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  a  warm  friend  of  the  soldiers.  His  earnest  ef- 
forts in  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  his  able  support 
of  sanitary  measures  identified  him  so  closely  with 
the  soldiers  that  his  grave  is  as  regularly  decorated 
on  the  30th  of  every  May  as  that  of  any  soldier. 
His  name  is  also  on  the  soldiers'  monument.  His 
death  occurred  Dec.  15,  1873. 

Mr.  Hitchcock  was  united  in  marriage,  in  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  July  4,  1840,  to  Miss  Frances  Hotch- 
kiss,  daughter  of  Elias  Hotchkiss.  She  was  born  in 
New  Haven,  Conn.  The  issue  of  their  union  was 
five  children,  namely:  Frances  E.,  born  in  Daven- 
port, May  4,  1842,  now  wife  of  Dr.  R.  M.  Lackey, 
of  Oak  Park,  111.;  Maria  \Y.,  born  Oct.  27,  1844, 
wife  of  John  M.  Holt,  of  Moline,  111. ;  Frederick  E., 
born  Feb.  27,  1847,  and  died  aged  two  years ;  Al- 
mira  W.,  born  May  7,  1850,  and  died  aged  eight 
years;  Elizabeth   A.,  born  May   23,  1853,  now  wife 


of  Charles  B.  Head,  of  Meriden,  Iowa.  Mr.  Hitch- 
cock's wife,  an  estimable  lady,  survived  him  a  little 
more  than  two  years,  her  death  occurring  Feb.  23, 
r876. 


tb-hristopher  C.  Webber,  deceased,  was  bom 
■    in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  1,  r8io,and 


died  at  his  home  in  Rock  Island  city, 
March  5,  1865.  His  parents,  William  and 
Betsey  (Kemp)  Webber,  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  of  Holland-Dutch  extraction,  re- 
moved from  New  York  State  to  Michigan  while  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  very  young,  and  there 
sp-nt  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

Young  Mr.  Webber  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  17  years  made  his  way 
to  Geneseo,  111.,  where,  in  company  with  an  older 
brother,  he  was  several  years  engaged  in  the  dry- 
goods  business.  From  Geneseo  he  came  to  Rock 
Island  in  the  year  1849,  and  here  carried  on  a  gen- 
eral store  for  a  few  years.  In  1850,  at  the  head  of 
the  firm  of  C.  C.  Webber  &  Co.,  he  organized  and 
put  into  operation  the  "  Union  Foundry,"  in  a  frame 
structure,  and  the  first  foundry  put  up  in  this  city. 
The  building  was  destroyed  by  fire,  probably  the 
same  year  it  was  started,  and  the  company  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  erect  a  brick  edifice,  with  much 
larger  capacity  than  the  first.  At  about  the  same 
time,  foundries  were  planted  at  Davenport  and  Mo- 
line, and  while  there  was  abundance  of  business  for 
all  the  concerns,  a  great  rivalry  was  engendered,  and 
the  competition  was  carried  possibly  to  an  unprofit- 
able degree.  However,  the  "  Union  Works"  held 
their  own,  and  ran  along  with  varying  success  until 
the  great  financial  depression  of  1857.  Either  in 
that  year  or  soon  afterwards,  Mr.  Webber  withdrew 
from  the  company  and  in  1862  became  a  partner 
with  Deere  &  Co.,  Moline,  adding  to  that  already 
extensive  manufactory  of  agricultural  implements 
the  making  of  improved  cultivators.  The  history  of 
the  Deere  &  Company  Plow  Works  will  be  handed 
down  to  posterity,  and  will  show  it  to  be  one  of  the 
greatest  enterprises  of  its  character  in  the  United 
States;  and  Mr.  Webber,  who  remained  with  it  till 
his  death,  will  be  remembered  as  more  than  an  ordi- 
nary factor  in  its  greatest  achievements.     He  began 


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life  as  a  farmer's  boy,  and  worked  his  way  to  success, 
depending  always  upon  his  individual  resources,  and 
proving  himself  capable  at  all  times  of  meeting  suc- 
cessfully the  exigencies  of  the  occasion. 

He  was  rather  retiring  in  his  disposition,  sought  no 
publicity,  and  preferred  only  the  excitement  of  active 
business.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  repre- 
senting his  Ward  as  Alderman  in  the  Rock  Island 
City  Council,  and  this  was  the  only  public  office  he 
had  ever  consented  to  fill. 

Dec.  17,  185  1,  Mr.  Webber  was  united  in  marriage, 
at  Moline,  to  Ellen  S.,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  John 
Deere,  and  had  born  to  him  six  children  :  Ada  L., 
wife  of  William  G.  Mixter,  Professor  of  Chemistry  at 
Yale  College ;  Grace  E.,  wife  of  B.  G.  Keator,  of  Mo- 
line ;  Alice  F.,  Charles  C.  and  Mary  E. ;  Frank  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Webber  was  identified  prominently  with  the 
Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  fraternities,  and  was  lib- 
eral in  both  his  political  and  religious  views.  He 
left  his  family  a  handsome  competency,  and  h  s  mag- 
nificent mansion  on  the  Elm  Street  bluffs,  overlook- 
ing the  Mississippi  River  and  the  city  of  Davenport, 
is  yet  occupied  by  Mrs.  Webber,  who  in  the  success- 
ful management  and  direction  of  the  large  estates 
left  her,  shows  that  she  inherited  much  of  the  busi- 
ness sagacity  of  her  father,  and  that  Mr.  Webber  was 
wise  in  the  selection  of  a  wife. 


lbert  F.  Hollister,  eldest  son  of  Edmund 
r    and   Emma  L.  (Hall)  Hollister,  is  a  resi- 
lil9^*  dent  of  Coe  Township,  and  was  born  in 
Greenville,    Washington    Co.,   N.    Y.,  Jan.    1, 
1836.     He  was  but  a  year  old  when  his  par- 
ents emigrated  with  him  to  this   county,  set- 
tling in    what   is    now   Rural  Township.     There   lie 
grew  up  to  manhood,  attending  the  common  schools 
and  assisting  his  father  in  the   mill.     When    in    his 
21st  year,   he  went  to  Wabaunsee  Co.,  Kan.,  where 
he  worked  in  a  steam  saw-mill  two  years  ;  next  he 
prospected  and  mined  for  eight  months  in  Colorado; 
then,  returning  to  this  county,  he  rented  land  in  Coe 
Township,  upon  which  he  began  farming.     In  1866 
he  purchased  80  acres  of  land,  being  the  east  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section    18,   that   township. 
^-     This  place   he  has  finely    improved   and   furnished 


with  a  good  complement  of  farm  buildings.  His  son 
owns  60  acres  adjoining,  on  section  19.  Mr.  Hol- 
lister raises  grain  and  also  raises  and  ships  live 
stock,  as  cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
his  political  views,  and  he  has  served  as  Supervisor 
of  his  township  four  years  and  as  Township  Treas- 
urer. 

He  was  united  in  marriage,  Oct.  12,  i860,  to 
Rebecca  Reed,  daughter  of  David  and  Anna  (Nay- 
lor)  Reed,  both  her  parents  being  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  five  children, 
namely:  Eva  G.,  Emma  L.,  Gracie  A.,  Frederick 
A.  and  Edmund  J. 


'£{  JSa^Pt-  Luke  E-  Hemenway,  one  of  the  most 


systematic  and  efficient  Postmasters  in 
%'(£/*  ^  the  United  States,  was  born  at  Shoreham, 
$fo  Addison  Co.,  Vt.,  Aug.  7,  1816.  His  par- 
W      ents,  Francis  S.  and  Clara  (Turrill)  Hemen- 


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way,  natives  of  Massachusetts  and  of  English 
descent,  reared  to  men  and  women  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.  The  elder  Mr.  Hemenway  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  came  with  such  of  his 
family  as  were  yet  home  in  1853  to  Ogle  Co.,  111., 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  years, — dying 
in  1856,  at  the  age  of  78  years. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  the  earlier  years 
of  his  youth  in  his  native  town,  and  there,  at  the 
common  schools,  acquired  a  fair  English  education. 
Prior  to  leaving  Vermont,  which  occurred  in  the  fall 
of  1  838,  he  spent  several  years  clerking  in  various 
mercantile  establishments  in  the  small  Green  Moun- 
tain towns.  From  Bethel,  Vt.,  he  shipped  direct  to 
Grand  de  Tour,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  in  the  year  above 
stated,  and  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Solon  Cumins,  engaged  at  once  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness. He  remained  at  Grand  de  Tour  and  vicinity 
17  years,  the  last  four  of  which  were  devoted  to 
farming,  an  occupation  resorted  to  for  the  purpose 
of  recuperating  his  health,  which  by  the  many  years 
of  in-door  life  had  been  sadly  impaired.  In  1855  he 
removed  to  Moline  and  was  employed  by  Mr.  John 
Deere  as  book-keeper  for  about  four  years.  The 
succeeding  five  years,  in  partnership  with  H.  A. 
Barnard,  he  tried  his  hand  at  the  manufacture  of 
chairs,  furniture,  etc.,  and  then  after  an  army  expe- 


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rience,  he  returned  to  book-keeping,  a  position  he 
held  with  the  Moline  Plow  Company  for  about  eight 
years. 

It  was  in  May,  1864,  he  entered  the  army,  and  at 
the  organization  of  the  i32d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  was 
elected  Captain  of  Co.  H,  a  rank  he  held  to  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  service.  Capt.  Hemenway 
was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Moline  by  President 
Hayes  in  1877,  and  re-appointed  by  President  Ar- 
thur in  1 881 .  He  has  served  the  city  of  Moline  as 
Alderman,  Clerk  and  Trustee;  was  one  of  the  char- 
ter members,  and  is  Past  Master  of  Doric  Lodge,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Mrs.  Hemenway,  nee  Miss  Jane  E.  Marsh,  to 
whom  Mr.  H.  was  united  in  marriage  at  Grand  de 
Tour  in  June,  1842,  died  Dec.  26,  1883.  Of  the 
four  children  born  to  them,  three  are  living:  Fred 
C.  Hemenway  is  manager  of  J.  M.  Christy's  Cracker 
Manufactory  at  Rock  Island;  Charles  F.  is  cashier 
of  the  Moline  National  Bank;  and  Ellen  M.  is  the 
wife  of  J.  M.  Christy. 


artin  Schoonmaker,  dealer  in  grain  at 
Reynolds,  this  county,  is  a  native  of 
Green  County,  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
where  he  was  horn  Oct.  21,  1835.  His 
"X  father,  Christian  Schoonmaker,  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  a  native  of  the  same  State,  of 
German  descent.  He  was  reared  in  Green  County, 
and  married  Silvia  Maraquot,  a  native  of  the  same 
county,  of  New  England  parentage  and  of  German 
descent.  During  his  life  he  became  a  prominent 
man,  and  he  died  in  the  same  county  in  the  year 
1877,  over  60  years  of  age.  The  widow  is  yet  living 
with  her  younger  son,  Walter,  in  that  county,  now 
being  about  70  years  of  age. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  member  of  the 
parental  household  until  he  was  about  20  years  of 
age,  being  brought  up  in  the  noble  and  independent 
vocation  of  agriculture,  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools  At  the  age  of  2T  he  emigrated  West,  set- 
tling in  this  county,  in  Edgington  Township,  where 
he  continued  in  his  calling  In  1870  he  engaged  in 
the  sale  of  agricultural  implements  at  Edgington, 
and  afterward  at  Milan,  being  at  the  latter  place  in 
partnership  with  G.  M.  Dixson  two  years.      Return- 


ing to  the  village  of  Edgington,  he  established  a  gen- 
eral store,  where  he  successfully  followed  mercantile 
business  for  six  years,  and  also  dealt  in  live  stock. 
At  the  end  of  the  six  years  mentioned  he  sold  his 
store,  and  has  since  been  employed  exclusively  in 
the  grain  business  at  Reynolds.  He  is  also  agent 
for  the  Hartford,  Phcenix,  Queen,  of  Liverpool,  and 
German,  of  Freeport,  Insurance  Companies.  Since 
1 88 1  he  has  also  held  the  office  of  Notary  Public. 
He  has  also  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Township 
Supervisor,  and  is  now  a  School  Director.  Adjoin- 
ing the  village  he  owns  r  6  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  has  a  beautiful  two-story  residence.  He  owns  the 
elevator  at  the  depot,  and  also  a  small  grist-mill, 
which  is  excellent  for  small  grists  and  plain  work. 
He  is  also  the  proprietor  of  a  plat  150  x  170  feet  in 
dimensions  near  the  depot. 

Mr.  S.  was  first  married,  in  Edgington  Township, 
to.  Elizabeth  Boltinghouse,  who  was  born  and 
brought  up  in  this  State,  and  died  in  July,  1870. 
His  second  marriage  occurred  in  Bowling  Township, 
this  county,  when  the  bride  was  Miss  Jennie  Smith. 
She  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  January, 
185  1  ;  was  but  a  small  child  when  her  parents  emi- 
grated West  with  her  to  this  county,  settling  upon  a 
farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schoonmaker  have  had  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased,  viz:  an  infant 
and  Walter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  rg  months.  The 
two  living  are  :  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  April  21', 
1878,  and  Lura,  Jan.  8,  1883. 

Mr.  S.  is  a  stanch  and  reliable  Democrat,  and  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


r:p3I;,on.    Stillman  W.   Wheelock,  President  of 
7:|l?l':     the    .Moline    Plow   Company,  of  the  Moline 
' .'.'. ''>*"*    Paper   Mill   Company,  and   of   the    Moline 
A     National  Bank.     (See  history  of  Moline  indus- 
j      tries,  in   this  volume.)      The   Wheelocks   were 
1       among  the  earliest  settlers,  dating  their  ancestry 
in   this  country   back   to  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers.     Their  history,  first  to  last,  were  it  possible 
to  chronicle  it  within  any  allotted  space,  would  be, 
in   a    large   number  of  individual  instances,  an   un- 
broken  recital   of  simple  life,  exemplary  morals,  in- 
dustry, energy,  and  good  citizenship. 

Chapin    and    Miss    Luc)    Wheelock)    both   having 
the  same  inherited  name)  were  married  at  their  11a- 


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tive  town,  Worcester,  Mass.,  in  1808,  and  of  their  six 
sons,  brought  up  to  manhood,  the  one  whose  name 
heads  this  article  was  third  in  order  of  birth.  His 
parents  moved  from  Massachusetts  to  Erie  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  in  1812,  and  there,  on  June  18,  1816,  Stillman  W. 
Wheelock  was  born.  The  elder  Mr.  Wheelock  was 
a  farmer,  and  brought  his  sons  up  to  know  some- 
thing of  that  industry,  though  it  does  not  appear  any 
one  of  them  ever  followed  it  for  any  length  of  time, 
except  one  brother,  Hon.  D.  L.  Wheelock,  who  moved 
to  Moline  from  his  farm  in  Cook  Co.,  111.,  in  1865, 
which  he  sold.  After  remaining  in  the  city  ten  years 
he  was  elected  at  first  Mayor,  and  re-elected  two 
terms.  On  his  removal  from  this  place  he  settled  in 
Washington  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  now  owns  a  large 
farm.  Chapin  Wheelock,  Sr.,  died  Jan.  10,  1835,  at 
the  old  home  in  Massachusetts,  to  which  place  he 
had  temporarily  returned. 

In  September  of  the  same  year  S.  W.  left  his  home 
at  Holland,  N.  Y.,  and  spent  two  years  in  Massa- 
chusetts, making  his  home  with  his  grandparents, 
but  working  out  in  Worcester  and  Brookfield,  at  a 
low  rate  of  wages.  In  the  fall  of  1837  he  took  his 
accumulated  earnings  (some  $250),  returned  to  the 
family  home  in  New  York,  and  spent  the  amount  in 
schooling,  at  the  Aurora  Academy.  The  following 
winter  he  taught  a  public  school  in  his  native  village, 
at  $15  per  month  and  board  ("  boarding  round  "  was 
then  the  custom  in  that  section),  and  in  the  spring 
of  1839,  with  just  $60  in  his  pocket,  he  left  Buffalo, 
on  the  old  steamer  "  Anthony  Wayne,"  landing  at 
Chicago  May  10,  1839.  At  that  time  there  was  no 
railroad  into  Chicago.  The  city  had  but  one  brick 
building, — -the  old  "  Lake  House,"  on  the  North 
Side.  The  streets  were  a  sea  of  mud,  and  the  side- 
walks were  few  and  exceedingly  rickety  and  irreg- 
ular. Mr.  Wheelock  took  out  of  his  trunk  sufficient 
clothing  for  immediate  use,  tied  it  in  a  yellow  ban- 
dana, slung  the  bundle  over  his  shoulder  on  the  end 
of  a  hickory  stick,  and  took  foot  passage  to  Naper- 
ville,  15  miles  distant,  where  he  spent  the  first  night. 
Next  day  he  walked  to  St.  Charles,  then  a  promising 
Western  town  on  Fox  River.  Determined  to  take 
employment  at  something  which  would  make  him  a 
living,  without  caring  much  what  the  work  might 
be,  he  took  a  job  in  a  hard-wood  saw-mill  at  $1  per 
day,  of  12  hours  each.  The  board  he  received  was 
mostly  mush  and  milk,  fat  pork  and  corn  bread. 

Here  he  worked  one   year,  in  company  with  S.  B. 


Flint  (now  dead),  whose  sister  Mr.  Wheelock  after- 
ward married.  The  Flint  family  had  come  to  St. 
Charles  a  year  before.  In  1840  the  two  men  named, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Flint  &  Wheelock,  rented  the 
saw-mill,  and  ran  it  on  their  own  account.  It  had 
two  upright  saws  and  one  lath  saw.  The  business 
partnership  naturally  developed  an  intimacy  which 
resulted  in  the  marriage  of  S.  W.  Wheelock  and 
Lydia  Flint,  at  St.  Charles,  in  March,  1842. 

Abandoning  the  saw-mill,  Mr.  Wheelock  went  into 
the  hotel  business,  in  the  same  town,  which  he  con- 
tinued for  two  years.  He  then  exchanged  the  hotel 
for  a  farm,  lying  some  seven  miles  from  St.  Charles, 
and  in  the  meantime  built  a  brick  dwelling  in  town, 
which  he  occupied  for  several  years,  giving  his  atten- 
tion to  his  farm. 

During  the  period  covered  by  these  memoranda, 
O.  M.  Butler  and  B.  T.  Hunt  built  a  paper-mill  at 
St.  Charles,  of  which  C.  N.  Smedley,  of  Vermont, 
was  superintendent.  Convinced  that  paper-making 
would  be  a  thrifty  business  in  the  West,  and  learn- 
ing that  there  was  a  splendid  water-power  at  Moline, 
Mr.  Wheelock  and  Mr.  Smedley,  having  but  small 
capital  between  them,  came  down  to  Moline  in  the 
spring  of  1851,  and  bought  out  the  old  foundry  of 
N.  B.  Buford,  for  $5,000.  It  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Moline  Paper  Mill.  The  purchase,  outside 
of  the  real  estate,  was  a  shaky  frame  building,  about 
40  x  60  feet.  Smedley  at  once  went  to  Brattleboro, 
Vt.,  and  made  a  contract  for  machinery  for  the  new 
mill.  Mr.  Butler,  of  St.  Charles,  evidently  fearing 
that  this  mill  might  interfere  with  his  business, 
promptly  represented  to  the  manufacturers  that 
Wheelock  &  Smedley,  with  whom  the  contract  had 
been  made,  were  not  a  sound  firm.  On  this  repre- 
sentation, the  firm  declined  to  make  the  machines, 
although  they  had  twice  agreed  to  do  so.  Mr. 
Wheelock  then  went  to  Goddard,  Rice  &  Co.,  of 
Worcester,  Mass.,  ordered  his  machinery,  and  it  was 
promptly  made.  This  machinery  came  from  Boston 
to  New  Orleans  by  ocean  ;  thence  by  boat  up  the 
Mississippi  River,  and  was  landed  near  the  foot  of 
Lynde  Street.  Its  arrival  excited  a  great  deal  of 
curiosity,  and  its  landing  was  witnessed  by  many  in- 
terested spectators.  Since  then  Mr.  W.  has  bought 
all  his  machinery  from  Goddard,  Rice  &  Company, 
because  they  had  the  good  sense  to  trust  him  when 
he  was  struggling  for  a  business  footing. 

In  the  fall  of  185  1  Mr.  W.  brought  his  wife  and 


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furniture  down  from  St.  Charles  in  a  wagon.  Here 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  went  to  housekeeping,  mutually 
aiding  each  other  in  life's  duties,  faithfully  toiling  to- 
gether, and  together  reaping  the  fruit  of  their  united 
industry. 

In  r853  Mr.  Smedley  sold  his  interest  in  the  paper 
mill  to  James  Fergus.  Prior  to  1S54.  the  year  in 
which  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad 
was  completed  to  this  point,  all  chemicals  used  in 
the  mill  had  to  be  hauled  by  teams  from  Peru,  111., 
to  which  point  they  were  brought  by  canal  from  Chi- 
cago. The  paper  manufactured  was  delivered  by 
teams  to  Galena,  Dubuque,  Cedar  Rapids,  Ottumwa, 
Galesburg,  Peoria,  Knoxville,  and  other  towns  in 
Illinois  and  Iowa.  They  usually  returned  with  a 
cargo  of  rags.  Mr.  Weelock  himself  started  with  a 
four-horse  load  of  print  paper  for  Galena  on  a  cold 
day  in  the  winter  of  1856.  At  Hampton  he  was 
compelled  to  buy  a  warm  cap.  He  delivered  the 
paper  to  the  purchaser,  reloaded  with  a  cargo  of 
rags,  and  reached  home  all  right. 

In  i860  he  built  the  stone  portion  of  the  mill  now 
standing,  and  put  in  a  68-inch  Fourdrinier  paper 
machine.  The  original  machine  was  removed  to 
the  basement,  where  it  is  still  doing  service  in  the 
manufacture  of  wrapping  paper. 

The  Paper  Mill  Company  is  at  present  a  char- 
tered incorporation,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $140,000. 
_The  officers  are  S.  W.  Wheelock,  President ;  Everett 
Wheelock,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

During  the  past  few  years  Mr.  Wheelock  has  paid 
considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  thoroughbred 
horses  and  cattle,  and  numbers  among  his  posses- 
sions in  that  line  some  of  the  finest  bloods  in  the 
State. 

In  1872  Canbee,  Swan  &  Company,  plow  manu- 
facturers, having  been  somewhat  pressed  to  the  wall 
by  moneyed  and  ambitious  rivals,  Mr.  Wheelock, 
first  through  sympathy,  and  second  as  a  business 
scheme,  came  to  their  rescue,  and  at  once  laid  down 
$75,000,  reorganized  the  concern,  converted  it  into  a 
stock  company,  and  became  its  President.  In  1884 
a  statement  of  the  Moline  Plow  Company  showed 
that  the  capital  stock  was  $400,000,  and  its  cash  sur- 
plus amounted  to  $800,000.  July  1,  1885,  the  capi- 
tal stock  was  increased  to  $800,000,  one-half  of  which 
is  controlled  by  Mr.  Wheelock,  leaving  a  net  surplus 
of  $400,000.     The  Moline  Paper  Mill,  out  of  which 


l£K®>K 


Mr.  W.  claims  to  have  made  his  greatest  money,  has 
invested  in  it  a  capital  stock  of  $140,000,  about  $80,- 
000  of  which  is  held  by  the  President,  Mr.  W. 

Mr.  Wheelock  was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of 
and  stockholders  in  the  Malleable  Iron  Works,  under 
its  organization  of  June,  1884,  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $75,000,  of  which  he  is  by  far  the  largest  stock- 
holder. In  this  year  also  was  organized  the  Moline 
Central  Street  Railway,  with  Mr.  Wheelock  as  Presi- 
dent, and  in  June,  1885,  the  road  was  thrown  open 
to  the  public. 

Of  the  three  sisters  and  five  brothers  of  Mr. 
Wheelock,  only  one  of  the  former  and  two  of  the 
latter  are  living.  To  these  Mr.  Wheelock,  from  the 
great  abundance  of  his  wealth,  has  liberally  given 
from  time  to  time.  The  Churches  ot  every  denomi- 
nation in  the  city  have  been  the  recipients  of  his 
bounty,  and  the  poor  and  needy  ever  find  in  him  a 
friend  that  causes  them  to  remember  him  with  their 
blessing.  The  three  story  building  occupied  12  years 
by  the  Moline  postoffice  was  built  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wheelock,  and  its  second  and  third  stories  presented 
to  the  Free  Library  Association.  Nor  was  this  all: 
the  first  large  moneyed  donation  to  this  great  public 
institution  was  by  Mr.  Wheelock,  and  opposite  his 
name  was  placed  the  sum  of  $500.  The  magnitude 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheelock's  gift  in  this  instance,  and 
the  exalted  degree  of  pleasure  thereat  experienced 
by  many  of  the  truly  charitably  disposed,  numbering 
among  them  the  best  people  of  America,  may  be 
imagined  from  the  many  congratulatory  letters  re- 
ceived by  them,  a  few  only  of  which  are  at  this  time 
at  our  command,  and  which  are  given  here: 

"  Moline,  March  21,  1877. 
"  To  S.  W.  Wheelock,  Esq., 

"  Dear  Sir: — At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Con- 
cordia Germania  Society  of  Moline,  held  at  their 
school  building  on  Rodman  Avenue,  on  Thursday 
evening,  March  15,  1877,  the  undersigned  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  draft  resolutions  of  the  thanks 
of  the  society  to  yourself  and  wife  for  your  generous 
donation  to  the  Public  Library  of  Moline.  After  due 
deliberation  we  reported  the  following,  which  on  mo- 
tion was  adopted  unanimously  : 

"  Whereas,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheelock  have  donated 
to  our  Public  Library  the  building  on  Rodman  Ave- 
nue, known  as  the  Postoffice  Building;  and 

"  Whereas,  through  the  gift  the  Library  will  soon 
be  able  to  compete  with  the  best  in  the  State;  and 

"  Whereas,  all  people  will  be  benefited  by  it ; 
therefore,  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  we,  as  members  of  the  Turners' 


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Society,  tender  our  heartfelt  thanks  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
S.  W.  Wheelock  for  their  magnificent  and  generous 
donation. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 
sent  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheelock,  and  that  the  same 
be  published  in  the  Tri-City  newspapers. 

"  With  our  best  wishes  for  the  future  welfare  of 
yourself  and  family,  we  remain  with  great  respect, 
"  Yours,  etc., 

"August  Timm, 
"Conrad  E.  Grantz, 
"  D.  V.  Witter, 

"  Committee." 

"Gilbert,  March  14,  1877. 
"  S.  W.  Wheelock,  Esq., 

"  Dear  Sir  : — As  one  of  the  great  family  on  whom 
you  and  your  wife  have  conferred  so  great  a  gift,  let 
me  congratulate  you,  and  ask  to  share  the  good  feel- 
ing which  I  know  must  follow  the  exercise  and  gra- 
cious use  of  means  you  have  accumulated  beyond 
your  need.  I  regard  it  as  not  only  benevolence,  but 
also  practical  wisdom,  where  I  see  a  noble  institu- 
tion of  any  kind  started  or  strengthened  during  the 
life  of  the  giver.  It  is  little  indeed  to  direct  the  use 
of  money  which  the'  giver  can  no  longer  grasp.  May 
you  live  long  enough  to  see  the  fruits  you  have  pro- 
vided for  those  simply  willing  to  pluck. 
"  Yours  truly, 

"W.   H.   Holmes." 

"Rock  Island,  March  13,  1876. 
"  Mr.  Wheelock, 

"  Dear  Sir  : — I  see  by  the  newspapers  to-day  that 
you  have  done  a  very  liberal  thing  for  your  city. 
In  no  other  way  could  such  good  be  done,  and  the 
benefit  will  continue  to  increase  forever.  To  your- 
self and  your  good  wife  this  act  will  be  a  blessing  all 
the  days  of  your  life.  I  congratulate  you  with  all 
my  heart.  Truly  yours, 

"  Cornelius  Lynde. 

"  To  S.  W.  Wheelock,  Esq.,  Moline." 

"Winona,  Minn.,  March  19,  1877. 
"Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  W.  Wheelock, 

"Dear  Friends  : — Through  a  Gazette  sent  me  by 
a  Davenport  lady,  I  notice  what  you  have  thought 
best  to  do  for  the  Moline  Public  Library,  and  the 
fact  gave  me  so  much  pleasure  that  I  cannot  help 
exclaiming  with  my  pen  '  God  help  you  '  for  the  deed 
and  the  thought  which  prompted  you  to  make  it. 
Although  circumstances  have  for  the  present  placed 
me  in  Minnesota,  my  interest  in  the  Moline  Library 
is  not  one  '  whit  '  abated,  nor  my  confidence  in  its 
excellent  management.  Feeling,  as  I  do,  most  em- 
phatically, that  the  public  school  and  free  library 
should  go  hand-in-hand,  educating  and  elevating 
together  the  parents  and  children,  I  can  in  all  sin- 
cerity express  my  pleasure,  with  a  hope  that  you  may 
live  long  to  enjoy  the  great  good  your  benefaction 


has  bestowed  upon  the  citizens  of  Moline.  As  she 
stands  at  the  head  in  her  manufacturing  interests,  so 
may  she  be  a  leader  in  intelligence  and  goodness, 
which  is  the  outgrowth;  for,  as  the  mind  opens  to 
receive,  it  also  becomes  broader  and  more  liberal, 
and  your  thoughtful  generosity  will  do  much  toward 
helping  on  in  that  direction.  As  you  have  made 
yourselves  the  pioneers,  I  trust  others  will  be  willing 
to  follow,  and  that  right  speedily. 

"  Yours  in  neighborly  remembrance, 

"  Mrs.  Horatio  G.  Nourse." 

"Moline,  III.,  March  5,  1877. 
"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  W.  Wheelock,  Moline,  111., 

"  My  Dear  Friends  : — I  learned  this  morning  of 
the  munificent  gift  which  you  have  made  to  the  Mo- 
line Public  Library,  and  at  the  moment  I  decided  to 
meet  you  and  tender  you  my  heartfelt  thanks  for  the 
great  favor  which  you  have  conferred  upon  our  peo- 
ple and  city,  but  afterward  concluded  to  write  you 
instead  of  saying  orally  what  I  wanted  to  commu- 
nicate to  you. 

"Your  grand  donation  is  one  that  will  bless  you 
and  bless  Moline  for  all  time.  This  is  true,  and  will 
remain  so  upon  the  pure  and  undying  principle  that 
every  such  glorious  deed  is  doubly  blest.  I  fail  to 
find  language  to  express  to  you  my  gratitude  for  this 
great  favor,  and  will  leave  you  to  infer  the  extent  of 
it  by  telling  you  that  this  has  been  a  happy  day  with 
me — made  so  by  the  fact  that  very  special  and  val- 
ued friends  have  graciously  conceived  and  executed 
a  scheme  which  is  more  momentous  and  enduring  in 
its  character,  magnificent  in  its  proportions  and  con- 
sequences, far-reaching  in  its  beneficial  effects  upon 
our  people  in  the  future,  and  more  generous  in  its 
conception,  than  any  gift  that  has  fallen  upon  us 
since  I  have  lived  in  Moline.  My  wife  eagerly  joins 
me  in  :hese  expressions,  and  in  tne  hope  that  you 
may  live  long  in  the  enjoyment  of  health  and  happi- 
ness. 

"  Very  truly  and  faithfully  your  friend, 

"  Wm.  Kerns." 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  W.  Wheelock, 

"  Friends : — Please  accept  this  basket  of  flowers 
as  a  slight  token  of  our  appreciation  of  your  recent 
gift  of  the  Library  Building  to  the  people  of  Moline. 
"  Sincerely, 

"Mrs.  W.  A.  Nourse, 
"  Mary  F.  Nourse. 
"Moline,  III.,  March  16,  1877." 

Notwithstanding  his  gigantic  business  interests, 
covering  over  a  million  of  dollars,  and  involving  the 
welfare  of  hundreds  of  people,  he  has  found  time  to 
render  the  public  in  an  official  way  much  service.  In 
1877  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city;  re-elected 
in  1879,  and  again  in  1881.  Public-spirited  at  all 
times,  his  moral  and  substantial  support  may  always 


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be  relied  upon  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  public 
weal.  Though  having  very  nearly  compassed  the 
allotted  three-score-and-ten,  S.  W.  Wheelock  ap- 
pears to  be  a  man  of  50.  In  the  enjoyment  of  per- 
fect health,  a  strict  adherent  to  the  laws  of  hygiene, 
he  bids  fair  to  number  yet  many  years  of  usefulness 
in  a  community  that  has  seen  him  rise  in  an  honor- 
able way,  and,  by  the  purest  of  methods,  from  ob- 
scurity to  distinguished  opulence. 

A  fine  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Wheelock  is 
given  on  a  preceding  page,  which  is  even  more  than 
justified  by  the  high  business  and  social  character  of 
the  subject  of  the  foregoing  biography.  A  fine 
double-page  view  of  his  residence  and  surroundings 
is  given  on  pages  224  and  225. 

Chapin  A.  Wheelock,  his  elder  brother,  is  associ- 
ated with  him  in  the  paper-mill,  owning  a  portion  of 
the  stock,  and  has  been  active  in  the  business  since 
its  organization,  and  has  now  retired  mostly  from  the 
business.     He  has  two  sons  engaged  in  the  mill. 

He  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization 
of  that  party,  and  during  the  late  Civil  War  did  much 
to  aid  the  authorities  in  carrying  forward  the  cause 
of  the  Union.  As  financial  agent  of  the  appropri- 
ations and  funds  raised  for  caring  for  the  soldiers' 
families,  he  did  efficient  service.  During  the  various 
campaigns  he  has  always  given  liberally,  both  of  time 
and  money,  to  promote  the  cause  of  the  party  with 
whose  principles  lie  was  in  sympathy. 

Personally,  Mr.  Wheelock  is  a  man  of  genial  and 
pleasing  address  and  impresses  one  at  sight  with  the 
force  and  strength  of  his  character.  His  executive 
abilities  are  really  wonderful.  He  will  successfully 
manage  a  large  number  of  important  enterprises, 
any  one  of  which  would  be  quite  sufficient  for  about 
all  the  energy  of  an  ordinary  man.  But  Mr.  Wheelock 
has  the  rare  faculty  of  infusing  his  force  into  the 
minds  of  his  associates;  hence  his  very  presence  in 
an  establishment  has  the  effect  of  drawing  out  and 
developing  the  best  working  talent  of  every  employe. 
This  aggressive  force  is  what  has  made  Mr.  vVheelock 
the  success  that  he  is.  When  he  makes  up  his  mind 
that  a  certain  thing  has  to  be  done,  it  is  almost 
equally  certain  that  it  wi//  be  done,  and  obstacles 
and  opposition  which  would  discourage  most  men, 
seem  to  have  on  him  nothing  more  than  the  effect  of 
a  stimulant,  by  bringing  out  his  reserve  force. 

As  a  friend,  Mr.  Wheelock  is  an  ardent   and  con- 


stant one,  and  a  friendship  once  formed  by  him  can 
be  broken  only  by  the  basest  ingratitude  or  treachery 
on  the  part  of  the  one  in  whom  he  had  reposed  con- 
fidence. No  one  man  has  done  more  to  build  up 
and  advance  the  interests  of  Moline ;  hence  he  can 
appropriately  be  termed  one  of  its  strongest  pillars. 


eremiah  LeQuatte  follows  the  vocation  of 
a  farmer  on  section  9,  Drury  Township. 
He  is  a  son  of  Shadrach  and  Nancy  Le- 
Quatte, natives  of  Delaware  and  of  French  an- 
cestry. They  married  and  settled  in  Dela- 
ware, and  afterwards  removed  to  Clinton 
County,  Ohio,  and  still  later  to  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
where  they  resided  for  17  years.  In  1838  they  came 
to  Rock  Island  County  and  settled  in  Drury  Town- 
ship, where  they  died,  the  mother  Dec.  15,  1846,  and 
the  father  April  17,  1847.  Their  family  comprised 
nine  children, — Jeremiah  (first),  Frances,  Elizabeth, 
James,  Sarah,  William,  Matthew  and  Jeremiah  (sec- 
ond), and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Jeremiah  (second),  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, was  born  in  Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  17,  1821, 
and  on  arriving  at  the  age  of  nine  months  was  taken 
by  his  parents  to  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  whither  they 
removed.  He  continued  to  reside  under  the  parental 
roof-tree,  and  came  to  Rock  Island  County  in  1838, 
thereby  becoming  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county.  His  education  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  this  county.  His  father  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Drury  Landing,  and  Jeremiah 
followed  the  vocation  of  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store 
for  a  period  of  two  years,  and  aside  from  that  short 
time  has  been  engaged  all  his  life  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  land  own- 
ers, being  the  proprietor  at  the  present  time  of  some 
800  acres  of  land  in  Drury  Township.  He  also  owns 
a  small  tract  of  land  in  Michigan.  Mr.  LeQuatte 
has  an  apple  orchard  in  Drury  Township,  consisting 
of  57  acres.  He  is  also  the  heaviest  tax-payer  in 
Drury  Township. 

Mr.  LeQuatte  was  united  in  marriage  in  Drury 
Township,  Oct.  25,  1843,  to  Charlotte  T.,  the  ac- 
complished daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Priscilla  Drury, 
natives  of  Maryland.  Drury  Township  is  so  named 
in  honor  of  her  father.     Their  family  consisted  of  the 


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following  children:  Miles  L.,  Silas,  Stewart  R., 
William.  Achilles,  Minerva,  Eli,  Melissa,  Charlotte 
T.  and  Helen  M.  Charlotte  (Mrs.  LeQuatte)  was 
born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ind.,  July  2,  1823.  She  has 
borne  her  husband  seven  children.  Hiram  B.,  born 
Aug.  10,  1844,  was  a  soldier  during  the  late  rebel- 
lion; Nancy  P.,  born  Sept.  9,  1S46;  Mary,  born  April 
10,  1848:  William  A.,  born  July  8,  1850;  Sarah  H  , 
born  July  10,  1S52;  Frank,  born  Dec.  4.  1854;  and 
Ed,  born  Dec.  2S,  1856. 

Isaiah  and  Priscilla  Drury  came  to  Rock  Island 
County  in  1836  and  settled  in  Drury  Township, 
where  they  died — he  Nov.  ti,  1854,  and  she  Jan.  18, 
1851.  Mrs.  LeQuatte  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  as  are  also  two  of  her  daughters;  one 
daughter  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
In  politics  Mr.  LeQuatte  was  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  during  the  war  was  a  strong 
Union  man ;  but  at  present  he  votes  for  men  and 
measures  who  come  nearest  to  his  ideas  of  right. 


1P#3  ndrew  J.  Anderson,  head  shipper  of  the 
^%®8f  Moline  Plow  Co.  since  1869.  The  subject. 
'.ti_sria0f  our  sketch  was  born  in  Sweden,  Nov.  10, 
syjter  1847 ;  emigrated  from  Sweden  to  America  in 
1866,  and  came  direct  to  Moline.  He  spent 
the  first  two  years  in  the  service  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, on  the  island.  In  r868  he  engaged  with 
the  Moline  Plow  Co.,  was  appointed  head  shipper  in 
1869,  and  has  held  that  position  continuously  since, 
excepting  the  years  1882-3.  During  this  interval  he 
was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Moline,  and 
in  1884  resumed  his  old  place  with  the  Moline 
Plow  Co. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in  Moline  Dec.  23, 
1871,  to  Miss  Hannah,  daughter  of  Abraham  Larson. 
Mrs.  Anderson  was  born  in  Sweden.  The  issue  of 
their  union  was  seven  children,  five  of  whom  sur- 
vived; Clark  G.  was  born  Jan.  5,  1873;  Edith  G, 
born  Sept.  28,  1874,  died  in  infancy;  Edith,  born 
Aug.  5,  1876;  Philip  R.,  born  Aug.  20,  ^78;  Ans- 
fred  L  ,  born  Feb.  2,  1881  ;  Seth  J.,  born  June  1, 
1883,  died  in  infancy;  Naomi,  born  April  7,    1885. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  are  members  of  the  Swedish 


Trustee.     In  his  political  views  he  is  a   Republican. 


^.:TjE|  Calvin  Goodrich,  a  citizen  of  Canoe  Creek 
T^Sslr  Township,  became  a  resident  of  Rock 
palP"'        Island  County  in   1840.     He  was  born  in 


Huntsvtlle,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  8,  181 1. 
His  father,  Philo  Goodrich,  was  a  native  ol 
Connecticut  and  a  pioneer  of  the  county 
where  his  son  was  born.  The  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Lucretia  Williams,  was  also  born  in  that 
State,  and  she  became  the  wife  of  the  senior  Good- 
rich there.  Their  family  of  children  numbered  15, 
and  Mr.  Goodrich  is  the  youngest  of  13  children. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  but  three  years  of  age. 
His  father  married  a  second  wife,  and  two  danghters 
were  born  by  that  marriage,  and  when  he  was  ten 
the  loss  of  his  father  left  him  wholly  orphaned.  His 
parents  died  while  living  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
the  son  was  taken  in  charge  by  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  whom  he  lived  until  he  was  14.  He  then 
entered  into  an  apprenticeship  with  a  cabinet-maker 
to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  that  vocation,  and  served 
five  years.  He  operated  in  different  parts  of  the 
State  of  his  nativity  and  in  Ohio  until  1836.  In  that 
year  he  made  his  first  acquaintance  with  the  State 
of  Illinois,  whither  he  came  to  locate  a  soldier's 
claim  of  which  he  had  become  the  possessor.  It  was 
laid  in  Effingham  County,  and  after  he  had  taken 
the  necessary  steps  he  returned  to  h\s  native  State. 

He  was  there  married,  in  1838,  to  Emily  Fisher. 
She  was  born  in  March,  1813,  in  Oneida  County, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Ichabod  and  Lucy  Fisher. 
Her  parents  were  born  respectively  in  Massachu- 
setts and  Vermont,  and  they  settled  after  their  mar- 
riage in  Oneida  County,  where  they  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers.  In  the  autumn  of  1813  they  re- 
moved their  family  and  interests  to  Chautauqua 
County,  and  there  too  they  were  pioneers. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodrich  lived  in  Chautauqua 
County  until  rS40.  In  that  year  they  fulfilled  an 
intention  long  cherished  of  making  a  home  in  the 
West,  and  they  moved  their  family  and  effects  to 
Warren,   Pa.,  with  teams.     At   that  place    they  se- 


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cured  means  of  transportation  on  a  river  raft  and 
floated  on  the  Allegheny  to  the  Ohio,  and  then  on 
that  river  to  Louisville,  whence  they  took  passage  on 
a  steamer  to  Port  Byron.  Mr.  Goodrich  obtained 
employment  at  his  trade  at  that  place,  and  operated 
as  a  cabinet-maker  there  until  1853.  He  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  situated  on  sections  7  and  8,  in  what 
was  then  township  19,  range  4,  and  is  now  called 
Canoe  Creek.  He  has  since  given  his  undivided 
attention  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodrich  have  three  children — 
Arthur,  Alice  and  Lucy.  The  latter  lives  with  her 
parents;  the  son  is  married  and  occupies  a  part  of 
the  homestead;  Alice  G.  is  the  wife  of  William  A. 
Craig,  of  Sedgwick  Co.,  Kan. 


-<&>- 


-<95— 


ohn  Schafer  is  among  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  Port  Byron.     He  is  a  native, 
having  first  seen   the  light  of  day  on   the 
25th  of  April,  185  1,  in  Zuma  Township,  Rock 
Island  Co.,  111.      His  parents,  John  and  Chris- 
tina Schafer,  are  natives  of  Germany,  and  em- 
igrated to  America  in    1849,  settling  in  Zuma  Town- 
ship, in  this  county.     Here  they  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising,  and  have  continued  to  live  here 
up  to  the  present. 

John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  upon 
the  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At  the  age  of  19  he 
went  to  Port  Byron  and  clerked  for  VV.  H.  Devore, 
and  continued  in  his  employment  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  24.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
James  W.  Simonson  in  the  business  of  general  mer- 
chandise, under  the  firm  name  of  Simonson  &  Scha- 
fer, which  still  continues. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1878,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Melissa,  daughter  of  W.  J.  and  Ann 
Shepherd.  Her  father,  Mr.  S.,  was  one  of  the  prom- 
inent and  leading  men  of  Port  Byron  in  trie  early 
history  of  the  town.  There  is  one  child,  a  daughter, 
by  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schafer,  named  Mar- 
garet Ann. 

Mr.  Schafer  is  a  respected  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Freemasonry,  and  belongs  to   Philo  Lodge, 


No.  436.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Port  Byron  Lodge, 
624,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  the  presiding  officer  in  that 
body.  Politically,  he  is  an  ardent  and  active  Dem- 
ocrat and  a  member  of  the  Democratic  Central  Com- 
mittee. Mr.  Schafer  represented  his  township  on 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  two  terms. 


— ^-^Sf-i^S-v^—:—  - 


"nFpljK  eorge  Stephens,  former  Vice-President  of 

•jiyifilS    (lle  Moline  Plow  Company,  now  retired, 

"Cw3~"   K    and  one  of  the  pioneer  manufacturers  of 

<|*  Moline,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pa.,  Feb.  22,  18 19,  and  is  the  son  of  Randall 
and  Martha  Stephens.  He  learned  the  mill- 
wright's trade  and  built  many  mills  in  the  States  of 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Illinois.  He  came  to  Moline 
in  the  summer  of  1843,  remained  a  few  months  and 
returned  to  his  native  State.  In  the  spring  of  1S44 
he  returned  to  Moline  and  took  up  his  residence  at 
that  place.  He  was  employed  at  his  trade  at  first, 
but  soon  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and 
furniture  on  the  island  opposite  Moline,  in  company 
with  Messrs.  Spears,  Wood  and  Jonathan  Huntoon, 
Subsequently  Mr.  Huntoon  was  his  only  partner. 

They  did  an  extensive  business  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  lumber  and  furniture  until  the  United  States 
Government  took  possession  of  their  property  in 
1864,  when  the  island  was  converted  into  a  military 
reservation.  Mr.  Stephens  then  became  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Moline  Plow  Company,  and  was  elected 
its  first  Vice-President,  which  position  he  held  with- 
out interruption  until  "January,  1885,  when  he  re- 
signed with  the  intention  of  retiring  from  active 
business  and  of  making  a  trip  to  Mexico,  which  he 
did  soon  after.  Mr.  S.  was  actively  identified  with 
the  Moline  Plow  Company  from  its  inception  to  the 
height  of  its  prosperity,  covering  a  period  of  20  years, 
and  during  which  time  he  was  Vice-President  of  the 
company  and  ably  contributed  to  its  successful  man- 
agement. He  was  Trustee  of  Moline  Township  in 
an  early  day,  and  held  other  local  offices. 

Mr.  Stephens  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at 
Moline,  Nov.  5,  1846,  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Gardner. 
Mrs.  Stephens  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  eight   children,  six 


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of  whom  survive  :  George  A.  is  in  Arkansas,  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business ;  Mary  L.  is  the  wife 
of  George  H.  Huntoon,  pump  manufacturer  of  Mo- 
line  ;  Minnie  F.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  G.  Allen,  cashier 
of  the  Moline  Plow  Company.  Moline ;  Charles  R., 
in  business  with  his  brother  in  Arkansas;  Ada  E. 
and  Nellie  M.  resides  with  their  parents.  Mr. 
Stephens  is  a  man  of  broad  and  liberal  views  both  as 
to  the  general  affairs  of  this  world  and  as  to  those  of 
the  possible  hereafter.  In  politics  he  is  a  consistent 
Republican. 

1— ~^^0><a^™ — ■*-— 


%•.  avid  M.  Martin,  member  of  the  Board  of 
Jf*    County    Supervisors    in    the   current    year 

j^yT"3"  (18S5),  is  a  native  citizen  of  the  township 
of  Canoe  Creek,  which  he  represents  in  that 
body.  He  was  born  Feb.  14,  1840,  and  he  is  the 
youngest  son  of  Joseph  and  Sally  (Walker)  Mar- 
tin. His  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  was 
born  in  1S01.  The  latter  accompanied  his  parents 
in  his  early  youth  to  the  State  of  Kentucky  and  they 
located  in  the  county  of  Edmonson. 

The  son  was  a  resident  there  until  181 9,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  on  Government  land  in 
Wayne  County.  He  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  pion- 
eers there.  In  1832  he  raised  a  company  for  service 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War  and  was  commissioned  its 
Captain.  In  1833  he  removed  to  Warren  Count),  in 
this  State,  where  he  was  a  resident  two  years. 
In  1835,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  four  children, 
he  started  for  Rock  Island  County  with  an  ox  team. 
He  had  previously  made  a  journey  there  and  made 
a  claim  on  section  18,  township  19,  range  3,  and  re- 
mained long  enougli  to  build  a  house  after  the  primi- 
tive pioneer  fashion,  which  became  the  family  abode 
on  their  arrival.  The  log  cabin  had  no  floor  but  the 
earth ;  but  soon  after  they  took  possession  the  father 
split  puncheon  and  laid  one,  and  he  also  split  clap- 
boards for  the  roof,  which  were  held  in  place  by 
poles.  No  nails  were  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  building.  Afterwards,  an  addition  was  made  to 
the  cabin  and  the  family  were  its  occupants  until 
1857.  In  that  year  the  larger  house  which  has  been 
their  home  was  built. 

The  pioneer  hardships  encountered  by  them  were 
of  the  severest  character  known  to  the  early  pioneer 


settlers  of  that  period.  In  the  winter  of  r  836-7,  Mr. 
Martin  made  meal  from  corn  by  pounding  it  in  a 
hollow  stump,  the  nearest  mill  being  40  miles  dis- 
tant and  the  snow  having  fallen  to  a  depth  of  several 
feet.  The  mill  referred  to  was  of  the  most  primitive 
character,  and  in  the  spring  Mr.  Martin  made  a  trip 
to  it,  going  there  with  an  ox  team.  He  was  pre- 
ceded by  a  number  of  others  on  the  same  errand  and 
was  obliged  to  wait  nearly  a  week  before  he  could 
accomplish  his  business  and  return  with  his  grist. 
At  that  date  deer  and  wild  game  was  very  abundant 
and  Mr.  Martin  shot  deer  from  the  door  of  his  cabin, 
when  they  came  to  the  spring  to  drink.  He  lived  to 
see  the  county  reach  its  splendid  prosperity  and  im- 
proved condition.  He  died  in  October,  T875.  The 
death  of  his  wife  took  place  in  1858.  They  had  T3 
children,  of  whom  seven  died  in  extreme  infancy.  Of 
the  six  who  lived  to  maturity,  but  two  still  survive. 
Mr.  Martin  has  a  brother,  named  John  W.,  who 
lives  in  De  Witt,  Saline  Co.,  Neb. 

David  M.  passed  his  boyhood,  youth  and  man- 
hood on  the  homestead  farm  of  his  father  in  Canoe 
Creek  Township.  He  was  married  in  July,  1861,  to 
Mary  A.  Lindsey,  who  was  bom  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  E.  (Johnson) 
Lindsey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  have  four  children  : 
Joseph  M.  is  a  business  man  of  Hillsdale ;  Cora 
married  Alfred  Ashdown;  Ira  C.  and  Mary  E  are 
the  two  younger. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Martin  located  on 
the  homestead  and  soon  after  he  built  a  house  for 
the  accommodation  of  his  family. 

In  1869  he  went  to  Iowa  and  made  a  purchase  of 
land  in  Benton  County,  in  the  management  of  which 
he  passed  seven  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
returned  to  Canoe  Creek  Township  and  settled  on 
the  homestead,  where  he  passed  his  early  life  and 
which  is  now  his  property.  For  the  past  20  years  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  purchase  and  shipment 
of  stock  for  the  Chicago  market.  In  addition  to  the 
common  affairs  of  agriculture  he  has  given  consider- 
able attention  to  raising  graded  cattle  and  horses. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  Democrat  of  well  defined  princi- 
ples. He  was  first  elected  to  the  office  of  Supervisor 
in  1S77,  and  is  now  serving  in  that  position  for  the 
sixth  time.  It  is  sufficient  to  add  that  he  has  been 
repeatedly  elected  in  a  town  which  is  strongly  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  Philo  Lodge,  No.  436, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Port  Byron. 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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apt.  W.  C.  Bennett,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
_Jt  urer  of  the  Barnard  &  Leas  Manufactur- 

Ws?^  ing  Company,  at  Moline,  is  a  native  of 
Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  born  Aug.  10, 
836.  His  parents,  Elisha  and  Elizabeth 
Bennett,  were  of  the  good  old  Quaker  per- 
suasion. His  father's  family  for  generations  had 
been  residents  of  Pennsylvania.  The  mother  was 
born  in  that  State,  but  of  English  parentage. 

William  C.  came  to  this  State  in  1856,  and  made 
his  home  in  La  Salle  until  the  year  1861,  when  he 
removed  to  Chicago.  Early  in  1862,  he  enlisted  at 
St.  Louis  in  the  gunboat  service,  and  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Mississippi  flotilla.  He  was  on  con- 
struction duty  at  St.  Louis  one  year ;  was  Master 
Mate,  then  promoted  as  Ensign  and  subsequently  to 
the  position  of  executive  officer  of  the  iron-clad  war 
vessel  "Choctaw."  He  participated  in  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the 
Red  River  expedition.  In  the  spring  of  1864,  soon 
after  the  Red  River  expedition,  he  resigned  to  return 
home  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  father.  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  Capt.  Bennett  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Northern  Line  Packet  Company,  plying  between 
St.  Louis  and  St.  Paul.  He  served  first  as  clerk 
and  was  then  promoted  as  Captain  of  the  steamer, 
and  continued  with  that  company  until  1868. 

Duri.ng  the  year  last  named,  Capt.  Bennett  sev- 
ered his  connection  with  that  company,  and  engaged 
with  Deere  &  Co.,  of  Moline,  as  book-keeper.  He 
remained  with  that  company  until  Jan.  1,  1872, 
when  he  became  a  stockholder  in  the  Barnard  & 
Leas  Manufacturing  Company  and  was  elected  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  same,  a  position  he  has 
held  continuously  since.  Capt.  Bennett  has  served 
in  the  above  mentioned  capacity  for  13  years,  and 
has  proved  a  most  energetic,  capable  and  efficient 
officer.  Possessed  of  good  executive  ability  and 
thorough  business  habits,  combined  with  a  disposi- 
tion to  "get  there  "  when  he  undertakes  a  thing,  he 
has  by  a  judicious  management  of  his  department 
aided  materially  in  developing  the  important  manu- 
facturing institution  with  which  he  is  connected. 

Mr.   Bennett  has   been  thrice  married.     His  first 


matrimonial  alliance  was  formed  in  La  Salle  in  1858, 
with  Miss  Emily  Demerrilt,  whose  death  occurred 
within  eight  months  from  the  day  of  her  wedding. 
His  second  wife  was  Miss  Florence  Demerritt,  a  sis- 
ter of  his  former  wife,  and  their  wedding  occurred  at 
La  Salle  in  1862.  By  this  union  he  had  four  sons 
and  one  daughter:  Frank  E.,  born  Jan.  20,  1865; 
Edwin  M.,  born  Oct.  23,  1868,  died  Dec.  3,  1879; 
William  D.,  born  Nov.  26,  1875  ;  Henry  S.,  born  Feb. 
20,  1877;  and  Margaret,  born  Dec.  10,  1879.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  in  February,  i88r,  and  Capt. 
Bennett  was  again  married,  to  Miss  Sara  Reed,  of 
Geneseo,  111.,  the  date  of  their  wedding  being  Feb. 
15,  1883.  They  have  one  child  born  of  their  union, 
a  daughter,  Florence  Winnifred,  the  date  of  whose 
birth  is  Aug.  to,  1884.  Mrs.  Bennett  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church. 

In  his  youth,  Mr.  Bennett  imbibed  extreme  views 
on  the  subject  of  African  slavery  and  became  a  pro- 
nounced Abolitionist.  His  first  vote  for  a  Presidential 
candidate  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  Believing 
that  the  Republican  party  was  the  best  exponent  of 
his  principles,  he  has  continued  to  work  with  that 
organization.  While  not  ambitious  of  official  dis- 
tinction, yet  he  takes  a  warm  interest  in  political 
contests,  and  can  always  be  relied  on  as  an  influen- 
tial worker  in  the  cause  of  his  party.  He  has  always 
been  a  potent  factor  in  the  cause  of  education,  and 
for  12  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  and  for  half  that  period  President  of  the 
Board. 


■.0^0-- 


V<" 


f 
ft 

tSx 


(  I 


"ohn  MeCandless,  farmer,  section  25,  Rural 
HHS?'  Township,  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Mar- 
^*  garet  (Rickard)  MeCandless,  who  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  and  passed  their  whole  lives  in  their 
native  State.  They  had  eight  children.  John, 
the  seventh  in  the  above  family,  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny Co.,  Pa.,  March  22,  1819.  He  attended  the 
common  schools,  enjoying  the  advantages  afforded 
in  that  day,  alternating  with  his  labors  on  his  father's 
farm,  until  about  22  years  of  age ;  then  for  four  years 
he  traveled  through  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and 
New  York,  being  engaged  in  different  occupations, 
when,  on  account  of  poor  health,  he  returned  to  his 
own  home,  where   he   remained   until  the  spring  of 


^/S   -5-' 

234 


-r4«[W> 


K 


> 


i?fCA'  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


1849.  He  then  went  by  land  to  California,  with  a 
party  of  300  others,  occupying  about  five  months  in 
making  the  journey.  Remaining  there  about  four 
years,  he  accumulated  sufficient  means  to  give  him  a 
good  start  in  life.  Soon  after  his  return  from  the 
Golden  State,  he  came  to  this  county,  and  in  1854 
purchased  320  acres  of  land  in  Rural  Township,  set- 
tling upon  it  in  1S55.  Here  he  has  since  resided, 
and  prospered  by  his  industry  and  economy.  He 
has  very  good  buildings  upon  his  farm,  besides  a 
fine  grove  of  forest  trees,  which  he  planted  with  his 
own  hands,  from  seed  gathered  in  the  county.  He 
now  owns  400  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  tillable. 

Mr.  McCandless  was  married  in  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  March  7,  1855,  to  Miss  Margaret  M.,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Jane  (Marshal)  Burns,  'natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  of  Scotch  ancestry.  She  also  was 
born  in  that  count}',  April  10,  1837,  being  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McCandless  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  the  surviving  are 
George  R.,  Henry  \V.  and  Laura  V.  George  R.  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  and 
afterwards  the  Washington  Academy  at  Washington, 
Iowa;  Henry  W.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Commercial 
College  in   Davenport. 

Mr.  McCandless  has  held  the  office  of  Township 
Supervisor  for  three  terms,  and  has  also  been  in- 
trusted with  other  public  positions.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which 
ecclesiastical  body  he  is  a  Ruling  Elder.  In  politics 
he  is  a  well  posted  Democrat. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  McCandless,  appearing  in  con- 
nection herewith,  is  a  necessary  and  appropriate  ad- 
dition to  the  illustrations  in  this  Album. 


■  -•-      -'—  : 


tenry  L.  Bullen,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of 
pf^  the  Moline  Screw  Company,  was  born  at 
East  Medway,  Mass.,  Aug.  T7,  1820.  His 
parents,  Lewis  and  Esther  (Grout)  Bullen,  were 
of  New  England  birth.  The  subject  of  our 
sketch  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  ;  studied 
theology  at  Andover  and  came  West  in  T849,  where 
he  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Port  Byron,  111.,  in  1850.  Mr.  Bullen 
was  the  first  Pastor  of  the  Port  Byron  Congregational 
Church,  and  filled  that  pulpit  one  year.     He  then 


accepted  the  chair  of  Professor  of  Mathematics  at 
the  Iowa  College  of  Davenport  (now  the  Griswold 
College)  and  filled  that  position  eight  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  he  received  a  call  to  serve  as 
Pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Durand, 
Iowa,  which  he  accepted.  His  pastorate  of  that 
Church  continued  for  a  term  of  eight  years,  and  in 
187 1  he  retired  from  the  ministry  and  removed  to 
Moline,  111.  Since  his  residence  here  he  has  de- 
voted his  attention  to  business  pursuits. 

In  July,  T884,  on  the  organization  of  the  Moline 
Screw  Company,  Mr.  Bullen  became  a  stockholder 
in  that  concern  and  was  chosen  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, which  position  he  still  fills. 

Mr.  Bullen  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Mary  Farrington,  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel Farrington,  of  Walden,  Vt.,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  Georgia,  Nov.  28,  1844.  Four  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage,  of  whom  two  are  living, 
namely:  Mary  E.  and  John  S.  Mrs.  Bullen  died 
in  1866,  and  Mr.  B.  was  married  again  Oct.  9,  1867, 
in  Denmark,  Iowa,  to  Kiss  Laura  Day,  daughter  of 
Kellogg  Day.  Mr.  Bullen  was  born  in  Denmark, 
Iowa,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren,— Laura  D.  and  Henry  W. 

Mr.  Bullen  has  always  taken  a  warm  interest  in 
educational  matters  and  for  five  years  has  served  as 
a  member  of  the  Moline  Board  of  Education.  In 
politics  he  has  usually  voted  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  always  with  Prohibition  sympathies.  He 
is  now  fully  identified  with  the  Prohibition  party. 


■5- 


*~# 


i.  J 


,r.  Patrick  P.  Gregg,  Acting  Post  Surgeon 
of  Rock  Island  Arsenal,  commenced  the 
JJra^T','s    practice   of  medicine   in    Rock  Island  in 
jf*jk      1836,  and  was  the  first  practicing  physician 
■fc    in    this   place.      He   emigrated   to  the   United 
5     States  from  Ireland,  his  native  country,  in  i832) 
and   remained   in   Western    New  York   and    Phila- 
delphia for  three   years,  when    he   came    to    Rock 
Island  and  followed  the  practice    of  his  profession 
at  this  place  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil 
War. 

In  i86r,  soon  after  the  Rebel  guns  had  thundered 
forth  against  the  walls  of  Sumter,  Dr.  Gregg  raised 
a  company,  and,  in  the  capacity  of  Captain,  engaged 


■^C^s: oV^DD  §  D  D>">r 


jfOff  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


23S 


in  the  defense  of  his   adopted  country.     The  com- 
pany was  known  as   Co.  K,  58th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson  and  Shi- 
loh,  at  which  latter  place  the  Doctor  was  made  pris- 
,  oner.     He  remained  a  prisoner  for  six  months.     The 
first  prison  he  was  placed  in  was  that  of  Selma,  where 
he  remained  for  one  month,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  the  prison  at  Talladega.     While  in  the  prison  at 
Selma,  Gen.  Beauregard  sent   a  delegation  to  Wash- 
ington to  confer  with  the  Government  in  regard  to 
its  exchange  of  prisoners,  together  with  an  exchange 
of  officers  taken  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.     His  fellow 
prisoners  chose  three,  and  among  that  number  was 
Dr.  Gregg,  the  other  two  being  the   ex-Governor  of 
Iowa,  Major  Stone,  and  Col.  Miller,  of  the  23d  Mis- 
souri.    They  went  to  Washington  together,  and  the 
Doctor  was   afterward   appointed  by   Gov.  Yates  of 
this  State,  the  old   war  Governor,  as  Surgeon,  with 
two  assistants,  for  the  Col.  Mulligan  Brigade.     They 
(^  ;   went  to  Virginia  and  joined  their  brigade,  and  re- 
V  mained  with  the  same   two  years,  and  continued  in 
^  the  service  of  the  United  States  Government  until 
=  the  fall  of  1864. 

After  the  war  was  over,  and  the  cause  for  which 
r  Doctor  Gregg  had  so  nobly  risked  his  life  on  the  field 
>£>  of  battle  was  ended  by  a  victory  for  the  Union,  Dr. 
■  Gregg  came  home,  and  was  appointed  as  Surgeon  to 
)    assist  in   the  care  of  the  rebel  prisoners  on  Rock 
Island,  and  after  the  release  of  the  prisoners  was  ap- 
pointed Acting  Surgeon  of  the  Post  for  24  years. 

Dr.  Gregg  was  born  Feb.  12,  1S10.  He  entered 
Trinity  College,  at  Dublin,  when  18  years  of  age, 
and  followed  the  curriculum  of  that  institution  for 
three  years.  He  then  joined  the  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons,  and  remained  there  for  two  years,  when  he 
was  admitted  in  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  received  a  diploma  from  that  well- 
known  institution.  He  was  also  the  second  Treas- 
urer of  Rock  Island  County. 

Dr.  Gregg  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah 
L.   Wheelock,  in    1841,  who  was  a  native  of  New 

T  Hampshire,  and  they  have  seven  living  children- 
John  W.,  Joseph  K.,  Spencer,  Mary,  Sarah,  Carrie 
and  Fannie.  Mary  married  Albert  Dart,  and  they 
have  six  children;  John  W.  married  Maggie  Mc- 
Carthy; Joseph  K.  married  Alice  Wilson  and  they 
have  three  children. 

Dr.  Gregg  has  been  elected  to  the  office  of  Mayor 


of  Rock  Island,  and  politically  is  independent.  He 
is  a  man  respected  for  his  medical  experience  and 
learning,  for  his  honest  and  straightforward  dealings 
with  his  fellow  man,  and  for  the  interest  he  takes  in 
the  welfare  and  advancement  of  the  city  which  has 
been  his  home  for  so  many  years.  His  experience  as 
a  physician  places  him  second  to  none  in  the  State. 


-@^<M 


*  r\_^  >. 
=  \l:jTf;:-ohn  M.  Holt,  general   grocer  and  commis- 

iipf^  sion  merchant,  Moline,  established  his  busi- 
lajT"       ness  at  the  corner  of  12th  Street  and  Fifth 
|Sf   Avenue,  in    1872.     He  was   born   in  Cobden, 
JJT      Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  21,  1844,  and  is  the  son 
of  Arnold  and  Hannah  (Millington)  Holt,  both 
natives  of  Vermont.     He  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
parents  when   n  years  of  age  (in    1855),  and  made 
his  home  in  Moline.     He  was  educated  in  the  city 
till  17  years  of  age,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  late  war 
(Dec,  1861),  as  a  private  of  Co.  H,  8th  Kansas  Inf. 
He  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  at  the  end  of  the  term 
of  his   enlistment,  in   December,   1864.     During  his 
service  he   participated  in  the  battles  of  Perryville, 
Chickamatiga,  Mission   Ridge,   Orchard    Knob   and 
through  the  campaign  from   Kenesaw  Mountain  to 
Atlanta,  Jonesboro   and   Lovejoy  Station,  being  45 
days  under  continuous  fire.     On  his  return  from  the 
war  he  engaged  as  merchant's  clerk  at  Moline,  which 
he  continued  till   1872,  when  he  entered   upon  his 
present  business.     Beginning  in  a  moderate  way,  in 
a  locality  remote  from  the  business  center,  at  first  it 
was  not  altogether  certain  that  the  enterprise  would 
prove  a  success.     Time,  however,  has  demonstrated 
that  Mr.  Holt  not  only  selected  a  favorable  location 
for  his  business,  but  that  he   has  by  strict  attention 
to  the  wants  of  his  customers,  in  selecting  his  large 
and  varied  stock  of  family  and  fancy  groceries  and 
provisions,  together  with  energetic  business   habits, 
seasoned  with  a  little  genial  good  nature,  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  magnificent  trade.     He  has  a  large 
trade  in  flour,  of  which   he  keeps  the  most  popular 
brands,  while  in  order  to  support  this  trade  properly 
he  furnishes  his  customers  with  Cady's  Jersey  butter. 
As  a  dealer  in  fruits   and  produce   he  does  an  im- 
mense business;  in  fact,  the  opening  of  the   berry 
1    season  is  a  time  of  special  delight  to  this  gentleman 


<§}$<§« 


T 


<mmmrt 


236 


10 


I 


iTOCA'  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


Mr.  Holt  has  now  been  in  business  as  a  general  gro- 
cer for  13  years,  during  which  time  he  has  won  hosts 
of  friends,  as  well  as  having  developed  so  extensive 
a  business. 

He  was  married  in  Moline  Aug.  12,  1867,  to  Miss 
Maria  W.,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Hitchcock, 
the  pioneer  Congregational  minister  of  Rock  Island 
County.  Mrs.  Holt  was  born  in  Davenport,  Iowa, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  namely, 
Mable  D.,  born  Dec.  5,  1869,  and  George  E.,  born 
Feb.  15,  1SS1. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holt  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Mr.  Holt  is  a  Republican  in  political 
sentiment. 

r  ohn  C.  Moore,  a  prominent  and  prosperous 

lir  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  having  a  fine  farm 

~^  on  section  35,  Edgington  Township,  was 


born  in  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  on  the  4th  day  of 
July,  1823.  His  father,  David  Moore,  was  a 
native  of  West  Virginia,  of  German  ancestry, 
and  by  occupation  a>  farmer.  He  was  married  in  his 
native  State,  and  afterwards  came  to  Greene  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  became  a  prominent  farmer.  In 
1.835,  however,  he  left  Ohio  and  went  to  Berrien  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  lived  for  15  years.  Selling  out  his 
interests  there,  with  his  family  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  on  an  excellent  tract  of  160  acres  on  sec- 
tion 36,  Edgington  Township,  Rock  Island  County. 
On  this  the  elder  couple  lived  until  their  death,  the 
father  dying  in  October,  1876,  at  the  age  of  77  years, 
and  the  mother  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  70  years. 

Our  subject  was  the  fourth  child  of  a  family  of 
eight  children.  He  was  reared  on  the  farms  in 
Michigan  and  Illinois,  under  his  father's  care.  Sept. 
10,  1857,  he  was  married,  in  Davenport.  Iowa,  to 
Miss  Theda  E.  Gray.  (  See  sketch  of  William 
Wait.)  Mrs.  Moore  was  born  in  Switzerland  Co., 
Ind.,  Aug.  s,  1833.  She  was  reared  and  educated 
there,  living  at  home  with  her  parents,  and  also 
came  West  with  them  when  at  the  age  of  21  years. 
She  is  the  mother  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Landon  C.  resides  at  home,  and  is  at- 
tending Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  contemplat- 
ing the  practice  of  medicine   as  a  life   profession  ; 


Cassie  also  resides  at  home,  and  she  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and  at  Washington,  Iowa; 
Mamie  G.  completed  her  education  at  Dixon,  111. ; 
Olive  E.  is  attending  the  public  schools  of  the  county. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Moore  settled  on  his  farm 
of  240  acres,  which  he  had  purchased  on  section  35 
of  Edgington  Township.  Upon  this  he  has  since 
lived,  erecting  an  elegant  home  and  making  other 
splendid  improvements,  until  he  now  has  one  of  the 
finest  farms,  with  the  best  equipments,  in  the  county. 
He  also  has  a  lot  with  an  elegant  residence  upon  it 
in  Reynolds,  which  he  soon  expects  to  occupy  after 
his  retirement  from  active  farming.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Moore  and  her  three  daughters  are  active  members. 
In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


^3=4=4= 


£3- 


tion 


A.  Barnard,  President  of  the  Barnard  & 
Leas  Manufacturing  Company,  and  the  in- 
ventor of  popular  milling  machinery,  is  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  was  born  in  La  Moille 
County,  Jafl.  15, 1826.    He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  having  a  natural  inclina- 
for   mechanical    pursuits,  he  learned  the  mill- 
wright's   trade.     When   of  age    (1847)  he   went    to 
Canada  (Province  of  Quebec),  where  he  worked  at 
mill  machinery'. 

He  was  married  in  the  town  of  Dunton,  Canada, 
Sept.  13,  1849,  to  Miss  Delia  Boright,  daughter  of 
George  Boright.  In  1851  Mr.  Barnard  removed  to 
Worcester,  Mass.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  till 
1S54.  The  promising  prospects  of  Moline,  111.,  as  a 
manufacturing  center  attracted  his  attention  at  this 
time,  and  he  came  to  the  above-named  place.  The 
rapidly- growing  importance  of  Moline  as  a  manufac- 
turing town,  afforded  him  a  good  field  for  the  em- 
ployment of  his  skill  and  the  development  of  his 
talent  for  invention.  One  of  the  results  of  his  early 
efforts  as  an  inventor  was  a  wood-bending  machine, 
which  is  now  in  general  use  in  all  the  plow  factories 
in  the  country.  In  i860  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  L.  E.  Hemenway  and  J.  B.  Wyckoff,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Hemenway,  Wyckoff  &  Company. 
They  began  business  as  manufacturers  of  chairs  and 
other  furniture,  and  two  years  later  they  engaged  in 


C>) 


6 


si/ 

\ 


®^ 


*§• 


■e^trao^^ — ^€^ 


_-!'^?- 


« — ^V4M» 


\ 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


V  ^i^ 
239    ■ 


<§/ 


4 


<7S 


f 


the  manufacture  of  mill,  warehouse  and  elevator 
machinery,  and  of  grain-cleaning  machines.  The 
enterprise  was  begun  on  a  small  scale  and  with  lim- 
ited capital.  In  1S64  Mr.  Hemenway  withdrew 
from  the  business,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed 
to  Wyckoff  &  Barnard.  When  Mr.  Wyckoff  with- 
drew J.  Silas  Leas  came  in,  together  with  Capt. 
Bennett,  and  the  concern  was  organized  as  a  stock 
company,  with  Mr.  Barnard  at  its  head,  as  the  Bar- 
nard &  Leas  Manufacturing  Company,  which  turned 
its  attention  to  the  making  of  mill  machinery  exclu- 
sively. The  business  began  to  grow  and  flourish 
with  wonderful  rapidity.  Large,  convenient  and 
model  buildings  arose,  filled  with  the  best  machinery, 
and  the  wonderful  inventive  genius  of  H.  A.  Barnard 
brought  into  being  practical  improvements  and  pa-t 
ents  in  mill  machinery  which  created  an  extraor- 
dinary demand  for  their  goods,  causing  them  to  be 
called  for  and  shipped  not  only  all  over  this,  but  into 
foreign  countries,  thus  carrying  the  results  of  Bar- 
nard's creative  faculty  around  the  world. 

A  view  of  Mr.  Barnard's  residence  is  given  in  this 
work. 

■Of— 


^f^Wir'   L.  Swisher,  resident  on   section  30,  Coe 
IP""  Township,  came   to    the  county  of  Rock 


ri> 


I 


ES^tt  Island  in  1855,  and  in  1873  he  settled  in 
5  Coe  Township.  He  was  born  in  Carroll  Co., 
Md.,  Oct.  16,  1824,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Jacob  and  Eve  Elizabeth  (Bender)  Swisher. 
His  father  was  born  in  Richmond  Co.,  Va., 
and  his  mother  in  the  county  of  York  in  Pennsyl- 
vania They  settled  in  Maryland  at  the  time  of 
their  marriage,  and  went  thence  some  time  later  to 
Adams  County,  in  the  same  State.  Mr.  Swisher  is 
of  French  extraction  in  the  paternal  line  of  descent, 
the  family  name  being  originally  spelled  Swisseaur; 
but  soon  after  the  first  representatives  came  to  the 
United  States  it  was  converted  into  its  present  form. 
As  it  was  difficult  for  unaccustomed  tongues  to 
pronounce  it  correctly,  it  was  changed  accordingly. 
The  mother  of  Mr.  Swisher  was  of  German  lineage. 
The  parents  went  to  Adams  County  when  the  son 
was  a  child  of  three  years.  They  are  both  deceased, 
the   demise   of  the    mother  occurring   at    Carlisle, 


Cumberland  County,  and  the  father  at  Gettysburg. 
Their  children  were  nine  in  number,  five  daughters 
and  four  sons.  Six  only  survive :  Jacob  lives  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa. ;  Mr.  Swisher  of  this  sketch  is  the 
second  ;  Nancy  is  the  widow  of  Isaac  Halm,  and 
lives  in  Carlisle.  Pa.,  and  is  90  years  old;  Polly  is 
the  widow  of  David  Miller,  and  resides  at  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pa. ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Andrew  Bushman, 
lives  in  Pittsburg ;  Sarah  married  David  Zeigler,  of 
Port  Byron. 

At  the  age  of  12  years  Mr.  Swisher  found  himself 
with  the  privilege  of  earning  his  own  livelihood,  and 
he  spent  four  years  subsequent  among  his  acquaint- 
ances engaged  in  farming.  He  was  then  16,  and 
he  entered  into  an  apprenticeship  to  learn  the  busi- 
ness of  a  blacksmith,  going  for  that  purpose  to 
Fayetteville,  Franklin  County.  He  served  three 
years,  and  then  he  set  up  business  independently, 
operating  at  various  places,  including  Maryland, 
Virginia  and  New  Hampshire,  until  his  removal  to 
Illinois,  as  stated.  On  his  arrival  in  the  county  of 
which  he  has  since  been  a  citizen,  he  began  the  pur- 
suit of  his  trade  at  Port  Byron,  and  worked  as  a 
journeyman  until  1859,  when  he  opened  a  shop  at 
that  place,  and  continued  its  management  until  he 
bought  and  took  possession  of  his  farm,  on  which  he 
has  since  resided  and  prosecuted  his  agricultural  in- 
terest. He  first  bought  62  acres,  and  it  was  supplied 
with  a  house,  which  became  the  home  of  the  family 
for  the  time  being.  Improvements  had  been  made 
on  40  acres,  and  a  part  of  the  place  was  known  as 
the  Barrett  field,  and  on  that  the  first  plowing  had 
been  done  in  1835.  ^n  '884  the  same  land  yielded 
80  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre,—  49  years  after  its 
first  cultivation!  In  1S76  Mr.  Swisher  bought  30 
acres  of  land  on  section  19,  which  lay  adjoining  his 
first  purchase,  and  he  is  the  owner  of  90  acres,  with 
60  acres  improved  and  30  acres  in  timber.  In  addi- 
tion to  general  farming,  lie  is  also  engaged  in  stock- 
raising. 

He  was  married  June  2r,  1859,  to  Julia  S.  Loring. 
They  have  three  children — Mary  H.,  Charles  C.  and  | 
Frank  L.  Mrs.  Swisher  is  the  daughter  of  John  H. 
and  Julia  (Chamberlain)  Loring.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  and  her  mother  was  a  native 
of  Maine.  Her  family  was  originally  from  France, 
whence  they  came  to  England  at  the  time  of  the 
Norman  conquest.     The  first  Loring  in  America  was 


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ROCK  ISLAND 


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named  Thomas,  and  he  settled  in  Dorchester,  Mass., 
where  he  arrived  Dec.  22, 1634.  He  became  promi- 
nent in  Church  affairs,  and  is  recorded  as  "  Deacon 
Thomas  Loring."  He  afterward  went  to  Hingham, 
England,  and  later  to  Hull,  same  country,  where  he 
died  in  1661.  The  Chamberlains  were  English,  and 
were  also  early  settlers  in  the  Old  Bay  State.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Swisher  settled  in  the  township  of 
Annawan,  in  this  county,  in  1855.  Her  father  died 
there,  Dec.  15,  1861.  Her  mother  has  married 
again,  and  lives  at  Geneseo,  in  this  county.  Two 
of  her  brothers  and  a  sister  are  still  living:  Joseph 
F.  is  a  resident  of  Xew  Mexico ;  Carrie  O.  is  the  wife 
of  the  Hon.  Charles  Dunham,  of  Geneseo;  Edward 
B.  lives  in  California. 


f  fS^;  eter  Colseth,  President  and  manager  of 
1  the  Moline  Cabinet-Organ  Company,  was 
E*^  born  in  Sweden,  March  28,  1S35,  the  son 
of  Brinild  Colseth.  He  removed  to  Norway 
in  childhood,  where  he  learned  the  profes- 
sion of  architect  and  builder  and  the  cabinet- 
maker's trade.  In  1S64  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  located  at  Chicago,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed at  first  in  Burdett's  organ  factory,  and  subse- 
quently in  building  and  contracting.  On  the  occur- 
rence of  the  great  fire  of  October,  1 S7  1,  he  sustained 
a  heavy  loss  by  failing  to  realize  on  his  insurance  on 
several  buildings  burned.  He  pushed  on,  however, 
to  retrieve  his  fortunes,  and  in  1873  came  to  Moline 
to  build  the  Swedish  College  at  this  place.  He  formed 
the  plans  and  constructed  the  building,  as  he  like- 
wise did  of  the  Swedish  church  at  this  place.  He 
was  engaged  as  contractor  and  builder  till  1877, 
when  he,  in  company  with  Mr.  Charles  C.  Seaberg, 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cabinet  organs  in  a 
small  way,  their  total  capital  not  exceeding  $t,ooo- 
They  had  the  many  discouraging  difficulties  to  en- 
counter and  overcome  that  are  incident  to  the  start- 
ing of  a  new  business  of  that  character ;  but  by 
persevering  industry  and  judicious  management  they 
succeeded  in  placing  their  business  on  a  sound  foot- 
ing. Three  years  later,  they  purchased  the  property 
they  now  occupy,  and  erected  commodious  and  sub- 
stantial buildings.  On  the  r  9th  of  December,  1881, 
they  procured  the  incorporation  of  the  Moline  Cab- 


inet-Organ Company.  Mr.  Colseth  was  elected 
President  and  Treasurer,  and  was  authorized  to  act 
as  general  manager  of  the  company.  He  has  served 
as  President  and  general  manager  continuously 
since.  (See  history  of  the  company  elsewhere  in  this 
work.) 

Mr.  Colseth  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Nor- 
way, Feb.  7,  r862,  with  Miss  Helen,  daughter  of 
Hendricks  Hanson.  Mrs.  Colseth  was  born  in  Nor- 
way, and  she  and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Charles  and  Caroline.  Charles  died, 
aged  t4  years,  and  the  daughter,  Caroline,  at  the  age 
of  r  2. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colseth  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Colseth  has  been 
Deacon  19  years.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  educational  matters,  and  has  been  promin- 
ently identified  with  the  establishment  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Swedish  college  of  this  city.  He  has 
served  for  eight  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  that  institution,  and  for  three  years  as  a 
member  of  the  City  Board  of  Education.  Mr.  Col- 
seth is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 


,(ames  Venable,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  residing  on  section  3r,  Edgington 
Township,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Ty- 
rone, Ireland,  May  15,  r838.  He  was  r6  years 
of  age  when  his  mother,  with  the  family  (the 
father  having  previously  died),  emigrated  to 
America.  They  first  located  near  Keithsburg,  Mer- 
cer Co.,  111.,  where  the  family  lived  for  two  years  ; 
then  they  moved  to  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
where  our  subject  lived  with  his  mother  until  Aug. 
rr,  rS62,  when  he  determined  to  go  to  the  front  in 
defense  of  the  flag  of  his  adopted  country.  He 
enlisted  in  Co.  B,  r26th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Capt. 
Cline,  of  Rock  Island.  He  was  in  the  Army  of  the 
Southwest,  and  participated  in  all  the  battles  and 
skirmishes  that  his  regiment  took  part  in,  and  fortu- 
nately escaped  all  injury.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Springfield,  111.,  Aug.  11,  1865. 

Returning  home  from  the  war,  laying  aside  his 
musket,  doffing  his  blue  uniform,  he  entered  upon 
the  life  of  a  civilian.  Before  many  years  had  rolled 
around,  March  24,  1869,  he  was  married,  in  Edging- 


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ton  Township,  to  Miss  Christina  Titterington,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  township,  April  23,  1844.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Moses  Titterington,  a  well-known 
and  respected  pioneer  of  this  county.  She  was 
reared  at  home  and  educated  in  the  common  school, 
and  is  the  mother  of  seven  children,  one  of  whom 
is  deceased.  The  living  are  George  DeWitt,  Elsie 
M.,  Ira  L.,  Frederick  J.,  Frank  S.  and  James  P. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Venable  located  upon 
his  present  farm,  which  consists  of  160  acres  of  land, 
all  very  highly  improved.  "Politically,  Mr.  V.  is  a 
Democrat,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Edgingtou. 


$<cx>& 


illiam  Kerns,  an  eaily'settler  of  Moline, 
and  one  of  her  most  prominent  and  re- 
spected  citizens,  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  bom  in  East  Marlborough, 
Chester  County,  July  4,  1820.     His  parents 
were  Simon  and  Elizabeth  (Ocheltree)  Kerns,  of 
Irish  and   Scotch  descent   respectively.     His  father 
was  born  in  East  Marlborough,  Pa.,  and  his  mother 
in  New  Castle  Co.,  Del. 

Thomas  Kerns,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  came  from  Ireland  and  settled  in 
Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  in  an  early  day.  The  family  were 
Quakers,  and  consequently  did  not  figure  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Kerns'  father  was  in  the 
War  of  1812.  On  his  mother's  side  Mr.  Kerns'  fam- 
ily ..as  represented  in  the  War  of  Independence. 
Dr.  Robert  Bines,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Eliza- 
beth Ocheltree,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Continental 
Army.  When  William  was  14  years  of  age  (1834) 
his  parents  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Salem, 
Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  receiving  a  common-school  education. 

Mr.  William  Kerns  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  May  17,  1842,  with  Miss 
Beulah  Shinn,  daughter  of  Wiliam  B.  and  Elizabeth 
(5  (Jones)  Shinn.  Mrs.  Kerns  was  born  in  Salem,  that 
county.  Mr.  Kerns  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Ohio 
until  1853,  when,  in  hopes  of  finding  a  climate  and 
country  that  promised  a  better  opportunity  for  good 
health  and  prosperity  than  did  the  country  in  which 
he  lived,  he  started  by  team  for  the  "West,"  then  so 
called.     He  was  pleased   with  the   natural  features 


of  the  Iowa  country,  and  made  his  first  stand  in 
Cedar  County,  of  that  State.  That  locality  did  not 
prove  entirely  satisfactory  and  he  therefore  came  to 
Moline,  on  a  prospecting  expedition  one  day,  and, 
being  greatly  pleased  with  the  natural  advantages  of 
this  place,  he  concluded  to  make  an  experimental 
sojourn  here.  Mr.  Kerns  has  extended  it  into  a 
residence  of  32  years,  and  it  begins  to  look  as  though 
he  would  finally  determine  to  make  this  his  perma- 
nent home.  Mr.  Kerns  came  to  this  city  with  a  lim- 
ited supply  of  this  world's  goods,  and  no  fixed  trade 
or  profession.  He  was  a  farmer,  to  be  sure,  and  he 
had  a  smattering  of  the  carpenter's  trade.  Having 
a  team  on  his  hands,  and  being  willing  to  turn  his 
hand  to  anything  at  which  he  could  earn  an  honest 
living,  he  engaged  in  teaming,  and  among  the  jobs 
he  worked  at  was  that  of  hauling  ties  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  west  end  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island 
&  Pacific  Railroad.  With  others,  he  delivered  ties 
on  seven  miles  of  the  road.  He  also  worked  at  car- 
penter work  until  April,  186 1,  when  he  was  appointed 
Postmaster  at  Moline  by  President  Lincoln,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  held  until  August,  1869,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  20  months  during  the  first  part  of  Johnson's 
administration. 

In  1S65  he  was  instrumental  in  getting  Mr.  R. 
K.  Swan,  now  deceased,  interested  in  organizing  a 
company  for  the  manufacture  of  plows  at  Moline. 
Messrs.  Swan  and  Henry  W.  Candee,  who  were  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing  pumps,  fanning-mills,  culti- 
vators, and  other  farm  necessities,  determined  to 
go  into  the  plow  business,  and  associated  with  them 
Andrew  Friberg,  under  the  firm  name  of  Candee, 
Swan  &  Company,  which  was  the  origin  of  the  great 
Moline  Plow  Company.  Mr.  Kerns  was  employed 
by  this  company  from  1867  to  187  1  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  great  trademark  suit,  that  grew  out  of 
their  use  of  the  word  "  Moline  "  on  their  plows.  The 
suit  was  ably  managed,  and  was  decided  in  favor  of 
the  Moline  Plow  Company.  He  was  also  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  defense  of  various  patent- 
right  suits  that  were  brought  against  several  manu- 
facturers in  this  locality,  which  resulted  favorably  to 
the  association,  which  he  represented.  Also,  Mr. 
Swan  selected  Mr.  Kerns  to  act  as  his  executor. 
He  then  became  interested  in  the  Moline  Plow  Com- 
pany, and  was  chosen  one  of  the  directors. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kerns  have  had  four  children.  The 
eldest,  George,  was  a  private  of  Co.  H,  19th  111.  Inf. 


I 


9 

1= 

E3 


242 


^pn^in^^ 


1 


TTT 


ROCK  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


\ 


He  went  into  the  fight  at  Stone  River  with  his  regi- 
ment, and  after  the  battle  he  was  reported  among 
the  missing.  He  was  undoubtedly  killed  and  buried 
unrecognized,  as  he  has  never  been  heard  of  since. 
Simon,  the  second  son,  married  Miss  Clara  M.  Mar- 

Itin  in  1868,  and  resides  in  Moline;  Anson  died  aged 
three  and  a  half  years;  Charles  3.,  the  youngest,  re- 
sides at  home. 

Mr.  Kerns,  being  of  Quaker  origin,  was  an  original 
Abolitionist.  He  endorsed  the  Buffalo  platform  of 
1848,  voted  for  Van  Buren  and  Adams  that  year,  and 
for  John  P.  Hale  in  1852.  In  1856  he  supported 
Fremont,  and  has  voted  with  the  Republican  party 
continuously  except  in  1872.  He  is  an  earnest  ad- 
vocate of  temperance  principles  and  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  all  public  policies  calculated  to  develop  and 
improve  mankind.  The  circumstances  of  his  youth 
admitted  only  of  limited  educational  advantages,  but 
he  has  continued  in  self-culture  throughout  his  life; 
has  attained  to  a  far  better  intellectual  development 
than  many  whose  opportunities  were  more  ample. 
He  was  blessed  with  quick  perceptive  faculties  and 
a  mind  adapted  to  logical  reasoning  and  sound  con- 
clusions. The  many  important  legal  transactions  in 
which  he  has  been  employed,  and  their  successful 
issue,  will  substantiate  the  foregoing.  He  is  a  man 
of  great  natural  force  and  energy,  of  strict  integrity 
and  unquestioned  veracity,  endowed  with  strong  im- 
pulses and  an  inherent  love  of  truth  and  justice. 
He  is  a  warm  friend  to  all  who  prove  themselves 
honest  and  true,  and  an  unrelenting  foe  to  all  that  is 
treacherous,  mean  and  dishonest. 

Mr.  Kerns  was  elected  and  served  as  Clerk  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Moline,  from  1858  to  1861,  and 
a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Equalization  for 
the  Sixth  Congressional  District,  appointed  by  Gov. 
Cullom  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  served  two  years — 
1883-4. 


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,t  7(0%'^r.  Fredrik  Westerberg,  Professor  of  Hy- 
^iiSsasll.    giene  and   Gymnastics  in   the  Augustana 
jF^r ^     College,   of   Rock  Island,    and   practicing 
fyn      physician  at  Moline,  was    born   in   Sweden, 
June  14,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  J.  E.  and  J. 
C.  (Hedmark)  Westerberg.     He  was  a  stu- 
dent  nine  years  at  the  State  schools  and  graduated 
at  Stockholm  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.     Dr.  Wester- 


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berg  was  also  a  student  of  the  University  of  Upsala 
from  1872  to  1874,  and  graduated  in  the  latter  year 
with  the  degree  of  M.  S.  He  then  entered  the  Royal 
Carolinian  Medical  and  Surgical  Institute  at  Stock- 
holm, and  pursued  his  studies  from  1874  to  1880, 
during  which  time  he  was  Assistant  Surgeon  in  the 
Royal  Military  Hospital  of  Stockholm  in  1875  and 
1876,  and  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  Swedish  Army 
from  1878  to  1882.  He  also  held  the  appointment 
of  Vice  County  Physician  on  the  National  Board  of 
Health. 

He  emigrated  to  America  in  1S82,  spending  a 
short  time  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  then  going  to 
Hartford,  Conn.  A  few  months  later  he  entered  the 
State  University  at  Burlington  and  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1883,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  being  one  of 
the  very  few  in  highest  standing. 

In  1883  he  came  to  Illinois  and  established  him- 
self in  practice  at  Princeton,  which  he  continued  till 
May  1,  1884,  when  he  came  to  Moline  and  was  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Hygiene  and  Gymnastics  in  the 
Augustana  College,  and  also  established  himself  in 
practice  at  Moline,  with  his  office  over  the  Moline 
National  Bank.  Dr.  Westerberg,  as  his  record  shows, 
is  a  thoroughly  educated  physician  and  surgeon,  who 
has  already  enjoyed  an  extended  practice  in  Govern- 
ment service  in  his  native  country. 

The  thousands  of  his  fellow  countrymen  who  are 
residents  of  Rock  Island  County,  will  appreciate  the 
force  of  his  home  endorsements,  and  his  professional 
success  is  but  a  question  of  time. 


illiam  G.  Montgomery,  general  farmer 
and  stock-raiser,  in  Edgington  Township, 
was  born  in  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  13, 
Y  1827.  He  was  the  elder  son  of  Daniel 
Montgomery,  and  the  only  son  of  Chris- 
tiana, nee  Griffin,  his  first  wife.  After  the 
the  death  of  his  mother,  Mr.  Montgomery  lived  with 
his  aunt  and  father  in  his  native  State  until  he  was 
nine  years  old,  when  his  father  remarried.  The 
latter,  in  1836,  came  West  and  settled  on  a  farm  of 
480  acres,  in  the  township  of  Edgington,  and  in  the 
best  part  of  the  county.  Here  he  finally  died,  and 
his  widow  (second  wife)  now  resides  i'n  Milan,  with 
her  sister,  and  is  78  years  old. 

Mr.  William  G.  Montgomery,  the  subject  of  this 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


245 


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biographical  notice,  was  educated  in  the  city  of 
Rock  Island,  and  a*  Princeton,  111.,  and  since  he  has 
started  in  life  for  himself  he  fint  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  in  Edgington,  in  partnership  with 
George  Parmeter ;  next,  he  followed  the  same  busi- 
ness at  Kewanee,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  for  some  time,  and 
in  1855  he  returned  to  Edgington,  continuing  in  the 
same  line  of  trade.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness mentioned  in  the  first  paragraph,  on  a  farm  of 
80  acres,  in  Edgington  Township.  In  a  public  ca- 
pacity he  has  served  as  Township  Collector. 

Mr.  M.  was  married  in  Edgington,  May  4,  1858, 
to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  (Mc- 
Gaughey)  Linn.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  farmers,  first  in 
Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  and  then  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  Mrs.  M.  was  born,  May  4,  1839,  the  sixth  in 
a  family  of  nine  children.  She  was  only  six  months 
old  when  the  family  moved  West  to  Mercer  Co.,  111., 
in  the  fall  of  1839,  and  she  was  12  years  of  age  when 
her  father  died,  in  that  county,  and  she  afterward 
resided  with  a  sister,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Candor,  who  is 
now  living  in  Aledo,  that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Montgomery  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  fol- 
lows:  Crissie,  who.  was  born  March  18,  1859,  edu- 
cated in  Milan,  and  is  now  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  county ;  Elmer,  who  was  born  April 
23,  1864,  and  now  manages  the  affairs  of  the  home- 
stead; Maggie,  born  Sept.  10,  1869;  and  William 
Lee,  Sept.  10,  1876. 


s-fy-3 — e= 


arvel  H.  White,  President  of  the  Will- 
iams, White  &  Co.  Iron  Works,  Moline, 
T*  was  born  in  the  town  of  Springfield 
W\  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  March  14,  1821,  and  is 
*r*  the  son  of  Nathan  and  Olive  (Putnam)  White. 
He  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  to  the 
molder's  trade  in  his  native  town,  and  when  21  years 
of  age  removed  to  Barre,  Mass.,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  three  years.  He  then  went  to  Chelsea, 
Mass.,  and  subsequently  returned  to  Barre.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Chelsea,  June  2,  1850,  with 
Miss  Almina  Simon,  daughter  of  Samuel  Simon. 
Mrs.  White  was  born  in  Maine.  She  became  the 
mother  of  one  child,  which  died  in  infancy.  Her 
death  occurred  Aug.  22,  1852.  Mr.  White  came  to 
Moline  in  February,  1855,  and  joined   his  partners, 


Williams,  Heald  &  Co.,  in  the  foundry  and  machine 
business.  He  assumed  charge  of  the  foundry  de- 
partment, and  has  superintended  the  same  for  more 
than  30  years. 

Mr.  White  was  married  the  second  time,  at  Mo- 
line, Nov.  9.  1865,  to  Mrs.  Margaret  Curtis,  widow 
of  Win.  Curtis  and  daughter  of  John  Patterson. 
Mrs.  White  was  born  in  Meadville,  Pa.  She  has 
five  children  by  her  former  marriage,  namely  :  Cor- 
inth P.,  Jennie,  John,  Charles  H.  and  Nellie  L.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  White  have  one  child,  a  son,  Kirk  N.,  now 
attending  the  Port  Byron  (111.)  Academy.  Mrs. 
White  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
Mr.  W.  has  served  as  Alderman  from  the  Second 
Ward  of  Moline  for  six  years.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
Whig  and  is  now  a  stanch  Republican,  he  having 
voted  with  that  party  since  its  organization.  Mr. 
White  is  a  thorough  master  of  his  trade,  and  has 
well  performed  his  share  in  building  up  the  magnif- 
icent business  of  which  he  is  at  the  head. 

On  account  of  the  high  business  standing  of  Mr. 
White,  his  social  qualities,  moral  integrity,  etc.,  the 
publishers  of  this  Album  take  particular  pleasure  in 
presenting  his  portrait,  on  the  preceding  page. 

f  wikt  S.  Metzgar, of  Port  Byron,  has  been  iden- 
tyi^tl',  tilled  Willi  the  development  ol  the  business 
l(j»y  ^  interests  of  this  section  of  Rock  Island 
*Js«  County  since  1859.  He  was  born  May  22, 
1817,  in  Sewickley  Township,  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.,  of  pure  German  descent,  his  father, 
Frederick,  and  his  mother,  Mary  (Swartz)  Metzgar, 
both  belonging  to  that  nationality.  They  were  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  The  son  was  seven  years  old  when 
the  father  died,  and  after  she  became  a  widow  the 
mother,  with  five  children,  went  to  Unity  Township. 
At  15,  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  tailor  in  Mt.  Pleasant, 
in  Mt.  Pleaeant  Township,  with  whom  he  served  five 
and  a  half  years.  After  one  year's  operation  as  a 
"jour,"  he  established  his  business  in  his  own  inter- 
est at  Mt.  Pleasant  and  conducted  its  relations  12 
consecutive  years.  He  then  exchanged  his  village 
property  for  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  and  spent  a  year 
in  experimental  farming.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
sold  his  real  estate  and  embarked  in  mercantile 
transactions  at  Pleasant  Unity. 

Mr.  M.  first  came  West  in  1853,  on  a  tour  of  ob- 


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246 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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servation,  and  again  in  1855,  with  a  view  oflooking 
up  a  location  for  a  permanent  abode.  On  making 
his  first  trip  he  shipped  a  horse  and  buggy  by  river 
transportation  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers. 
On  arriving  at  Quincy  he  left  the  boat  and  drove 
from  that  city  to  Port  Byron,  where  he  had  friends. 
Not  long  after,  he  sold  his  team  and  went  to  Iowa. 
After  a  brief  stay  in  that  State  he  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania. Three  years  after  going  into  business  at 
Pleasant  Unity,  he  set  out  for  the  West,  removing 
his  trading  stock  with  him  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
tinuing the  same  line  of  traffic  at  the  point  he  had 
fixed  upon  as  a  desirable  location.  He  proceeded 
with  his  property  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  char- 
tered a  car  for  Chicago.  On  his  arrival  at  that  city 
he  re-shipped  his  merchandise  for  Rock  Island,  and 
on  arriving  there  he  proceeded  to  Port  Byron. 

On  settling  in  Port  Byron  he  rented  a  store  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  transactions  for  a  few  months, 
when  he  packed  his  goods,  and  with  an  associate 
bought  at  sheriff's  sale  a  steamboat, — the  "  Golden 
State," — belonging  to  the  river  transportation  service. 
The  boat  did  not  prove  a  profitable  investment,  and 
on  account  of  the  constantly  recurring  appearance  of 
claims  against  the  vessel,  she  was  sold,  at  a  loss, 
which  left  Mr.  M.  with  limited  means  to  re-engage 
in  the  mercantile  business.  He,  however,  communi- 
cated with  parties  at  the  East,  with  whom  he  had 
formerly  transacted  business,  stating  his  circum- 
stances, and  immediately  received  notice  to  come  on 
and  select  an  outfit  of  such  goods  as  he  required, 
and  pay  for  the  same  when  he  could.  He  responded 
in  person  and  returned  with  $7,000  worth  of  goods. 
This  was  during  the  first  years  of  the  war,  and  soon 
after  he  purchased  an  additional  stock  of  like  value. 
The  inflation  of  values  soon  took  place,  and  the 
worth  of  the  possessions  of  Mr.  Metzgar  became  four 
times  greater  than  the  figures  of  purchase.  He 
bought  a  lot  on  the  main  business  street  of  Port 
Byron,  where  he  built  a  store,  and  a  warehouse  in  its 
rear,  on  the  river.  He  prosecuted  the  departments 
of  his  trade,  and  at  the  same  time  enlarged  his  busi- 
ness interests  by  the  addition  of  traffic  in  grain,  live 
stock  and  dressed  hogs,  pursuing  his  transactions  in 
those  lines  until  1872,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  son, 
whom  he  had  associated  with  himself  some  years  be- 
fore. 

Since  that  date  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  lime  at  Port  Byron,  where  he,  in  connection 


^ 


with  his  son,  owns  two  kilns  in  active  operation.  V 
With  his  other  sons  he  is  interested  in  similar  busi-  ' 
ness  at  Cordova,  where  they  own  four  kilns.  Mr. 
Metzgar  is  the  proprietor  of  a  fine  and  valuable  farm 
near  the  city  of  Port  Byron.  He  takes  earnest  inter- 
est in  raising  fine  stock,  giving  preference  to  thor- 
oughbred Jerseys.  He  built  a  residence  on  his  farm, 
expending  thereon  $7,000  in  its  construction.  Its 
location  is  most  desirable,  as  it  is  placed  in  a  posi- 
tion commanding  an  extended  view  of  the  river  as 
far  as  the  city  of  Davenport  on  the  south  and  over  a 
large  extent  of  the  Iowa  prairies  across  the  "  Father 
of  Waters."  This  was  the  family  residence  until 
1884,  when  Mr.  Metzgar  built  the  residence  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  family,  which  was  constructed  in  18S4, 
for  the  purpose  of  being  nearer  business. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  A.  Crumbaugh  took  place 
in  1838.  She  was  born  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.,  and 
became  the  mother  of  six  children:  Harriet,  Mar- 
cellus,  George  A.,  Charles  L.,  Homer  C,  Emma  \ 
Belle  and  Ida  M.  The  first-born  died  in  infancy.  * 
Belle  died  at  1 1  years  of  age.  Marcellus  enlisted  in  4 
1861  in  the  51st  111.  Inf.  and  served  three  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metzgar  are  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  M.  belongs  to 
the  Old  Settlers'  Association  and  has  been  a  Demo- 
crat since  1840. 


^ 


*-# 


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(!) 


alter  J.  Entrikin,  State's  Attorney  of  Rock 

Island  Co.,  111.,  and  junior  partner  of  the 

law    firm   of   Browning   &  Entrikin,   was 

X>    born  at  Salem,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb. 

4on      8,  1846,  and  is  the  son  of  Brinton  and  Eliza  \ 

\ 


V. 


J.  (McCracken)  Entrikin.     His  father  was  a  na- 


tive of  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  and  his  mother  of  Colum- 
biana Co.,  Ohio.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was 
educated  at  Oberlin  College  and  graduated  Aug.  4, 
1870. 

In  1 86 1  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and 
made  his  home  in  Geneseo,  where  he  pursued  the  f 
study  of  law  under  the  tutorship  of  Messrs.  Wait  & 
Moderwell,  of  that  place,  till  the  spring  of  1871, 
when  he  removed  to  Moline.  On  coming  to  this 
city,  he  resumed  his  law  studies  with  the  Hon.  J.  T. 
Browning,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  Oct.  12, 
1871.  Mr.  Entrikin  practiced  with  Mr.  Browning 
two  years,  after  which  time  he  went  into  business  for 


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y?(9CA'  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


himself  till  Jan.  i,  1S75,  when  he  formed  a  law  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Wm.  R.  Moore,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Entrikin  &  Moore.  This  connection  con- 
tinued till  July  1,  1876,  when  he  formed  the  existing 
partnership  with  Mr.  J.  T.  Browning.  Mr.  Entrikin 
was  elected  and  served  as  City  Attorney  in  1873  and 
1874,  and  again  in  1881  and  1882.  He  has  been 
Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Riverside  Cemetery 
Association  since  Sept.  13,  1875.  In  November, 
1S84,  he  was  elected  State's  Attorney  for  Rock 
Island  County  for  the  term  from  1885  to  1889.  He 
is  a  member  of  Franklin  Lodge,  No.  16,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Entrikin  was  married  at  Moline,  Aug.  18, 
1870,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Chamberlin,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Lydia  P.  Chamberlin.  She  was  born  in 
Lyndon,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.  The  issue  of  their 
union  has  been  five  children,  all  born  at  Moline, 
namely:  Eva  M.,  born  Nov.  25,  1872;  William  B., 
April  24,  1874;  Fred  C,  July  17,  1875;  Roy  J., 
Nov.  1,  1876;  and  Ada  L.,  Feb.  21,  1878. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Entrikin  are  members  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Moline.  In  political  views 
Mr.  Entrikin  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  usually 
takes  an  active  part  as  a  public  speaker  in  campaign 
times.  In  the  late  Presidential  election  he  was  an 
earnest  supporter  of  Blaine  and  Logan. 

As  a  lawyer  he  ranks  high  in  the  profession, 
Methodical  and  thorough  in  preparing  a  cause,  well 
versed  in  authorities,  and  ready  in  argument,  his 
client's  interests  are  always  advanced  and  guarded 
with  ability  and  care. 


obert  E.  Pearsall  is  a  resident  of  Coe 
,*|lalij^  Township,  being  located  on  section  23.  He 
pWfF*'  is  the  oldest  son  of  W.  C.  and  Jane  (Eling- 
f  *n  nam)  Pearsall,  and  was  born  at  Brockville, 
Canada,  Nov.  5,  T837.  He  was  not  quite  1 1 
years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Rock 
Island  County,  where  he  passed  the  days  of  his  youth 
in  attendance  at  school  and  in  assisting  on  the  home 
farm.  He  is  a  mechanic  by  natural  gift  and  has  an 
aptitude  for  the  use  of  tools,  and,  as  his  father  had 
extensive  business  operations  and  employed  a  num- 
ber of  carpenters,  he  worked  with  them  sufficiently  to 
learn  the  trade  in  a  practical  manner.  In  1878  he 
rented  his  farm    and    removed    to    Erie,   where    he 


worked  as  a  carpenter  three  years,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  his  farm.  His  farm  is  in  good  agricultural 
condition,  with  frame  buildings  and  a  number  of 
shade  and  fruit  trees.  In  addition  to  the  home  farm, 
he  owns  the  north  half  of  the  east  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  22. 

He  lived  at  home  with  his  parents  until  the  time 
of  his  marriage,  and  he  then  settled  on  his  farm.  He 
was  married  in  i860  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  N.  S. 
Stout.  She  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  She  has  borne 
three  children,  named  Levi  C,  William  N.  and  Na- 
thaniel B. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearsall  are  members  of  Bethel  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Coe.  Mr.  Pearsall  is  a  Republican  in 
political  faith. 


«- 


& 


a.^harles  H.  Deere,  one  of  the  chief  business 
%t    men  of  Moline,  was  born  March  28,  1837, 

ffrvs  at  Hancock,  Addison  Co.,  Vt.  When 
)  a  year  old,  his  father,  John  Deere,  brought 
him  with  his  family  to  Grand  de  Tour,  111., 
the  whole  journey  from  Vermont  being  made 
in  the  common  farm  wagon  of  the  day,  the  family 
camping  out  along  the  route,  Gipsey  style.  He  at- 
tended school,  at  Grand  de  Tour  until  12  years  of 
age,  when  the  family  moved  to,  and  permanently  lo- 
cated at,  Moline,  111.,  where  the  John  Deere  Plow 
Works  have  made  the  town  famous.  Here  Charles 
attended  the  public  school,  and  for  two  years  was  at 
the  Davenport  Academy,  then  known  as  the  "  Iowa 
College;"  then  attended  Knox  College  at  Gales- 
burg,  111.,  for  one  year,  after  which  he  went  to 
Chicago,  where,  in  1853,  he  graduated  at  Bell's  Com- 
mercial College. 

Immediately  upon  graduating  he  returned  to  Mo- 
line and  entered  his  father's  office  as  assistant  book- 
keeper, and  soon  took  charge  of  the  books.  He 
continued  to  act  as  book-keeper  and  traveling  man 
for  the  concern  until  1868,  when  the  corporation  of 
Deere  &  Co.  was  formed,  and  he  became  and  has  re- 
mained ever  since  its  Vice-President  and  general 
manager.  Under  his  management  and  executive 
ability,  the  Deere  &  Co.  Plow  Works  have  become 
the  largest  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  world,  and 
have  given  the  name  of  Moline  proud  prominence  in 
the  world  of  industry. 

Charles  H.  Deere  possesses  pleasant  social  quali- 


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248 


ties  and  is  attractive  company  when  he  drifts  away 
from  his  heavy  business  cares  and  responsibilities; 
but  it  is  as  the  real  head  of  his  towering  industry 
that  he  shows  his  marvelous  executive  ability  and 
business  genius  and  brains.  Shrewd,  quick  and 
clear-headed,  with  a  memory  which  almost  reaches 
inspiration,  perfect  master  of  all  the  details  of  his 
vast  business,  he  stands  at  the  helm,  and,  as  princi- 
pal stockholder,  controls  the  works,  and  has  for  years ; 
and  success,  such  as  is  vouchsafed  to  few,  has  at- 
tended his  efforts.  He  is  also  at  the  head  of  the 
Deere  &  Mansur  Corn-Planter  Works,  a  large  stock- 
holder in  the  vast  tub  and  pail  factory  and  saw-mills 
of  Dimock,  Gould  &  Co.,  and,  as  an  individual,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Deere  &  Co.,  has  ex- 
tensive business  interests  at  Council  Bluffs,  Kansas 
City,  St.  Louis  and  elsewhere,  and  may  be  termed  a 
financial  king,  so  made  by  business  success. 

In  politics,  he  is  Republican,  but  has  never  held 
any  elective  office.  Governor  Cullom  appointed  him 
President  of  the  Board  of  Labor  Statistics  of  the 
State,  a  position  which  he  still  holds.  His  business 
is  so  perfectly  systematized  now  and  he  has  such 
trusty  and  able  heads  of  departments,  that  he 
feels  safe  in  seeking  considerable  relaxation  from 
business  cares,  and  frequents  American  watering 
places  somewhat,  and  has  visited  Europe  twice  with 
his  family. 

On  Sept.  16,  1862,  at  Chicago,  111.,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  L.  Dickinson,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Anna  C,  born  Aug.  20,  1864  ;  and  Katherine 
M.,  in  October,  1866.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  lie  says  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregation. 


I'tNLaniel  Edgington,  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 

:j^JVi,    th-rs  ol   KiK  k  Inland  County,  and  in    honor 

hSf^    of  whom  Edgington  Township  was  named, 

jms<      came  here  at  an  early  day,  and   has  experi- 

■fc    enced  all  the  trials  incident  to  the  early  settle- 

5     merit  of  a  new  country.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson 

Co.,  Ohio,  in  March,  1807. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Edgington  was  a  native  of  one 
of  the  Eastern  States,  and  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Virginia,  at  a  time  when  that  State  was  in- 
habited by  the  Indians.     During  one  of  the  Indian 


wars  in  which  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice  participated,  he  was  twice  captured  by  the 
Indians,  but  effected  his  escape,  and  located  at 
Holladay's  Grove,  Va.,  where  he  resided  until  the 
time  of  his  death.  The  father  of  Mr.  Edgington  of 
this  notice,  after  the  death  of  his  father  at  Holladay's 
Grove,  moved  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Casa  Vears.  He  followed 
the  vocation  of  farming  and  was  a  pioneer  of  that 
county.  In  fact,  the  Edgington  family  have  been 
somewhat  noted  for  their  pioneer  disposition.  The 
family  consisted  of  four  sons,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing. The  parents  remained  in  Jefferson  County,  and 
the  three  sons,  inheriting  the  disposition  of  their 
father  to  procure  a  home  in  some  new  country,  came 
West.  The  parents  died  in  Jefferson  County  some 
years  ago,  when  Daniel  Edgington  was  about  20 
years  old. 

Daniel  Edgington,  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio, 
alternating  his  labors  thereon  with  attendance  at  the 
common  schools,  thereby  receiving  a  good  English 
education.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  he  went  to 
Brownsville,  Pa.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
gunsmith.  He  then  returned  to  Steubenville,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Ohio,  his  native  county,  where  he  followed 
his  trade  some  years. 

In  r834  Mr.  Edgington  came  with  his  brother  and 
father-in-law,  Mr.  Dunlap,  to  this  State,  and  direct  to 
this  county,  and  selected  land  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Edgington  Township,  consisting  of  about  2,000 
acres  of  land  altogether.  At  that  time  the  country 
was  unsettled ;  but,  having  faith  in  the  future  develop- 
ment of  the  same,  he  determined  to  make  this  his 
future  home.  The  following  year,  in  1835,  their 
families  were  brought  from  the  East  to  this  county, 
and  located  with  them.  Mr.  Edgington  located  upon 
his  land  and  entered  upon  the  task  of  its  improve- 
ment. He  broke  some  of  his  land  and  put  in  a  crop 
and  disposed  of  the  first  grain  that  he  raised  to  emi- 
grants passing  through  in  search  of  a  home,  and  re 
ceived  therefor  a  good  price.  Soon,  however,  he 
was  compelled  to  haul  his  grain  to  Chicago,  where  he 
disposed  of  it,  returning  with  provisions,  and  which 
was  his  market  for  the  produce  raised  on  his  farm 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  has  owned  in  Edgington 
Township,  during  the  time  he  has  resided  here,  1,080 
acres,  but  at  the  present  writing  is  the  proprietor  of 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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only  270  acres,  which  is  under  a  good  state  of  culti- 
vation.    He  built  the  first  brick  house  in   the  town- 
-.  ship,  on  his  present  homestead. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edgington  are  both  members  of  the 
jt    Presbyterian  Church.     He  has  been  Supervisor  and 
'    Road  Commissioner,  and  also  held  other  minor  offices 
within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  the  township.     Politi- 
cally, he  is  identified  with  the  Greenback,  party. 

Mr.  Edgington  was  united  in  marriage  in  his  na- 
tive county  in  1832  to  Miss  Mary  H.  Dunlap   (for  a 
biography  of  whose  parents,  see  sketch  of  Adolphus 
.   Dunlap).     She  was  born"  in  Steubenville,  Jefferson 
P  Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  resided  with   her  parents  until 


1 


her  marriage.  The  issue  of  their  union  has  been  ten 
children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  record 
is  as  follows :  Eliza  Guffy  Asal  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Nebraska,  as  likewise  is  Joseph,  who  resides 
in  the  same  State;  Casia  is  married  and  a  resident  of 
Rock  Island  city;  John,  also  married,  resides  at 
Fullerton,  Neb.;  Daniel,  married,  and  lives'  in  Mills 
>  Co.,  Iowa;  Cora  is  a  resident  of  Des  Moines,  same 
*  State;  Sophia  (Keyser)  is  deceased;  Mary  (Cleve- 
t  land),  likewise  deceased;  Alice  died  while  quite 
£  young.  The  wife  and  mother  died  at  her  home  in 
\  Edgington  Township,  in  June,  1869.  She  was  an  act- 
.,  ive  worker  for  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of  the 
s  community  in  which  she  lived,  a  Christian  mother,  a 
loving  wife  and  kind  neighbor,  and  her  demise  was 
mourned  by  a  host  of  relatives  and  friends. 

March  26,  1874,  Mr.  Edgington  was  again  united 
in  marriage,  in  Muscatine,  Iowa,  to  Mrs.  Amanda 
Casner,  nee  Riggs,  a  daughter  of  Philip  D.  and 
Hannah  (Dickinson)  Riggs,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio  respectively,  and  of  Welsh  and  German  de- 
scent. Her  father  was  a  carpenter,  was  married  in 
Ohio  and  afterwards  moved  to  Ripley  Co.,  Ind., 
where  Mrs.  Edgington  was  born  March  14,  1826. 
She  was  reared  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  remaining  there 
until  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Jacob  Casner,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  a  carpenter  by  vocation,  and  who  died 
in  Iowa,  leaving  three  children,  two  of  whom  have 
subsequently  died.  Their  record  is  as  follows: 
Almeda,  wife  of  S.  H.  Thomas,  a  Methodist  minister; 
Kate,  wife  of  August  Klatt,  a  mechanic,  living  in 
Blue  Grass,  Iowa;  and  Henry,  a  resident  of  Iowa 
City,  Iowa.  After  Mrs.  Edgington 's  first  marriage, 
she  lived  in  Carthage,  Ohio,  until  they  came  West  in 
l8SS,  where  her  husband  died,  as  stated,  in  1870. 
Coming  here  in  1834,  as  he  did,  to  a  country  unde- 


veloped  as  it  was,  for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  home  for  himself  and  family,  and  having 
entered  vigorously  upon  the  task  of  carrying  out  the 
dictates  of  his  judgment,  and  meeting  with  success, 
he  not  only  deserves  to  remembered  by  the  citizens  of 
Rock  Island  County,  and  especially  those  of  Edging- 
ton Township,  as  one  of  the  pioneers,  but  as  a  man 
who  has  accomplished  his  undertaking.  Respected 
for  his  kindness  to  his  fellow  man,  and  his  honest 
dealings  with  all  those  with  whom  he  has  had  busi- 
ness transactions,  as  well  as  his  generous,  frank  and 
manly  attributes  as  a  citizen  and  neighbor,  we  take 
pleasure  in  presenting  the  citizens  of  Rock  Island 
County  with  this  short  sketch  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Edgington's   home  place  is  represented  by  a 
lithographic  view  in  this  work. 


-*"<-HHHN->- 


-4 


JThomas  S.  Hines,  agent  of  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  &  Pacific,  and  of  the  Chicago, 
T*  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroads,  and  of 
the  United  States  Express  Company,  stationed 
at  Moline  since  the  fall  of  1874.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Naperville,  Du  Page 
111.,  April  16,  1 84 1,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael 
and  Lucetta  (Stevens)  Hines.  He  received  an  aca- 
demic education,  and  enlisted  in  April,  i86r,  at  the 
first  call  for  troops  in  the  late  war.  His  regiment 
was  the  13th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  (three-months  men).  Be- 
fore going  to  the  front  he  decided  to  enlist  for  three 
years,  and  was  discharged  from  the  13th  and  en- 
listed for  three  years  in  the  8th  111.  Cav.  (Co.  E), 
was  promoted  to  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  served  until 
Oct.  1,  1864,  when  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge. He  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
participating  in  the  seven  days'  battle  of  the  Penin- 
sula, capture  of  Yorktown,  battles  of  Williamsburg, 
Fair  Oaks,  Gaines'  Mill,  Gaines'  Hill,  and  the  open- 
ing of  the  road  to  Harrison's  Landing.  Was  also  in 
the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam,  and  at 
the  opening  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  helped 
form  the  first  skirmish  line,  and  his  vidette  opened 
the  first  fire  in  that  battle;  on  the  second  day  his 
regiment  was  ordered  to  attack  Lee's  rear  at  Falling 
Water.  His  regiment,  being  cavalry,  did  much  skir- 
mish duty.  Toward  the  last  of  his  service  he  was 
with  Gen.  Hooker  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness. 


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i?OCX  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


On  his  return  from  the  war  he  entered  the  service 
of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad  as 
telegraph  operator  at  Peoria,  111.  Was  agent  at 
Grinnell  Station,  Iowa,  two  years,  and  ticket  agent 
at  Council  Bluffs  nine  years.  In  the  fall  of  1874  he 
was  assigned  to  Moline  Station,  and  was  also  made 
agent  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Rail- 
road, and  of  the  United  States  Express  Company. 
He  has  held  those  positions  for  1 1   years. 

Mr.  Hines  was  united  in  marriage  at  Grinnell, 
Iowa,  in  186S,  to  Miss  Jennie  Clifford.  Mrs.  Hines 
died  in  1872,  leaving  an  infant  daughter,  Cora,  who 
died  soon  after  the  death  of  her  mother.  Mr.  Hines 
was  married  again  Nov.  5,  1874,  at  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa,  to  Miss  Fannie  Snow,  daughter  of  R.  P.  Snow, 
of  Council  Bluffs.  Mrs.  Hines  was  born  in  that  city. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  two  boys  and 
a  girl:  Walter  P.,  born  Feb.  3,  1876;  Thomas  H., 
Nov.  3,  1878;  and  Medora  Lucetta,  Sept.  5,  1881. 
Mr.  Hines  is  a  Democrat. 


=$#-£-*« 


ohn  Warnock,  a  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 11,  Rural  Township,  is  the  fifth  child 
in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  ten  children, 

the  parents  of  whom  were  William  and  Jane 
^T     (Byers)  Warnock,  natives   of  County    Down, 

Ireland.  John  Warnock  was  born  in  County 
Down,  March  23,  1820.  He  lived  in  his  native 
county,  where  he  w-as  engaged  in  farming,  until  the 
fall  of  1848.  At  that  time,  hoping  to  better  his  con- 
dition in  the  New  World,  he  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try, where  he  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1S49,  and 
came  direct  to  this  county.  For  the  first  five  years 
after  coming  here  he  was  employed  in  a  saw-mill  at 
Rock  Island.  In  the  spring  of  1854  he  purchased 
160  acres  of  land,  located  on  section  13,  Rural 
Township,  on  which  he  settled  and  entered  vigor- 
ously and  energetically  upon  the  task  of  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation.  He  resided  on  that  place  for 
five  years,  when  he  moved  on  section  1 1  of  the  same 
township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  at 
present  the  proprietor  of  200  acres  of  land  in  that 
township,  the  major  portion  of  which  is  under  an 
advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a  good  resi- 
dence on  his  farm,  and  substantial  outbuildings,  and 
is  meeting  with  success  in  his  chosen  vocation. 

— ^^f^ — ^A4>nn@ 


Mr.  Warnock  was  first  united  in  marriage  in 
County  Down,  Ireland,  Dec.  6,  1839,  to  Miss  Mary 
Campbell,  a  native  of  that  county,  where  she  was 
born  Aug.  15,  1815.  She  has  borne  him  eight  chil- 
dren,—Margaret,  born  July  7,  1841  ;  William,  July 
4,  1843;  Alexander,  April  20,  1845  ;  David,  Aug.  7, 
1847  ;  James  C,  Dec.  4,  1850;  John,  Feb.  23,  1853; 
Hugh,  Aug.  7,  1855;  and  Janet,  April  — ,  1858. 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  James  Bailey,  a  resident  of 
Rural  Township  and  by  occupation  a  farmer.  Will- 
iam settled  in  Iowa,  where  he  lived  several  years, 
and  on  account  of  ill  health  returned  to  Rural  Town- 
ship, where  he  died.  Alexander  is  living  in  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  David  re- 
sides in  Rural  Township,  and  follows  the  vocation  of 
a  farmer.  James  C.  is  a  United  Presbyterian  cler- 
gyman and  resides  in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa.  John  died 
in  Rural  Township,  in  1878;  and  Hugh  is  also  a 
resident  of  the  same  township  and  a  farmer ;  Jenet 
is  the  wife  of  John  Campbell,  a  resident  of  New 
York  city. 

Mrs.  Warnock  died  in  Rural  Township,  Nov.  12, 
1875,  and  Mr.  Warnock  was  again  married,  Nov.  23, 
1882,  to  Miss  Eliza  Ralston,  who  likewise  was  born 
in  County  Down,  March  13,  1835.  Mr.  W.  has 
held  the  office  of  Supervisor  in  his  township  one 
term,  Assessor  seven  years,  and  also  other  minor 
offices.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church.  Politically,  Mr.  War- 
nock is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party. 


€^ 


'X@ffr* 


illiam  J.  Gamble,  Superintendent  of  the 
Moline  &  Rock  Island  Horse  Railroad, 
son  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rock  Island 
County,  was  born  at  Moline,  111.,  April  4,  1S46. 
parents,  Josiah  and  Elizabeth  (Heck) 
Gamble,  were  natives  of  Westmoreland  Co., 
Pa.,  and  came  to  Rock  Island  in  1837.  Mr.  Gamble 
died  in  1S74,  at  the  age  of  66  years.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  the  subject  of  this  notice  followed  that 
vocation  until  about  29  years  of  age. 

In  1S74  he  accepted  employment  with  his  present 
company  as  a  barn  hand  and  afterward  as  a  dri- 
ver. In  18S3 — a  year  before  the  retirement  of  John 
Warner   from    the   superintendency — Mr.    Gamble's 

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efficiency  had  so  recommended  him  to  the  company 
that  he  was  at  once  promoted  to  the  position.  Since 
his  elevation  to  the  superintendency  his  manage- 
ment has  been  in  the  highest  degree  acceptable  to 
the  stockholders  and  officers,  who  find  in  him  a  man 
calculated  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  a  road 
already  recognized  as  among  the  first-class  street 
railways  of  the  country.  Nor  are  Mr.  Gamble's 
merits  as  a  street  railroad  manager  known  only  to 
his  immediate  employers.  That  his  services  are  in 
ready  demand  with  various  companies  in  other  cities 
is  shown  by  the  number  of  letters  he  has  received, 
and  that  have  been  written  with  a  view  to  inducing 
him  to  leave  the  Moline  &  Rock  Island,  and  adopt 
the  interest  of  some  other  line. 

In  October,  1861,  Mr.  Gamble  enlisted  as  a  sol- 
dier in  Co.  C,  66th  111.  Inf ,  and  served  to  the  close 
of  the  war,  participating,  in  the  meantime,  in  the 
battles  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  Kingston  Cross 
Roads,  N.  C.  Sept.  17,  1S68,  he  was  married  at 
Orion,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  to  Miss  Margaret  J.  States, 
a  native  of  that  county,  and  daughter  of  C.  States, 
Esq.,  and  has  had  born  to  him  four  children,  namely  : 
Elmer  C,  Maudie,  May,  Johnnie,  and  Elnora,  who 
died  Jan.  14,  1882,  when  only  a  few  weeks  of  age. 


-0-3- 


-S>-°- 


Jb,apt.  George  Dodge,  a  prominent    citizen 


jjs    of  Port  Byron,  was  born  in  Guildhall,  Es- 

_|P"  ^  sex  Co.,  Vt.,  Oct.  13,  r8i4.  His  father, 
&fe  John  Dodge,  was  a  native  of  Salem,  Essex 
3P      r„    m 


* 

1 


Co.,  Mass.,  a  direct  descendant  of  a  family  of 
that  name  who  came  from  England  about 
1670  and  settled  in  Salem.  He  was  a  hatter  by 
trade,  and  George  learned  the  same  from  him,  and 
worked  at  it  until  1839,  when  he  went  to  New  York 
city  for  a  short  time,  and  then  to  Port  Lee,  N.  J. 
After  teaching  school  there  one  year,  he  went  to 
sea  as  a  "  sailor  before  the  mast  "  on  a  whaler,  and 
within  the  ensuing  two  years  he  made  two  voy- 
ages. Returning  to  New  York,  he  enlisted  in  the 
first  United  States  Dragoons  and  served  five  years 
in  the  West,  during  which  time  he  visited  that  sec- 
tion of  the  country  now  included  in  Colorado,  New 
Mexico,  Utah  and  Wyoming. 

After  his  discharge  in  1846,  he  came  to  Port   By- 
ron, and  two  months  afterward  he  went  to|the  Galena 


lead  mines  for  a  year.  Returning  to  Port  Byron,  he 
engaged  as  a  clerk  for  Holmes  &  Moore  two  years, 
and  then  in  trade  on  his  own  account  until  185  S. 
In  1861  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers,  which 
was  attached  to  the  Fourth  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  Government  in  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  Mr.  Dodge  as  Captain.  After  a  ser- 
vice in  the  army  one  year,  he  resigned,  on  account 
of  ill  health,  and  returned  to  Port  Byron.  Subse- 
quently, from  1870  to  1875,  he  was  in  the  Govern- 
ment service  as  Gauger,  being  stationed  in  different 
places  in  this  State. 

Jan.  17,  1850,  is  the  date  of  Capt.  Dodge's  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ellen,  daughter  of  George  E.  and  Mary 
(Moore)  Holmes,  and  their  two  children  are,  Clara, 
now  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Fleming,  and  living  in  Port 
Byron;  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  J.  S.  Knowles,  and 
residing  in  Kingsley,  Iowa.  Capt.  Dodge  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


e?*<?II!I 


,:;  jjrl.^apt    George  E.   Filigree,  of  Moline,   was 
«i."i|p    bom  April  29,  1838,  at   North   Littleton, 
Hl^  ^      Grafton  Co.,N.  H.   His  father's  name  was 
Wg>    Joseph,  his  mother's  Polly   (Savage)   Pingree, 
,Jj\     the  former  being  of  French,  the  latter  of  Eng- 
I       lish  extraction.     They  had  a  family  of  n  chil- 
dren, of  whom  George  was  the  youngest,   and   the 
only  one  of  the  family  now  living.     When  he  was 
about  three  years  old  the  family  moved  to  the  village 
of  Littleton.  N.  H.,  where  his  father  soon  died. 

In  1846  the  subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  where  he  lived  for  two  years  with  his  old- 
est brother,  Rev.  E.  M.  Pingree,  pastor  of  the  first 
Universalist  Church  in  that  city.  Returning  to 
Littleton,  N.  H.,  in  1848,116  went  to  woik  011  the 
farm  of  Solomon  Rowell,  at  North  Littleton,  and  for 
two  years  worked  at  farming  between  Littleton  and 
Bethlehem,  N.  H.;  worked  at  Hollister's  Hotel  at 
Lisbon,  N.  H.,  for  one  year,  and  then  lived  about  a 
year  with  his  uncle  and  guardian,  J.  W.  Savage,  then 
worked  for  a  Mr.  Temple  one  year  on  his  farm  near 
Lisbon.  In  1851  he  went  to  Methuen,  Mass.,  and 
worked  about  a  year  on  the  farm  of  his  cousin,  Wash- 
ington Merrill;  then  went  to  Reading,  Mass.,  and  for 
four  years  worked  in  the  dry -goods  and  grocery  store 
of  Thomas  Pratt  &  Son  ;  worked  one  year  for  Samuel 


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254 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


Pierce,  church  organ-pipe  manufacturer,  and  then 
sent  himself  to  school  at  Paper  Mill  Village,  N.  H., 
for  a  few  months,  when  he  was  called  to  the  death- 
bed of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Atwood.  After  her 
death  he  attended  school  for  a  short  time  at  Lisbon, 
and  then  went  to  New  York  city  and  peddled  ice  for 
one  season.  He  then  worked  a  few  months  for 
Manning  &  Co.,  cabinet  manufacturers,  Boston, 
Mass.,  then  returned  to  Lisbon,  N.  H.,and  went  into 
the  general  store  of  Parker  &  Young,  remaining  there 
until  the  spring  of  1861. 

As  soon  as  the  Rebels  fired  on  Fort  Sumter,  he 
enlisted  for  three  months'  service  as  a  private  in  the 
Second  N.  H.  Inf.,  re -enlisting  as  a  private  soon  after, 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  in  Co.  G,  Capt. 
Weston,  Second  N.  H.  Was  in  and  about  Washing- 
ton on  guard  duty  until  July,  when  he  participated 
in  the  first  Bull  Run  battle  and  retreat.  After  that 
fight  his  regiment  formed  a  part  of  Gen.  Hooker's 
First  Brigade,  and  the  regiment  did  guard,  garrison 
and  skirmish  duty  along  the  Potomac  and  at  Cock- 
pit Point  batteries,  where  the  rebels  had  blockaded 
the  Potomac,  until  ordered  into  the  siege  of  York- 
town,  Va.  At  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  Va.,  he 
was  wounded  in  the  right  arm  between  wrist  and 
elbow,  a  bullet  from  the  r4th  La.  Inf.  passing 
through,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  hospitals  at  Fort- 
ress Monroe  and  Hampton  Roads,  and  later  dis- 
charged on  account  of  wounds  and  sent  home. 

Sept.  4,  1S62,  he  was  commissioned  Captain  of  Co. 
G,  1  ith  N.  H.  Inf.,  and,  with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  he 
commanded  his  company  at  Fredericksburg,  under 
Burnside,  through  Kentucky  after  Morgan,  Basil 
Duke,  Marmaduke  and  Wheeler,  then  out  to  Vicks- 
burg  and  Jackson,  Mis*.  At  Fredericksburg  he  was 
knocked  over  by  a  piece  of  shell  and  wounded  in  his 
right  arm,  right  leg  and  left  foot,  and  in  the  following 
campaigns  was  compelled  to  have  a  horse.  The 
regiment  returned  to  Kentucky,  after  the  Vicks- 
burg  campaign;  and  as  Capt.  Pingree's  arm  grew 
worse  and  he  was  liable  to  lose  it  by  the  arduous 
duties  of  army  life  and  camping  on  the  ground,  he 
was  ordered  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  duty  as  member 
of  a  court  martial,  and  soon  after  was  commissioned 
as  Captain  of  Co.  I,  Fifth  Regiment,  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps,  and  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  rendesvouz 
camp,  Camp  Carrington  Indianapolis,  and  was  soon 
after  placed   on  duty    with    his    company,    at    the 


prison  camp  of  Camp  Morton,  Indianapolis.  His 
commission  as  Captain  in  the  V.  R.  C.  was  signed 
by  President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  of  War  E.  M. 
Stanton,  a  document  he  is  proud  of.  In  the  fall  of 
1865  the  regiment  was  disbanded  and  Capt.  Pingree 
was  ordered  home  to  Littleton,  N.  H.,  to  await 
orders.  In  April,  1866,  he  was  ordered  to  South 
Carolina  for  duty  in  the  Freedmen's  Bureau, — having 
charge  of  the  counties  of  Darlington,  Marion,  Ches- 
terfield, Marlboro  and  Horry,  continuing  on  duty  in 
command  of  those  counties,  with  headquarters  at 
Darlington,  until  Jan.  1,  186S,  when  he  was  honor- 
ably mustered  out  (as  were  all  other  officers  of  the 
Bureau),  but  was  at  once  appointed  civilian  agent  in 
charge  of  the  same  territory,  with  same  pay,  emolu- 
ments and  authority  as  before,  until  Jan.  1,  1869, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  bought  out  a  large 
agricultural  implement  store,  in  Charleston,  S.  C, 
but  failed  in  that  business  in  the  fall  of  1S69.  In 
the  spring  of  1870  he  came  to  Rock  Island,  111.,  and 
for  a  few  months  was  night  editor  on  the  Rock 
Island  Union,  severing  his  connection  with  that 
paper  to  enter  the  office  of  the  Moline  Wagon  Com- 
pany, which  he  left  in  1873,  and  for  three  and  a  half 
years  traveled  as  salesman  for  the  Moline  Pump 
Company.  Thereafter  worked  a  short  time  as  ship- 
ping clerk  for  J.  S.  Keator  &:  Sons,  lumber  manufac- 
turers; then  became  local  reporter  in  Moline  for  the 
Rock  Island  Union,  and  Moline  Dispatch,  and  editor 
of  the  Moline  Review,  remaining  in  the  newspaper 
business  for  about  three  years,  altogether,  when  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Moline  Malleable  Iron 
Works  as  book-keeper  and  traveling  salesman,  re- 
maining there  until  the  firm  failed,  in  1863,  when  he 
traveled  awhile  for  the  firm  of  Parlin  &  Orendorff, 
plow  manufacturers,  at  Canton,  111.,  the  St.  Louis 
Wrought  Iron  Range  Company,  and  St.  Louis  Malle- 
able Iron  Company.  On  July  20,  1885,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Chapman  Bros  ,  Chicago,  publishers, 
as  canvasser  and  writer  of  biographical  sketches. 

He  is  a  Freemason.  Was  elected  City  Collector 
for  1863,  and  served  three  years  as  Captain  and  Ad- 
jutant of  the  14th  Bat.,  I.  N.  G  ,  under  Col.  Builer. 

Captain  Pingree  was  married  March  8,  1S77,  at 
Pittsfield,  111.,  to  Miss  Mar)'  A.  Keys.  Her  father's 
name  was  Francis,  her  mother's  Jane  (Jago)  Keys, 
both  being  of  Scotch-Irish   extraction.     They  have 


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257 


had  three  children:  Frank  K.,  born  May  4,  1878, 
died  Dec.  13,  1883;  baby,  born  Dec.  26,  1879,  died 
Jan.  3,  1880;  and  Earl  L.,  born  Aug.  8,  1881. 

In  religion  Capt.  Pingree  is  what  is  termed  "  Lib- 
eral," believing  that  Our  Father  takes  care  of  us 
here,  and  will  continue  to  do  so  hereafter.  Hence 
he  is  willing  to  trust  himself  in  his  hands  at  all 
times,  living  or  dead,  and  death  in  itself  has  no  ter- 
rors for  him,  the  grave  being  only  the  entrance  to  a 
higher  and  better  life  ;  and  believes  himself  to  be 
only  a  pupil  at  school  here,  learning  daily  lessons. 
His  creed  is  portrayed  in  the  admirable  words  of 
George  Eliot : — 

"Let  all  your  converse  be  sincere, 

Your  conscience  as  the  noon-day  clear; 
For  God's  all-seeing  eye  surveys 

Your  thoughts,  your  secret  works  and  ways." 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  cannot  believe 
that  that  great  party  has  either  performed  all  its 
work,  or  yet  fully  accomplished  its  mission;  and 
as  an  American  he  takes  positive  pride  in  all  that 
glorious  record  which  the  Republican  party  made 
between  the  times  which  Lincoln  rose  and  Garfield 
fell. 


ames  Keleher,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  re- 
siding on  section  25,  Edgington  Township, 
was  born  in  county  Latram,  Ireland,  in 
March,  1819.  He  came  with  his  parents  from 
Langford  County  to  America  in  1849.  They 
first  located  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y,  where  they 
remained  for  two  years.  They  went  from  there 
to  New  Orleans,  where,  in  T851,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Eliza  Biglan,  who  was  born  in 
1826,  a  native  of  Langford  County,  Ireland.  She 
came  to  America  at  the  same  time  Mr.  K.  did,  and 
some  years  later  were  married,  in  a  distant  city  from 
where  they  arrived  in  this  country.  To  them  have 
been  born  six  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Those  living  are  Michael,  a  practicing  physician  of 
Chicago  ;  Thomas,  who  is  working  tlie  home  farm  ; 
Eliza  and  James.  Those  deceased  are  Mary,  who 
married  John  Mack,  and  was  living  in  Mercer  Co., 
111.,  where  she  was  accidentally  killed  by  a  large 
dinner  bell,  while  ringing  it.  The  fastenings  of  the 
bell    gave   way,  letting  the  heavy  bell  fall  squarely 


upon  her  head;  she  lived  but  37  hours  afterward; 
she  left  three  children,  Jane,  John  and  Thomas ; 
Catherine,  the  other  member  of  the  family,  died 
when  three  years  of  age. 

Mr.  K.  came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  located  in 
Edgington  Township,  and  in  1865  purchased  a  farm 
upon  which  he  now  resides.  It  contains  280  acres, 
is  all  well  improved,  and  has  upon  it  an  elegant 
residence.  His  farm  will  compare  well  with  the 
best  in  the  township.  Both  himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Politically,  he 
is  a  Democrat. 


l:  5p%|  elson  Chester,  a  prominent  business  man 


:  klaJI?    ot  Moline,  and  Director  and  Secretary  of 

^^3?  ^  Augustana  College,  Rock  Island  city,  was 

born    in  Sweden,  May   10,    1838.     In    1857, 

his  parents,  Olof  and  Elizabeth  (Hanson)  Chester, 

brought  their  seven  children  to  America.      They 

came  at  once  to  Knox  Co.,    111.,    and  located    on  a 

farm  where  the  elder  Mr.  Chester   died  two   weeks 

later. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  college  in 
Sweden  with  a  view  to  preparing  himself  for  the 
ministry,  but  left  after  a  short  course  of  study.  After 
a  residence  of  a  year  and  a  half  in  Illinois  he  de- 
parted for  the  gold  fields  of  California.  Mining  not 
proving  so  profitable  as  anticipated,  he  shipped  as  a 
"  sailor  before  the  mast  "  from  San  Francisco  in  the 
"Star  King,"  in  i86r.  The  vessel  struck  a  sunken 
rock  and  had  to  be  abandoned  as  lost,  at  the  en- 
trance, 30  miles  from  Singapore,  in  the  spring  of 
1862,  and  Mr.  Chester  shipped  immediately  in  an 
American  schooner,  for  the  Chinese  coast.  After 
making  the  sea-coast  cities  of  China,  he  left  the 
schooner  at  Shanghai  and  shipped  in  a  British  ves- 
sel, the  "  Finzel,"  for  London,  where  he  arrived  Aug. 
6,  1863.  From  London  he  sailed  to  Sydney,  Mel- 
bourne, Calcutta  and  back  to  Dundee,  Scotland,  in 
the  "  Gala,"  thence  went  by  land  to  London  again. 
He  next  made  a  round  trip  between  London  and 
and  Montreal  in  the  "City  of  Hamilton,"  and  then 
via  the  Balmacarra  to  Algona  Bay  and  back  to 
London.  He  came  to  New  York  in  1865  and 
shipped  to  the  West  Indies,  returning  to  Knox 
County,  where  he  followed    farming  a   year   or    so. 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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The  following  year  he  tried  lake  sailing,  first  as  mate, 
and  later  as  part  proprietor  of  a  small  schooner,  and 
traded  in  fruit  a  few  months,  finally  bidding  farewell 
to  seafaring  life  in  the  fall  of  1867,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business,  at  Wataga,  111.  In  this  he 
remained  until  the  fall  of  187 r,  when  he  came  to 
Moline.  Here,  from  1873  to  1875,  he  was  carrying 
on  two  grocery  houses,  but  in  the  latter  year  he  con- 
centrated his  interests  in  what  has  since  been  the 
only  wholesale  and  retail  grocery  in  the  city.  In 
1873  he  was  made  a  director  of  Augustana  College, 
and  in  1875  became  Secretary  of  that  institution,  a 
position  he  is  filling  at  present,  and  has  filled  regu- 
larly since  1875,  excepting  two  years.  He  is  also 
Treasurer  of  the  new  school  building  fund,  and  alto- 
gether is  regarded  as  one  of  the  pillars  of  that  mag- 
nificent educational  institution. 

In  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  at  Wataga,  III., 
to  Christine  Berglund,  and  their  children  are  named 
respectively:  William  Theron,  Agatha  Elizabeth, 
Alvina  Christine,  Anna  Adelia  and  Alice  Cornelia. 

As  it  is  evident  that  a  man  having  the  history  and 
present  standing  of  Mr.  Chester  should  be  repre- 
sented by  a  portrait  in  this  Album,  it  is  given  in 
connection  with  the  above  brief  sketch. 


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,Lugh  MeCall,  a  resident  of  the  township  of 
M  ^oe,  came  to  Rock  Island  County  in  1849. 
(•*S£^  He  was  born  Aug.  26,  1832,  in  Butler  Co., 
Pa.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Susan  (Riddle) 
MeCall,  and  his  parents  were  both  natives  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  of 
Scotch  descent.  The  family  removed  to  Westmore- 
land Co.,  Pa.,  in  1835,  where  Mr.  MeCall  lived  until 
the  date  of  his  removal  to  the  place  where  he  has 
since  resided.  The  journey  from  his  native  State 
was  made  in  the  manner  common  in  the  days  when 
there  was  no  method  of  public  transportation,  and 
the  arrangements  were  all  at  the  discretion  of  the 
interested  parties.  They  went  to  Freeport,  Pa., 
where  they  took  passage  on  a  canal-boat  for  Pitts- 
burg, and  from  there  they  came  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers  to  Port  Byron.  The  father  and 
mother  were  accompanied  by  all  their  family  with  the 
exception  of  a  son,  who  remained  in  the  State  where 
he  was  born  and  reared.     Four  sons  and  a  daugh- 


ter came  to  Illinois.  The  cash  capital  of  the  entire 
number  on  landing  was  $7.  They  rented  land  in 
Zuma  Township,  on  which  they  operated  two  years, 
and  in  r85i  the  father  bought  a  farm  on  section  27, 
in  Coe  Township.  This  was  the  fam'ly  homestead 
as  long  as  the  parents  lived.  The  place  has  been 
managed  since  by  the  son  who  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  has  bought  additional  land,  and  has 
240  acres  in  one  body,  with  excellent  buildings,  and 
an  abundance  of  shade,  fruit  and  ornamental  trees. 
He  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  in  raising 
stock. 

Mr.  MeCall  is  prominent  in  the  local  affairs  of  his 
township,  and  has  held  several  official  positions  of 
importance.  He  has  been  Assessor  22  years,  and 
has  acted  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  16  years.  He  is 
Secretary  of  the  Coe  &  Zuma  Fire  and  Lightning 
Insurance  Company. 

He  was  married  Feb.  3,  1865,  to  Amanda  Cook. 
She  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  and  has  borne 
one  child,  Tom  Eby.     Mr.  MeCall  is  a  Republican. 

jfffjtC onas  H.  Wistrand,  dealer  in  groceries  and 
'-  provisions,  530  Fifth  Avenue,  Moline,  es- 
tablished his  business  in  1875.  He  was 
born  in  Sweden,  March  29,  1830,  and  is  a  son 
of  Peter  and  Catharine  Wistrand.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  in  September,  1852,  and 
made  his  home  in  Porter  Co.,  Ind.,  from  1852  to 
1864.  He  then  came  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Paxton,  which  he  continued 
until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Moline,  this  county. 
On  coming  to  this  city  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  C.  G.  Thulin  in  the  grocery  and  book  business. 
The  partnership  existed  until  1880,  when  Mr.  Wis- 
trand began  in  the  grocery  business.  He  has  a  well 
stocked  store,  the  average  value  of  which  is  about 
$3,500. 

While  a  resident  of  Paxton,  Mr.  Wistrand  was 
elected  Treasurer  of  the  Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminary,  since  removed  to  Rock  Island. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  was  re- 
elected, and  has  held  that  position  continuously 
since  his  first  election  at  Paxton  in  1865,  covering  a 
period  of  20  years.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of 
the  Board  of   Directors  of  the  College   during  the 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


259 


same  time,  and  Treasurer  of  the  Augustana  Synod 
many  years,  and  in  addition  is  also  one  of  the  Trus- 

^  tees  of  the  Moline  Congregation  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church. 

Mr.  Wistrand  was  united  in  marriage  in  the  city 
of  Chicago,  May  21,  1864,  to  Miss  Louisa  C.  Lind- 
strom,  daughter  of  David  and~  Maria  Lindstrom. 
Mrs.  Wistrand  was  born  in  Sweden,  Jan.  29,  1838. 
The  issue  of  their  union  was  nine  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  living,  namely:    P.  Herman,  who  was  born 

j  April  6,  1865  ;  Wilhelmina  C,  born  Jan.  22,  1867  ; 
Clara  L.,  Dec.  15,  1868,  and  died  Feb.  16,  1872; 
Otilia  M.,  born  Sept.  12,  1870;  Anna  Sophia,  June 
iS,  1872,  and  died  Dec.  7,  1876;  Eva  Amelia  was 
born  Sept.  4,  1874;  Anna  Elizabeth,  Feb.  18,  1877  ; 
Esther  Octavia,  May  3,  1879;  and  Lydia  Aurora, 
Oct.  3,  1881. 

Mr.  Wistrand  is  a  gentleman  possessed  of  many 
estimable  qualities,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by 
the  community  in  which  he  resides.     His  long  term 

*  of  office  as  Treasurer  of  the  Augustana  College 
speaks  plainer  than  words  as  to  his  business  stand- 
ing and  reputation  for  honesty  and  integrity.  Polit- 
ically, he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


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||.arl  Baumbach,  deceased,  formerly  a  resi- 

igjjT  dent   of   Hampton    Township,    was    born 

jcp3  *"     Sept.  22,  1813,  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  oc- 

4>p     cupation,  and  died  June    10,  1S61.     He  was 

w       united  in  marriage  with  Anna  M.  C.  Schut- 

*        ter,  in  St.   Louis,  in  1847,  and  they  were  the 

parents  of  three  children  :     Henry   F.  G.,  Augusta 

and  Ernest,  all  grown  to  maturity  and  married. 

Mrs.  Baumbach  was  again  married,  to  Jacob  Guck- 
ert,  who  was  born  Sept.  21,  1839,  and  died   Aug.  6, 
1 88 1.     Of  this  union  four  children  were  born  :   Lona, 
Paul,   Otto   and   Bessie.     Mr.    Baumbach   came    to 
Hampton   April   15,  1850,  and   engaged  in  the   fur- 
niture business,  which  he  conducted  until  the  date  of 
his  death      Jacob  Guckert  came   to   Hampton    ten 
years  later,  in   i860,  and  carried  on  the  wagon  and 
blacksmith   business    until    the    time   of  his    death. 
jj  Mrs.  Guckert  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  came  to 
^  the  United  States  in  1843,  and  settled  in    St.  Louis, 
^  where  she  was  engaged  in  domestic  labor  until  her 
>'  marriage.     She  is    the   owner  of   20  acres  of  land, 
which  she  rents,  and  also  two  lots  in   Hampton,  and 


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'ip  Chester  C 

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Waters,  pattern-maker,  manu- 
l|jf|r  facturer  of  house  signs,  wood  and  metal 


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patterns,  models,  etc.,  at  Moline,  was  born 
in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  30,  1825,  and  is 
the  son  of  Abner  and  Adeline  (Law)  Waters. 

I  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  Law, 
of  Revolutionary  fame.  Mr.  Waters  served  his  time 
as  an  apprentice  to  the  pattern-making  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  12  years  in  New  Jersey.  In  1869 
he  came  to  Moline,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business  with  James  Velie  as  partner.  Mr. 
Velie  died  in  the  second  year  of  their  co-partnership, 
and  Mr.  Waters  continued  the  business  alone  some 
three  years  later.  He  then  sold  out  and  engaged 
with  the  Union  Malleable  Iron  Company  as  pattern- 
maker, and  continued  with  that  company  eight  years. 
Mr.  Waters  has  been  chosen  to  fill  various  official 
positions.  He  was  elected  Township  Assessor  sev- 
eral years  ago,  again  in  1884  to  the  same  office,  and 
also  in  the  election  of  1885,  and  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duties  he  had  given  such  universal  satisfaction 
that  he  was  elected  the  last  time  without  opposition. 
He  has  served  two  years  as  Alderman  from  the 
Fourth  Ward,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  water-works  at  Moline. 

He  was  married  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  1, 
1849,  to  Miss  Maria  Mansfield.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, namely:  Charles  N.,  who  married  Dell  Altimus 
and  resides  at  Denver,  Col.  ;  George  N.,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  Moline ;  Annett  is  married ; 
Gertrude  is  a  teacher  in  the  city  schools;  Joseph 
married  Belle  Hill  and  resides  at  Clinton,  Iowa. 
Mrs.  Waters  died  in  October,  186S. 

Mr.  Waters  was  married  again,  in  January,  1869, 
in  Marengo,  McHenry  Co.,  111.,  to  Mrs.  Ann  S.  Bax- 
ton,  widow  of  Daniel  Baxton,  and  daughter  of  Peter 
Kane.  Mrs.  Waters  was  born  in  Chautauqua  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  had  one  daughter  by  her  former  marriage, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Win.  H.  Muse,  City  Attorney 


a  residence  on  Water  Street,  and  is  also  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop,  besides  a  res- 
taurant. Carl  Baumbach  and  his  wife  lived  in 
Hampton  two  years  before  any  other  German  fami- 
lies came  here. 


9 


260 


7^1 


-7<<M>:m>*r-r 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


of  Moline.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waters  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  Waters  has  been  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment  for  years  past.  He 
cast  his  first  vote  for  the  first  national  Republican 
nominee,  J.  C.  Fremont,  in  1856,  and  has  voted  with 
that  party  ever  since.  Residence,  1,925  Third  Ave- 
nue. 


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jilliam  D.  Crabs,  a  reliable  citizen  and  a 
L  prosperous  and  energetic  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  residing  on  section  35,  Edg- 
,'  ington  Township,  was  born  in  Jefferson  Co., 
Ohio,  March  6,  1831.  His  father,  Philip 
'  Crabs,  was  a  native  of  Washington  Co.,  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  and  of  German  descent.  The  pat- 
ronymic of  the  family  was  originally  "  Kraps."  The 
father  came  to  Ohio  when  five  years  of  age,  with  his 
parents,  and  was  married  in  Jefferson  County,  that 
State,  to  Miss  Sarah  Duffield.  She  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  of  Ameri- 
can parentage. 

Mr.  Crabs,  subject  of  our  notice,  was  only  five 
years  of  age  at  the  date  of  the  death  of  his  mother, 
which  occurred  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio.  He  after- 
ward lived  with  his  father  and  step-mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Parr,  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  majority,  having  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpen- 
ter under  the  instructions  of  his  father  prior  to  that 
time.  His  step-mother  died  in  Ohio,  and  his  father 
subsequently  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Edging- 
ton  Township,  this  county,  where  he  resided  until 
the  date  of  his  death,  the  same  being  July  22,  1868, 
during  his  75th  year.  After  Mr.  Crabs  had  left  his 
parental  homestead,  he  engaged  in  following  the 
trade  which  he  had  learned  prior  to  his  attaining  his 
majority,  and  followed  the  same  for  a  period  of  two 
years,  operating  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  In 
the  fall  of  1852,  he  came  to  this  State  and  located  in 
Edgington  Township,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home  most  of  the  time.  He  was  married  here,  at  the 
residence  of  the  bride's  parents,  Feb.  23,  187 1,  to 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Laflin,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mar- 
garet (Hazlitt)  Laflin.  Mrs.  Crabs  was  born  in  Edg- 
ington Township,  this  county,  Sept.  10,  1849.  She 
was  reared  here  and  educated  in  the  public   schools 


of  the  county,  and  resided  at  home  until  her  mar- 
riage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crabs  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  deceased.  Nellie  was  born 
March  10,  1874;  Charles  L.,  born  May  16,  1876; 
Philip,  March  12,  1879;  Clifford,  Aug.  29,  1881;  and 
Grace,  born  Dec.  23,  187  1,  died  May  30,  1876. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Crabs  settled  on  a  farm  of 
160  acres  of  land  in  Edgington  Township,  on  which 
he  has  since  resided,  and  has  the  major  portion  in 
an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  stock-raising  and  devotes  considerable  of 
his  time  to  that  business,  in  connection  with  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  His  accumulations  are  attributable 
to  his  own  energy  and  good  judgment,  combined 
with  the  hearty  co-operation  of  his  good  helpmeet- 
Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  socially  is  held  in  high  esti- 
mation as  a  reliable  and  trustworthy  gentleman. 


|HJ[  eorge  Wagner,  proprietor  of  the  Atlantic 
Brewery,  Rock  Island,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, January  13,  1832.  His  younger 
days  were  spent  at  school,  and  at  the  age  of 
14  he  engaged  himself  to  learn  the  bakery  and 
brewing  trades,  at  which  he  worked  until  2 1 
years  of  age.  After  he  came  to  America,  which  he 
did  in  1853,  landing  at  New  York,  he  immediately 
went  to  work  in  a  bakery  in  that  city.  He  remained 
there,  continuing  at  that  work,  for  two  years,  when, 
as  many  others  who  land  on  our  Eastern  seaboard, 
he  looked  to  the  West  for  a  better  place  in  which  to 
locate. 

He  accordingly  came  to  Rock  Island,  and  shortly 
afterwards  embarked  in  the  bakery  business  for  him- 
self. He  continued  in  this  industry  there  with  more 
or  less  success  until  1857,  when  he  removed  to  Mo- 
line and  opened  in  the  same  line.  Three  years  later 
he  started  the  first  steam  bakery  ever  opened  at 
Moline,  which  he  continued  to  run  until  1865,  when 
he  sold  out  and  bought  the  Atlantic  Brewery  in  Rock 
Island.  This  he  has  since  enlarged  by  building  an 
extensive  addition,  so  that  at  the  present  time  it  has 
a  capacity  of  60,000  barrels  per  year.  He  gives  em- 
ployment to  50  men,  and  keeps  18  teams  here  and 
at  the  branch  houses,  five  of  which  are  located  in 
Nebraska,  as  follows  :     One  at  Omaha,  another  at 


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263 


Columbus,  one  at  Norfolk,  and  one  each  at  Hast- 
ings and  Wymore  ;  he  also  has  one  at  Sterling  and 
others  at  different  places  in  Illinois.  Besides  man- 
aging his  large  interest  in  his  brewing  business,  he  is 
a  stockholder  and  one  of  the  directors  in  the  People's 
Bank  of  Rock  Island,  and  owns,  besides,  stores  and 
business  houses  at  Moline ;  he  also  owns  an  opera 
house  in  that  city.  His  beautiful  residence  is  lo- 
cated near  his  brewery.  Besides  these  interests  in 
Moline,  he  owns  several  dwellings  at  Rock  Island. 
He  has  three  refrigerator  cars,  with  the  latest  and 
best  improvements,  which  he  uses  for  his  own  ship- 
ments. In  the  summer  of  1885,  he  built  an  ice  re- 
frigerator for  cooling  the  beer,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000. 
Mr.  Wagner's  large  brewing  establishment  is  repre- 
sented by  a  lithographic  view  which  is  given  in  this 
Album.  The  dwelling  shown  in  this  view  as  being 
located  at  the  right  of  the  brewery  is  where  Mr.  Wag- 
ner resides. 

Mr.  Wagner  was  united  in  marriage  in  1854,  at 
New  York,  with  Miss  Frederika  Ippinger.  She  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  came  to  America  in  1853. 
They  have  three  children  living,  as  follows  :  Robert, 
Ernest  and  George.  Politically,  Mr.  Wagner  is  a 
Democrat.  He  is  a  live,  public-spirited  citizen,  and 
does  much  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  city. 


«»42£i27©^8""— ^1 


•^Srtmn- 


,enry  B.  Carpenter,  general  farmer  and 
stock-grower,  residing  on  section  19,  Edg- 
ington  Township,  was  born  in  Lycoming 
Co.,  Pa.,  April  17,  185  1.  For  parental  history, 
see  sketch  of  J.  A.  Carpenter.  Our  subject 
emigrated  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  who  lo- 
cated at  Edgington,  and  resided  with  his  father  until 
the  latter's  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  24,  1866. 
Afterward  he  resided  with  his  brother-in-law,  Charles 
Titterington,  on  the  old  homestead,  which  they 
purchased^  consisting  of  324  acres.  Mr.  C,  of  this 
sketch,  subsequently  purchased  his  brother-in-law's 
interest,  and  is  now  the  possessor  of  the  entire  acre- 
age with  the  exception  of  20  acres  of  timber  land.  He 
has  entered  energetically  and  vigorously  upon  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation,  and  has  erected  a  sub- 
stantial residence,  barn  and  out  buildings.  Mr. 
Carpenter  is  interested  in  the  breeding  of  a  cross  of 


Norman  and  Clydesdale  horses,  and  also  raises  some 
Durham  cattle. 

Mr.  Carpenter  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Sept. 
18,  1879,  in  Edgington  village,  with  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Deboard.  She  was  born  in  Stanford,  Ky.,  Sept.  25, 
1854,  and  is  the  daughter  of  a  farmer  who  now  re- 
sides in  Mercer  County,  where  the  family  came  about 
1875.  Mrs.  C,  the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  well  educated  and  taught  school  for  a  short 
time.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  children :  Caleb  R. 
and  Freddie.  She  is  an  active  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Edgington.  Mr.  C.  has  served 
as  School  Director  for  nine  years.  Politically,  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

—46ir 


mM«  verett  Wheeloek,  Secretary  and  Treasurer 


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ai?    of  the  Moline  Paper  Company,  was  born 

Iff^    '    '"  Elie  C° ■'  N'  Y''  ApriI   I3'   l838'  and  is 
Jjftp-   the    son    of  William    and   Catharine    (Morey) 

Wheeloek.  He  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  when  18  years  of  age  (in  1856) 
he  came  to  Moline  and  engaged  with  his  uncle,  S. 
W.  Wheeloek,  as  teamster.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
paper  business  at  Moline,  paper  was  delivered  by 
teams  through  the  surrounding  country  and  bales  of 
rags  brought  back  to  the  mill.  Mr.  Wheeloek  was 
employed  in  this  branch  of  the  business  till  June, 
1 86 1,  when  he  enlisted  for  the  late  war  as  a  private 
of  Co.  H,  19th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  in  the 
Western  Army.  He  was  promoted  as  Orderly  Ser- 
geant of  his  company,  and  was  in  three  years'  active 
service  except  six  weeks,  during  which  time  he  was 
employed  on  recruiting  service.  He  was  with  his 
regiment  in  the  various  battles  and  engagements  in 
which  they  participated,  namely  :  the  battles  of  Chick- 
amauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca,  Ga.,  and  others. 
He  started  with  Sherman  in  his  celebrated  march  to 
the  sea,  but  was  mustered  out  in  July,  1864.  He 
then  returned  to  Moline,  and  having  taken  a  course 
at  Pratt's  Commercial  College  of  Davenport,  he  was 
employed  in  office  work  with  S.  W.  Wheeloek.  In 
1875  he  became  a  stockholder  in  the  Moline  Paper 
Company,  and  in  January,  1879,  was  elected  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer  of  the  company,  which  position 
he  has  held  continuously  since.  He  has  served  in 
the  Common  Council  of  Moline,  and  Alderman  from 


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ACCA'  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


the  Fourth  Ward  one  term.     He  belongs  to  the   A. 
0.  U.  W.  and  also  the  G.  A.  R. 

He  was  married  at  Mt.  Sterling,   Brown   Co.,   111., 

in  October,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  O.  Nye,  daughter  of 

Stephen  Nye.  Mrs.  Wheelock  was  born  in  Muscatine 

'   Co.,    Iowa.     Mr.    \V.    is    a    Republican    in   political 


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illiani  E.  Brooks.  The  parents  of  this 
gentleman,  viz.,  William  and  Harriet 
ii^  (Eames)  Brooks,  were  natives  of  New 
England,  and  trace  their  ancestry  back  to 
the  Pilgrim  fathers.  They  were  married  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  their  two  sons  and  one 
daughter  were  born  there;  the  eldest,  William  E., 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  first 
saw  the  light  of  the  sun  July  5,  1S19.  His  boyhood 
was  spent  about  his  father's  tanyard,  with  incidental 
attendance  at  the  common  schools.  The  family 
came  West  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Rock  Island 
County,  upon  a  tract  of  land  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  known  as 
"  Brooks'  Addition  to  the  City  of  Rock  Island."  At 
that  time  the  town  of  Rock  Island  consisted  of  less 
than  a  dozen  houses,  principally  log  cabins,  and 
the  land  whereon  now  stand  two  cities,  Mcline  and 
Rock  Island,  were  covered  by  almost  an  unbroken 
forest.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Brookes  were 
truly  pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  country.  William 
Brooks,  the  ancestor,  died  at  his  homestead  in  1S64, 
aged  about  81  years,  and  his  widow  followed  him  a 
year  later  in  the  69th  year  of  her  age. 

The  first  four  or  five  years  succeeding  his  arrival 
at  Rock  Island,  William  E.  clerked  in  a  mercantile 
establishment,  but  the  principal  part  of  his  life  has 
been  devoted  to  the  improvement  of  the  old  home- 
stead. His  first  addition  to  the  city  was  laid  out  in 
1872,  his  second  in  1881,  and  his  third  in  1884. 
The  natural  appreciation  in  the  value  of  the  land 
purchased  originally  from  the  Government  at  $1.25 
per  acre,  would  alone  have  made  him  a  wealthy  man 
had  he  imitated  the  example  of  others, — namely, 
denied  himself  and  family  the  commonest  comforts 
of  life,  and  held  with  a  death-like  grip  to  everything 
of  value  that  came  into  his  hands.  But  Mr.  Brooks 
is  no  miser;  on  the  contrary,  he  has  been  liberal  al- 
most unto  prodigality.     However,  he  has  enjoyed  the 


fruits  of  his  labor,  and  will  round  up  the  declining 
years  of  his  life  possessed  of  an  elegant  compentency, 
and  will  leave  to  those  who  succeed  him  enough  of 
this  world's  goods  to  pave  their  way  successfully 
through  life. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of 
the  Moline  &  Rock  Island  Horse  Railway  Company, 
and  has  been  for  many  years  one  of  its  directors. 
Though  identified  with  no  particular  Church,  he  is  a 
liberal  patron  of  all.  He  donated  one  acre  of  land 
in  the  Seventh  Ward  for  school  purposes,  and  the 
exchequer  of  Augustana  College  was  increased  by  one 
stroke  of  his  pen  to  the  extent  of  many  hundred 
dollars.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  no  pol- 
tician  or  office-seeker.  Many  years  ago  he  served 
a  term  as  County  Supervisor,  and  later  on  repre- 
sented his  ward  as  Alderman. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  married  at  Aurora,  111.,  Dec.  27, 
1852,  to  Eliza  M.  Drane,  a  native  of  Canada,  and 
their  eight  children  have  been  boin  in  the  following 
order  :  William,  Charles,  George,  Freddie  J.,  Harry 
G.,  Mattie,  Mary  and  "  Josh."  George  died  in  De- 
cember, 186  r,  aged  four  years.  Freddie  J.  died 
May  26,  of  the  same  year,  aged  two  years  and  four 
months;  and  Mary  died  in  infancy. 


inthrop  Robinson,  general  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  section  18,  Edgington  Town- 
'n  ship,  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  in 
\  the  town  of  Aurora,  July  23,  1S26.  His 
father  was  a  Massachusetts  farmer,  born  of 
New  England  parents,  of  English  descent,  and 
very  early  in  the  history  of  the  State  came  West  to 
Indiana,  locating  in  Dearborn  County,  where  he  was 
married  to  Abigail  Hardin,  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  born  of  American  parents,  of  German  ancestry. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  the 
limited  advantages  afforded  by  the  schools  of  that 
early  day.  He  went  with  the  family  to  Switzerland 
Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  learned  the  tanner's  tftide.  Mr. 
Robinson  was  united  in  marriage  in  Switzerland 
County,  March  25,  1849,  to  Miss  Maria  Ransom, 
who  was  born  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she 
was  reared  and  lived  until  1846,  when  she  came 
with  her  parents  to  the  county  in  which  she  was 
wedded  to  Mr.  Robinson. 

In  1849  there  was  a  general  emigration  of  the  en- 


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tire  family  to  Illinois.  They  located  on  160  acres 
of  land  on  section  17,  Edgington  township,  this 
county.  This  land  was  partly  improved  at  that 
time,  and  all  hands  industriously  set  to  work  to 
make  further  improvements.  Wmthrop  the  same 
year  purchased  80  acres  of  wild  land  on  section  17, 
adjoining  his  father's  farm.  He  subsequently  ex- 
changed this  for  80  acres  on  section  21,  where  he 
lived  and  labored  for  some  time ;  then  he  moved  to 
his  present  location,  where  he  has  160  acres,  well 
improved,  with  fine,  large  farm  buildings.  His  other 
possessions  in  the  township  consist  of  130  acres  of 
land,  all  under  cultivation.  He  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading,  substantial  farmers  in  the  community 
in  which  he  resides. 

Politically,  he  is  a  straight-out  Republican,  and 
has  held  some  of  the  minor  offices  of  his  township. 
Mrs.  Robinson  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  have  had  born  to  them  four  children, 
two  of  whom  are  deceased.  Those  living  are, — 
Sarah,  the  wife  of  Marks  D.  McLaughlin;  and  Ber- 
tha is  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Wenks;  they  both  reside  in 
Edgington  Township. 


Jl'C  eorge  W.  Walker,  general  insurance  agent 
;it  Moline,  represents  25  companies,  two 
i.:j~'r"K  life  and  one  accident ;  successor  to  Gould, 
Walker  &  Hemenway.  This  office  was  es- 
tablished about  i860,  by  Mr.  Dan  AV.  Gould, 
!  and  is  the  pioneer  agency  in  the  city.  Mr. 
Walker  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  March  16,  1845, 
and  is  the  son  of  Stephen  F.  Walker.  He  came  to 
Moline  with  his  parents  in  1855,  when  1 1  years  of 
age,  and  was  educated  in  the  city  schools.  He  be- 
gan his  business  career  as  clerk  in  his  father's  store 
in  Moline,  and  was  subsequently  promoted  tu  the 
position  of  principal  in  the  business.  Their  trade 
was  that  of  general  grocers,  and  Mr.  Walker  con- 
tinued in  the  business  until  the  fall  of  1879,  when 
he  retired  to  join  Messrs.  Gould  and  Hemenway  in 
the  insurance  business.  That  connection  remained 
so  until  the  spring  of  1885,  when  he  became  sole 
proprietor  of  the  business. 

Mr.   Walker   was  married    at    Cambridge,    Henry 
Co.,   111.,  Jan.    i,  1869,  to  Miss  Myra  Swartzcnburg. 


Mrs.  Walker  was  born  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Walker  has 
the  most  extensive  business  in  his  line  in  the  city, 
as  he  controls  many  of  the  soundest  and  most  pop- 
ular companies.  In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Walker 
is  a  Democrat. 


ohn  Metzgar,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
Coe  Township,  was  born  in  Pleasant  Unity, 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  2, 18  [3,  and  is 
the  second  son  of  Frederick  and  Mary  (Swart/.) 
Metzgar.  His  father  was  of  Holland  descent 
and  his  mother  of  German.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  county.  When  15  years  of  age 
he  began  to  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and  worked 
at  the  same  until  1835,  when  he  emigrated  West, 
ling  the  first  winter  in  Pike  Co.,  Mo.  In  the 
spring  of  1836,  he  came  to  Rock  Island,  then  called 
"  Stephenson,"  where  he  landed  on  the  first  day  of 
April.  He  was  the  first  shoemaker  at  this  point 
building  a  shop  and  prosecuting  his  trade  here  until 
1853.  He  then  purchased  80  acres  of  land  or 
section  22,  and  40  acres  of  tember  on  section 
31,  township  19  north,  range  2  east,  now  known 
as  Coe  Township.  On  this  land  there  was  a  log 
cabin,  which  he  occupied  with  his  family  until  1859. 
He  then  burned  a  quantity  of  brick,  and  built  a  sub- 
stantial brick  residence,  which  he  now  occupies. 

Jan.  9,  1843,  Mr.  Metzgar  formed  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Elizabeth  German,  who  was  born  in 
Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  May  10,  ;82i ;  her  parents,  William 
and  Margaret  German,  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  M.  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now 
living — Mary,  David  C,  Martha  I,  ,  Emma  B.,  Lucy 
A.  and  William  Fred.     Mrs.  M.  died   May  15,  1884. 


*&*. 


orris  Eosenfleld,  President   and  General 

Manager  of  the  Moline  Wagon  Company, 

and  a  member  of   the  Board  of  bite,  tors 

of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Moline.    Resi- 

'1 J   dence,  Rock  Island.     The  subject  of  this  sketch 

is  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  a  son  of 

Jacob  and  Ellen  (Ullmann)  Rosenfield,and  was  born 


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i?OCA'  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Dec.  18,  1842.  He  came  to  America  in  1854,  and 
direct  to  Rock  Island,  where  he  has  continued  to  re- 
side to  this  date. 

He  began  business  as  a  dealer  in  leather.  In 
1869  he  established  the  Moline  Wagon  Company 
with  James  First  and  C.  A.  Benson  as  partners,  under 
the  firm  name  of  First,  Rosenfield  &  Co.  (See  his- 
tory of  Moline  Wagon  Company  elsewhere  in  this 
work.)  On  the  incorporation  of  the  Moline  Wagon 
Company  in  1S72,  he  was  elected  President  and 
manager  of  the  company,  and  has  been  re  elected  at 
each  succeeding  election  since.  When  Mr.  Rosen- 
field  joined  Mr.  First  in  this  business  in  1869,  their 
shops  were  small  and  capital  limited.  The  capacity 
of  the  works  was  only  about  100  wagons  a  year. 
Under  the  management  of  Mr.  Rosenfield,  extensive 
and  substantial  buildings  have  been  erected,  and 
the  Lusiness  extended  to  its  present  magnificent  pro- 
portions. The  company  employs  between  375  and 
400  men,  and  has  a  capacity  for  manufacturing  100 
wagons  per  day.  The  steady  and  healthy  growth  of 
this  important  industry  reflects  great  credit  upon  its 
leading  spirit  and  general  manager,  Mr.  Rosenfield, 
and  proves  him  to  be  a  man  of  good  executive  ability, 
possessed  of  unusual  business  sagacity,  nerve  and 
enterprise.  The  Moline  Wagon  Company  ranks 
among  the  foremost  manufacturing  industries  of  the 
important  manufacturing  city  of  Moline. 

Mr.  Rosenfield  was  married  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in 
November,  rS74,  to  Miss  Julia  E.  Ottenheimer, 
daughter  of  Henry  Ottenheimer.  Mrs.  Rosenfield 
was  born  in  Ohio  They  have  three  children — Irene 
R.,  Walter  A.  and  Charles  D. 


V-j    McGlynn. 


■\ 


: 


S.  McGlynn,  editor  of  the  Evening  Dis- 
patch, was  born  in  Unionville,  Conn.,  Feb. 
ri,  1850,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary- 
He  came  West  with  his  parents  in 
1854  and  resided  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  for  one 
year  and  then  came  to  Moline.  In  1857  Mr. 
McGlynn  removed  to  Washington,  Iowa,  and  in 
1863  apprenticed  himself  to  the  printer's  trade  in  the 
office  of  the  Washington  Democrat, \n  which  place  he 
remained  one  year  and  the  same  length  of  time  in  the 
office  of  the  Washington  Press.  He  returned  to 
Davenport  in  1865  and  worked  as  compositor  on  the 
Democrat  horn  1865  to    1869.     From   1869  to   1878 


he  served  as  reporter  and  printer  on  the  Davenport 
Gazette,  and  then  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked 
at  the  case  until  1881. 

Mr.  McGlynn  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at 
Davenport,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1880,  with  Miss 
Annie  R.  Pester,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Sarah  J. 
Pester.  Mrs.  McGlynn  was  born  in  Davenport.  In 
i88r,  Mr.  McG  came  to  Moline  and  took  charge  of 
the  Moline  department  of  the  Rock  Island  Union 
(both  business  and  editorial)  and  held  that  position 
until  July  r,  1S85,  when  he  resigned,  to  form  a  part- 
nership with  Mr.  John  K.  Groom,  for  the  publication 
of  the  Evening  Dispatch  and  Weekly  Review  Dis- 
patch of  Moline. 

Mr.  McGlynn  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  His  connection  for  several  years  with  the  Mo- 
line department  of  the  Rock  Island  Union  has  given 
him  an  extensive  acquaintance  in  Moline  and  vicin- 
ity, where  he  is  favorably  known  as  an  entertaining 
writer  of  local  news.  The  Dispatch  under  the  edi- 
torial management  of  Mr.  McGlynn  is  sure  to  be  a 
newsy,  readable  paper. 


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asilius  Winter,  of  the  firm  of  Mott, 
:  Winter  &  Co.,  of  Rock  Island,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  where  he  was  born  July 
28,  r849-  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Mary  S. 
(Dauber)  Winter,  came  to  America  in  1852, 
and  settled  in  Henry,  Marshall  Co.,  111.; 
lived  thereabout  r4  years;  then  farmed  two  years 
there,  after  which  they  moved  to  a  farm  near  Milan, 
Rock  Island  Co.,  111. 

They  reared  two  sons  and  as  many  daughters,  and 
Basilius  was  second,  or  next  to  eldest.  He  was  edu- 
cated while  a  boy  in  both  English  and  German,  and 
at  the  age  of  14  years  came  to  Rock  Island,  and 
began  work  for  an  uncle,  as  clerk  in  a  liquor  store. 
He  left  his  uncle,  and  returned  to  farming  twice,  but 
finally  settled  down  witli  his  relative,  and  remained 
about  13  years,  and  was  partner  four  years  with  P. 
Fries  &  Co.  In  1S80  he  bought  a  half  interest  in 
the  wholesale  liquor  establishment  of  Mott  &  Co., 
and  changed  the  style  of  the  firm  to  Mott  &  Winter. 
In  1SS5  a  third  partner  was  added,  and  the  firm 
styled  Mott,  Winter  &  Co.  The  reputation  of  this 
house  is  such  as  any  firm  may  well  be  proud  of. 
Fairness  and  square  dealing  is  their  motto,  and  their 
success  proves  good  judgment  in  their  policy. 


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271 


Oct.  28,  187  1,  Mr.  Winter  was  united  in  marriage, 
at  Davenport,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Bartemier,  who 
died  ten  years  later,  leaving  four  little  children: 
Agnes,  Louis,  Robert  and  Mamie,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  October,  1S84,  aged  about  three  years.  His 
second  wife,  Johanna,  a  younger  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  he  married  in  the  fall  of  18S2,  and  their  only 
child  is  named  Cornelia. 

Mr.  Winter  is  a  Democrat,  but  not  an  active 
politician,  though  he  has  been  before  the  people  for 
office. 


\3 


^harles    Stewart   Eells, 
jf3  Union  Malleable  Iron  Company,  of  Mo- 
line,  is  the  son  of  George  W.  and  Eliza 
born    at    Granville, 


„  President    of  the 

t       J 

0p  (Pease)  Eells,  and  was 
ttj*  Ohio,  Tune  23,  1832.  He  removed  with  his 
1|  parents  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1S4S,  and,  after 
having  received  a  classical  education  at  the  Gran- 
ville Academy,  he  went  to  Louisiana,  where  he  was 
engaged  as  teacher  at  Bayou  Boeuf,  till  near  the  close 
of  1850,  when  he  returned  to  Dayton. 

Shortly  after  his  return  North,  Mr.  Eells  entered 
the  Cincinnati  Law  School,  at  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  class  of  1853.  He  then  began  the  prac- 
tice of  law  at  Wabash,  Ind.,  where  he  lived  and 
practiced  his  profession  until  1856,  when,  owing  to 
defective  hearing  (an  affliction  hereditary  in  his 
family  for  generations),  he  was  obliged  to  abandon 
his  chosen  profession  and  seek  some  other  line  of 
business.  At  this  time  he  joined  his  father  at  Dav- 
enport, Iowa,  and  was  engaged  in  conducting  the 
first  book-store  in  that  city.  He  conducted  that 
business  until  i860,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  near 
the  western  boundary  of  the  city,  and  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  1861  he  was  appointed 
Assistant  United  States  Revenue  Collector  for  the 
Second  District  of  Iowa,  a  position  which  he  held 
four  years.  He  was  next  cashier  of  the  Citizens' 
Bank  of  Davenport,  from  1868  to  1870,  and  the 
President  of  the  bank  from  1870  until  Nov.  26, 
1872. 

Mr.  Eells  was  initiated  into  Masonry  at  Wabash, 
Ind.,  May  29, 1S55.  He  has  since  advanced  through 
all  the  promotions  of  the  mystic  brotherhood  to  the 
Thirty-second  Degree,  and  has  been  the  recipient 
of  the  highest  official  honors  known  to  the  order. 


He  was  married  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  May  11,  1853,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Crosby,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Dolly 
Crosby.  Kirs.  Eells  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ohio, 
Dec.  13,  1838. 

In  politics  Mr.  E  is  a  staunch  Republican,  having 
voted  with  that  party  since  its  organization. 


^O00€ 


\2 


uther  S.  Pearsall,  Chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  of  Rock  Island  County  in 
1S85,  and  a  resident  of  the  township  of 
Coe,  is  the  third  son  of  Deacon  William  C. 
and  Jane  (Elingham)  Pearsall,  and  he  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Chicago,  March  17,  1848.  He 
was  still  in  extreme  infancy  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Rock  Island  County.  He  was  brought  up 
in  Coe  Township,  and  educated  primarily  in  the 
district  schools.  He  studied  two  years  at  Knox 
College.  Later,  he  entered  the  Freshman  class  in 
the  university  at  Grinnell,  Iowa.  When  he  was  16 
he  taught  a  term  of  school  in  the  district  where  he 
resided,  and  after  leaving  college  he  again  engaged 
in  the  same  vocation,  teaching  in  all,  six  terms. 

In  the  fall  of  187  1  he  went  to  Nebraska,  and  spent 
one  year  in  Antelope  County,  where  he  pre-empted 
land  on  which  he  started  a  nursery  ;  but  his  hopes 
and  plans  came  to  grief  in  common  with  those  of 
others  whose  prospects  were  ruined  by  the  grass- 
hopper plague.  He  abandoned  his  purposes  in  that 
direction,  and  returned  home.  He  was  married  in 
September,  1873,  to  Charlotte  Wake,  the  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Maria  Wake,  and  soon  after  that 
event  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  section  14  in  Coe 
Township,  containing  80  acres,  and  has  become  the 
owner,  by  later  purchase,  of  an  additional  80  acres, 
and  owns  80  acres  on  section  23,  adjoining,  having 
in  all  240  acres,  which  is  in  excellent  tillage.  His 
residence,  which  is  represented  by  a  full-page  view 
in  this  Album,  is  located  on  section  14,  and  the 
farm  is  fitted  with  good  and  suitable  buildings  for 
farm  purposes. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Pearsall  died  in  March,  1878, 
aged  29  years.  She  left  two  children — Charles  R. 
and  Percy.  Mr.  Pearsall  was  again  married  Jan.  5, 
1881,  to  Ella,  daughter  of  Mark  and  Mary  Ashdown, 
and  of  the  second  union  two  children  have  been 
born, — Phebe  and  Rose. 


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Mr.  Pearsall  was  first  elected  Supervisor  in  1881, 


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272 


ROCK  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


and  he  has  since  been  his  own  successor.  He  be- 
longs to  Philo  Lodge,  No.  436,  Order  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
Barrett  Chapter,  No.  18,  R.  A.  M.,  at  Port  Byron, 
and  also  to  Evarts  Commandery,  at  Rock  Island. 
He  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party  in 
political  connection.  As  a  representative  citizen 
and  a  gentleman  in  whom  the  people  of  Rock 
Island  County  repose  great  confidence,  the  pub- 
lishers of  this  Album  feel  that  a  portrait  of  Mr. 
Pearsall  will  be  looked  for  by  the  patrons  of  the 
work.  As  a  fitting  accompaniment  to  his  portrait, 
which  is  given  in  connection  with  this  sketch,  we 
give  the  portrait  of  Mrs.  Pearsall 


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eorge  Allen,  a  resident  of  Port  Byron,  a 
former  citiEen  of  the  township  of  Coe,  a 
pioneer  and  the  son  of  a  pioneer  of  the 
county  of  Rock  Island,  was  born  Nov.  29, 
1S25,  m  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.  The  family  pat- 
ronymic is  Allyn,  his  father  and  ancestry  pre- 
ceding that  generation  having,  without  exception, 
adhered  to  that  orthography. 

Samuel  Allyn,  his  father,  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  He  came  to  Illinois  when  a  young  man, 
settling  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  was  married  to 
Candace  Thomas.  She  was  a  native  of  South  Car- 
olina. Mr.  Allyn  bought  a  tract  of  unimproved  land 
in  Shiloh  Valley,  and  was  its  owner  and  occupant 
until  he  had  wholly  improved  the  place.  In  1833  he 
sold  the  farm  but  remained  thereon  until  the  year 
following,  when  he  gave  possession  to  the  new  pro- 
prietor. In  the  fall  of  that  year,  1834,  he  came  to  the 
county  of  Rock  Island.  The  journey  was  made  to 
this  place  on  the  steamer  "Wisconsin,"  and  the  trip 
was  her  first.  Mr.  Allyn  bought  a  tract  of  land  at 
Port  Byron,  and  he  also  made  claims  on  sections  20 
and  2r  of  the  township  of  Coe,  which  was  then  re- 
corded as  town  19,  range  2  east.  The  tract  lying  on 
the  river  is  now  included  in  the  site  of  the  village  of 
Port  Byron.  He  spent  the  winter  in  the  home  of 
his  nephew,  Archibald  Allen,  and  in  the  spring  took 
possession  of  his  property.  There  had  been  a  double 
log  cabin  erected  on  the  place,  into  which  his  family 
moved,  and  they  were  its  occupants  until  January, 
1837.  They  then  removed  to  the  farm  on  section  20, 
the  village  tract  having  been  platted  and  a  town  laid 


out,  which  occasioned  a  division  of  ownership.  Mr. 
Allyn  had  built  a  house  on  the  new  homestead,  and 
his  death  took  place  there  in  the  month  of  March, 
1838.  He  left  a  wife  and  six  children.  The  former 
survived  him  35  years,  her  death  occurring  Sept.  29, 
1872.  John  D.,  eldest  child,  is  now  deceased  ;  James 
H.  is  a  resident  of  Polk  Co.,  Iowa;  he  is  a  retired 
farmer;  Maria  is  the  wife  of  John  Sigsworth,  of  Lane 
Co.,  Oregon;  Samuel  lives  in  Saunders  Co.,  Neb.; 
George  lives  at  Port  Byron ;  William  is  a  resident  of 
Iowa,  and  is  located  near  the  city  of  Des  Moines. 
Mr.  Allyn  was  a  Whig  in  political  connection  and 
throughout  his  life  was  prominent  in  public  affairs; 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  before  his  death. 

George  Allen,  fifth  in  the  family,  was  nine  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Port  Byron.  After 
the  demise  of  his  father  he  stayed  with  his  mother 
until  he  reached  the  estate  of  manhood,  and  passed 
the  time  in  assisting  his  elder  brothers  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  farm  and  in  the  care  of  the  family, 
acquiring  a  complete  knowledge  of  farming,  and, 
what  was  a  better  capital  for  the  foundation  of  his 
fortune,  habits  of  industrious  application. 

In  1S49  he  went  to  California,  accompanied  thither 
by  Schuyler  Bailey  and  Dexter  Bigelow.  They  se- 
cured an  equipment  of  four  pairs  of  oxen  and  a 
wagon,  with  which  they  set  out  from  Port  Byron  in 
March  of  the  year  named.  They  went  via  Leaven- 
worth, and  made  a  stay  of  a  month  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth. They  arrived  at  Lawson's  Ranch  on  the 
Sacramento  River  in  August  of  the  same  year.  He 
went  into  the  mines  at  Reading's  "diggings,"  which 
is  now  well  known  as  Shasta,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  portions  of  the  "Golden  State.' 
Mr.  Allen  prospected  and  mined  for  gold  about  two 
years,  and  then  invested  a  portion  of  his  means  in  a 
saw-mill,  buying  a  third  interest  therein.  The  es- 
tablishment was  in  process  of  construction  and  Mr. 
Allen  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber 
three  years.  He  then  bought  land  in  Butte  County, 
and  was  interested  in  farming  until  1856,  in  which 
year  he  returned  to  Port  Byron,  after  an  absence  of 
seven  years.  He  made  his  homeward  journey  by 
what  is  known  as  the  "  Nicaragua  Route  "  to  New 
Orleans,  and  thence  on  the  Mississippi  River,  land- 
ing at  Port  Byron  March  26,  1856.  He  at  once  en- 
tered into  the  business  of  farming  on  his  property  in 
Coe  Township. 

Sept.  20,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Anne  E.  Torpin. 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Mrs.  Allen  is  the  daughter  of  Richard  and  Jane 
(Crowley)  Torpin,  and  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.^ 
Pa.  Her  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1856,  and 
settled  in  Coe,  where  Mrs.  Allen  was  a  resident  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage.  In  1S58  Mr.  Allen  removed 
to  Port  Byron,  where  he  bought  an  interest  in  the 
mercantile  establishment  of  W.  W.  Wiltshire.  At 
the  expiration  of  one  year  he  sold  out  and  became  by 
purchase  the  proprietor  of  an  interest  in  coal  lands 
in  Henry  County.  He  went  to  the  village  of  Cleve- 
land, in  Henry  Co.,  111.,  where  he  was  a  resident 
seven  years,  and  conducted  his  coal  interests  from 
that  point.  He  came  back  once  more  to  his  farm  in 
Coe  Township  and  interested  himself  in  farming 
until  1882,  when  he  bought  his  present  residence  at 
Port  Byron.  In  1875,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
youngest  daughter,  Mr.  Allen  went  again  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  where  they  spent  six  months  visiting  the 
important  points  of  interest. 

The  children  of  the  family  are  named  Charles  H., 
Fannie  A.,  Hattie  L.  and  Carrie  E.  Fannie  is  the 
wife  of  Wilson  G.  Fleming,  of  Port  Byron.  Mrs. 
Allen  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Allen  has  been  a  Republi- 
can since  the  formation  of  the  party.  He  cast  his  first 
vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  for  President  in  1856, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  regularly  voted  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  In  local  politics  he  has  been  Su- 
pervisor of  his  township.  Mr.  Allen  is  one  of  the 
successful  business  men  and  farmers  of  Rock  Island 
County,  having  laid  the  foundation  of  his  fortune 
through  the  practice  of  economy  and  industrious 
habits. 

fhomas  Dunn,  deceased.     On  the  morning 

of  March  29,   18S5,  a  local  newspaper,  in 

a  well-written  obituary,  began  as  follows: 

"  It  will  be  sad  news  to  the  many  friends  of 

Thomas  Dunn  to  learn  that  he  has  departed 

this  life.     Last  evening,  at  7  o'clock,  just  as 

the   day    was   closing   and    night    her    sable    robes 

was  casting   over   the    sun,  all  that   was    immortal 

of  Thomas    Dunn    took   flight   from  this   terrestrial 

globe  unto   the   great   unknown.     Come  Death,    as 

it   will,  its    office   is  a  sad   one;   and  though  man 

,  has  lived  his  three-score  years  and  ten,  the  loss  to 


his  friends  and  family  is  even  greater  than  had  it 
come  in  early  life.  The  ties  that  have  taken  years 
to  form,  when  broken  are  more  heavily  felt  than 
those  of  lighter  growth." 

Mr.  Dunn  was  born  at  Sheffield,  Eng.,  May  6, 
1822,  and  in  1852,  with  a  colony  of  his  countrymen, 
brought  his  little  family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  two 
children,  to  America.  The  colony  planted  itself  at 
Welton,  Iowa,  where  Mr.  Dunn  followed  farming  for 
something  over  one  year,  and  then  removed  to  Dav- 
enport, Iowa,  where  he  took  charge  of  a  hardware 
establishment,  for  a  Mr.  Hildreth.  In  this  position 
he  continued  until  1854,  when  he  removed  to  Mo- 
line,  and  opened  the  first  hardware  store  established 
at  that  place.  At  the  end  of  one  year  or  such  a 
matter,  he  took  into  partnership  a  Mr.  Mansur,  who 
retired  from  the  firm  soon  afterward,  and  from  that 
time  up  to  March,  1881,  exclusive  of  a  few  months 
succeeding  a  conflagration  which  occurred  in  1868 
consuming  his  entire  establishment,  Mr.  Dunn  pros- 
ecuted the  business  successfully  and  alone.  He 
began  with  little  and  ended  with  much.  The  recip- 
ient of  no  gratuities,  legacies  or  bounties,  what  he 
possessed  of  this  world's  goods  was  acquired  by  his 
individual  effort  and  industry.  Characteristic  alike 
for  his  modesty,  unostentation  and  honesty,  his  name 
will  go  down  to  those  who  succeeded  him  symbolic 
of  a  life  worthy  of  emulation.  March  3,  1831,  he 
took  both  his  sons  into  partnership,  but  the  eldest, 
William,  discovering  what  he  considered  a  better 
chance,  withdrew  from  the  firm  in  April,  1884. 

Though  often  differing  with  those  around  him 
upon  questions  of  public  interest,  none  were  ever 
found  to  doubt  or  failed  to  respect  Thomas  Dunn's 
sincerity.  He  sought  no  publicity,  and  in  the  later 
years  of  his  life  made  but  few  acquaintances.  His 
only  ambition  was  to  build  a  business  upon  princi- 
ples of  honesty  and  integrity,  and  in  this  he  was 
eminently  successful.  His  name  alone  was  a  suffi- 
cient guarantee  of  the  merit  of  his  merchandise — a 
fact  within  itself  enough,  in  these  latter  days,  to  con- 
stitute an  epigram  worthy  to  emblazon   a  monument. 

Mr.  Dunn  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  traditions  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  while  he  took  no  active 
part  in  politics,  he  enjoyed  the  fullest  confidence  of 
those  who  did,  and  in  questions  of  policy  his  counsel 
was  always  sought,  and  when  given,  received  a  full 
measure  of  consideration. 

Mr.  Dunn  was  first  married  at  Hull,  England,  to  a 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Miss  Mary  Howard,  who  died  at  Moline  in  1856, 
leaving  two  children — Blanche,  now  Mrs.  Hayes,  of 
Des  Moines,  Iowa ;  and  Alfred,  who  was  accident- 
ally killed  in  the  Wisconsin  pineries  in  1876.  At 
Rock  Island,  111.,  Mr.  Dunn  was  married  Aug.  3, 
1857,  to  Miss  Maria  McBurney,  who  bore  him  eight 
children,  viz. :  Thomas  W.,  a  resident  of  Coldwater, 
Mich. ;  George  D.,  who  is  in  partnership  with  his 
mother,  succeeding  to  the  management  of  the  busi- 
ness of  the  deceased ;  Jennie,  Lillie,  Charles  J., 
Richard  A.,  Harry  S.,  and  a  little  girl,  Anna,  born 
Sept.  5,  1866,  and  died  Dec.  29,  1870.  The  precept 
and  example  of  a  good  man  are  always  apparent  in 
his  family,  and  the  survivors  of  Thomas  Dunn  con- 
stitute no  exception  to  this  rule.  For  many  years 
before  his  death  Mr.  Dunn  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  from  the  abund- 
ance of  his  wealth  he  gave  liberally,  as  he  did  also 
to  all  worthy  objects  of  charity. 

^ohn  L.   Long,  farmer,  residing  on   section 
Ijjfe-  26,  Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of   John  and 


Susan  (Shirley)  Long,  who  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  of  German  ancestry.  They 
emigrated  to  Richland  Grove,  Mercer  Co.,  111., 
and,  in  i860,  settled  in  Rural  Township,  this 
county,  where  they  have  since  lived.  They  have 
had  a  family  of  ten  children,  namely  :  Robert  M., 
Jacob  L.,  John  L.,  Susan,  Margaret,  William  J., 
Joseph  and  Rachel  A.,  besides  two  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Long,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  23,  1833;  he 
lived  at  his  paternal  home  until  1853,  when,  in  the 
fall  of  that  year,  he  came  to  Henry  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  lived  for  about  six  months.  He  was  employed 
in  different  places  until  1856,  when  he  located  in 
Rock  Island  County.  He  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  1859,  when  he  went  overland  to  California, 
and  was  there  something  over  three  years,  meeting 
with  partial  success  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view. 
Returning  to  this  county,  he  bought  120  acres  of 
land  in  Rural  Township,  where  he  settled  and  has 
since  resided.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  132  acres 
of  land,  most  of  which  is  cultivated  and  in  good 
agricultural    condition.       Mr.    Long    has    held    the 


offices  of  Collector  and  Constable,  etc.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  both  himself 
and  Mrs.  L.  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

Mr.  Long  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  in  Rural 
Township,  April  19,  1854,  with  Miss  Carrie,  daugh- 
ter of  Alanson  and  Mary  Sayre.  (See  sketch  of 
A.  L.  Sayre.)  Mrs.  Long  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship, April  23,  1847.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Long  are  nine  in  number,  and  named  Orin  S.,  Mary 
I.,  Wilson  W.,  Eva  M.,  Emma  C,  Minnie,  Wallace 
E.,  Lester  and  Effie. 


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^W  H^feenry  W.  Candee,  retired  manufacturer,  was 


born  in  Wolcott,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov. 
|^~"  11,1820.  His  parents,  Merritt  and  Phebe 
(Abernathy)  Candee,  were  born  in  Litchfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  when 
seven  years  of  age,  removed  with  his  motherj  y*>i 
who  was  then  a  widow,  to  their  native  place,  Har-  = 
winton,  Conn.,  where  he  passed  his  boyhood. 

When  17  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Hancock  Co,,  c= 
111.,  Oct.  1,  1837,  and  engaged  in  farming  until  about  •,< 
1S44,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  Peoria  and  was  > 
employed  in  various  ways,  until  1845;  in  the  lat- 
ter year  he  came  to  Rock  Island,  and  witnessed 
the  hanging  of  the  Davenport  murderers.  He 
remained  but  a  short  time  in  this  county,  and  re- 
turned again  to  Peoria.  In  1850  he  started  to  Mo- 
line and  established  a  permanent  residence  there. 
Mr.  Candee  had  had  some  experience  in  mechanical 
pursuits,  and  soon  after  locating  at  Moline  he  en- 
gaged with  Mr.  W.  A.  Nourse,  in  the  manufacture  of 
fanning-mills.  In  this  business  he  continued  until 
1854,  when  he  joined  Mr.  R.  K.  Swan  in  the  manu- 
facture of  chain  pumps,  horse  rakes,  etc.;  and  they 
continued  in  this  business  until  the  fall  of  1865, 
when  they  organized  the  firm  of  Candee,  Swan  & 
Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  implements, 
with  Mr.  Andrew  Friberg  constituting  the  remaining 
member  of  the  "Company."  The  following  year  they 
began  the  manufacture  of  plows,  and  admitted  Mr. 
George  Stevens  as  partner.  About  1867  S.  W.  Wheel- 
ock  became  interested  in  the  firm  without  change 
of  firm  name,  but  in  1868  it  was  incorporated  as 
the    Moline    Plow   Company.      Mr.    Candee   being 


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277 


el.  <  ted  Secretary  of  the  company,  held  that  position 
until  1870.  He  was  one  of  the  active  partners  in 
the  concern,  and  retained  his  connection  with  the 
company  until  i88t,  when  he  sold  out  and  retired 
from  active  business. 

Mr.  Candee  was  united  in  marriage  in  Moline, 
Nov.  20,  1849,  to  Miss  Susan  Swander,  who  died 
without  issue  in  December,  1850.  Mr.  Candee  was 
again  married  in  1855,  in  Geneseo,  to  Miss  Flora  M, 
Chapin,  daughter  of  Jason  Chapin.  Mrs.  Candee 
was  born  in  West  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.  They  became 
parents  of  a  son  and  daughter  (twins),  the  daughter 
dying  in  infancy;  and  the  son,  Fred  J.,  married  Miss 
Carrie  E.  Hill  and  resides  in  Moline. 

Mr.  Candee  is  a  Republican  and  has  voted  with 
that  party  since  its  organization. 


ev.  T.  R.  Johnson,  a  minister  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  at  Edgington,  this  county, 
was  born  in  Strattonville,  Clarion  Co.,  Pa., 
Feb.  12,  1S37.  His  father,  Job,  was  a  mer- 
chant tailor  by  vocation,  and  a  native  of 
Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  and  of  Scotch  ancestry. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer  and 
settled  in  East  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married, 
and  then  removed  to  West  Pennsylvania,  and  there- 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Armstrong 
County  about  1850.  The  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  notice  was  married  in  Armstrong  County,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Ray,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
county  and  was  also  of  Scotch  and  Welsh  d< 
and  of  American  parentage.  The  parents  reared  a 
family  in  Clarion  County,  of  four  children,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Sarah  married  W.  L.  Johnson, 
and  resided  in  Clarion  County  on  a  farm  until  the 
date  of  her  death  ;  Edward  G.  died  of  small-pox 
while  in  the  army,  at  Philadelphia:  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Co.  K,  Second  Pa.  Cav.,  Capt.  Steele,  and 
died  in  March,  1862,  having  served  about  five 
months,  and  at  the  date  of  his  death  was  a  Corporal ; 
William  J.  enlisted  in  the  156th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
after  serving  for  some  time  was  mortally  wounded, 
in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and  died  in  the  hos- 
pital at  Washington,  D.  C,  having  served  one  year 
and  ten  months 

Rev.  Johnson,  subject  of  this  notice,  was  educated 


at  Washington  College,  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  at 
which  institution  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1 
He  entered  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  at 
Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  in  the  fall  of./ 862,  and  gradu- 
ated at  that  institution  in  1865.  He  was  then  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel,  and  came  immediately  to  Illi- 
nois and  took  charge  of  a  Church  at  Edgington  vil- 
lage in  1865,  over  which  he  has  p  ver  since. 
He  has  also  conducted  services  al  Plea  ml  I'-idge, 
and  temporarily  has  preached  at  other  localities. 

Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
Oct.  r2,  1865,  at  Clarion,  Pa„  with  Miss  Mar 
A.  Sloan,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  being  born  in 
Clarion  County,  Feb.  28,  1838.  She  is  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliza  (Sloan)  Sloan. 
She  was  reared  at  home  and  educated  at  Glade  Run 
Seminary,  and  began  teaching  when  16  years  of  age, 
which  she  followed  and  attended  school  until  her 
marriage.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
one  of  whom  is  deceased  :  William  W.  is  a  te. 
and  resides  at  home ;  Samuel  S.,  Sarah  E.,  Merle 
M.  ;md  Lewis  A.  are  the  surviving  children,  and 
one  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  J.  is  a  member  of  the 
same  Church  of  which  her  husband  is  a  minister. 
He  occupies  the  parsonage  at  Edgington,  and  has 
been  connected  with  the  school  interest  of  the  town- 
ship since  he  came  here,  and  at  present  is  School 
Treasurer  of  the  same.  Politically,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


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lfred  Williams,  of  the  Williams,  White   & 

f   &  Co.  Iron  Works,  and  one  of  the  pioneer 

business  men  of  Moline,  was  born  in  Hub- 


bardstown,    Worcester   Co.,    Mass.,   May    2;, 

15*  1824,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Keziah 
(Newton)  Williams.  He  lost  his  parents  in 
early  youth  and  was  left  in  limited  circumstances, 
with  younger  brothers  and  sisters  to  care  for.  He 
succeeded  in  securing  an  academic  education,  and 
at  the  age  of  20  years  went  to  Boston,  where  he  was 
employed  as  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  establishment.  He 
was  subsequently  engaged  as  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Boston  &  Worcester  Railway  Co.,  in  the  freight 
department,  and  was  soon  promoted  cashier  of  the 
same.  He  continued  in  the  service  of  the  railway 
company  about  six  years. 

He  was  married  in  Boston,  May  25,  1852,  to  Miss 


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Sarah  J.  Taft,  daughter  of  Timothy  S.  Taft.  Mrs. 
Williams  was  born  in  Heath,  Mass.  Soon  after  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Williams  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  father-in-law  .  in  the  commission  and  produce 
business,  which  connection  continued  two  years. 
He  then  came  to  Moline,  111.,  in  the  summer  of  1854, 
in  accordance  with  an  agreement  made  at  Barre, 
Mass.,  with  Messrs.  White  and  Heald.  He  was 
chosen  the  business  manager  for  the  firm  of  Williams, 
Heald  &  Co.,  of  which  he  was  the  senior  partner. 
(See  history  of  the  company  in  the  industries  of 
Moline.)  Mr.  Williams  was  possessed  of  correct 
ideas  of  business  and  good  executive  ability,  the  ex- 
ercise of  which,  aided  ably  by  his  industrious  and 
capable  partners,  soon  placed  the  business  on  a 
prosperous  footing;  and  as  years  have  rolled  by  he 
has  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing,  as  a  result  of  their 
joint  efforts,  a  mass  of  towering  brick  structures  on 
the  site  where  he  first  built  the  little  wooden  shop 
31  years  ago,  where  five  men  were  employed,  and 
now  from  75  to  100  men  aie  required  to  do  the  work. 
Starting  with  a  capital  of  $2,500,  they  now  have  a 
capital  stock  of  $50,000,  with  a  surplus  of  as  much 
more. 

Mr.  Williams  retired  from  business  in  1883,  and 
went  to  Florida  with  his  family,  where  he  spent  the 
winter.  He  purchased  property  in  that  State,  and 
has  made  that  his  winter  ho.ne,  while  he  spends  his 
summers  at  Moline.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  have 
had  nine  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  five  surviving  sons  are,  Frank  H.,  the  Vice- 
President  of  the  Williams,  White  &  Co.  Iron  Works ; 
he  married  Lillian  A.  Strode  and  resides  at  Moline ; 
the  second  son,  Alfred  H.,  is  in  Florida ;  the  third. 
John  J.,  is  book-keeper  in  the  office  of  Williams, 
White  &  Co. ;  the  younger  ones,  Harry  T.  and  Par- 
ker M.,  are  students.  Mr.  Williams  was  a  warm 
anti-slavery  man,  when  that  subject  was  of  general 
public  interest.  He  supported  Martin  Van  Buren 
on  the  Free-Soil  ticket  and  has  subsequently  voted 
with  the  Republican  party. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  have  been  professors 
of  religion  since  early  youth.  They  became  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church  and  have  been 
identified  with  that  society  continuously  since.  Mr. 
Williams  has  been  a  Deacon  of  the  Church  for  the 
past  ten  years.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  Moline,  of  which  the 
business  he  aided  in  establishing  and  so  successfully 


conducting  has  been  an  important  factor.  While  he 
has  always  given  a  generous  support  to  all  worthy 
public  enterprises,  Mr.  Williams  has  devoted  his  at- 
tention strictly  to  his  business,  and  has  never  allowed 
his  name  to  be  used  in  connection  with  public  office. 

— ^##^- 


^§m  ^Aharles  Laflin>  a  general  farmer  of  Edging- 
iJiJ^gJy    ton  Township,  and  one  of  the  prominent, 
Ijp,"  ^      enterprising   men    of  his    section    of  the 
#9     county,  as  well  as  an  early  settler,  was  born 
(K      Jan.    16,    1820.     His    father,    Parley    Laflin, 
I        was  a  native  of  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  by 
occupation  a  farmer.     After  his  marriage  he  moved 
to  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  our  sub- 
ject was  born.     The  origin  of  the  Laflin   family   in 
America  was  the  coming  of  Charles  and  Winthrop 
Laflin  to  this  continent.     The  former  was  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  and  both  were  born  in  Dublin, 
Ireland.     All  the  Laflins  in  this  country  who  spell 
the  name  as  this   family  do,  are  said  to  be  the  de- 
scendants of  these  two  brothers. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  married  to  Esther 
Benedict,  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  of  New  Eng- 
land ancestry  and  parentage,  and  connected  directly 
with  a  Puritan  family.  After  the  birth  of  Charles, 
their  eldest  child,  they  removed  to  the  Western  Re- 
serve in  Ohio,  where  they  located  upon  a  farm. 
Afterwards  they  removed  to  New  York,  Chautauqua 
County,  where  they  resided  until  Charles  arrived  at 
the  age  of  14;  from  there  his  parents  moved  to  War- 
ren Co.,  Pa,  from  there  back  to  Chautauqua  County, 
to  the  town  of  Carroll.  When  he  came  of  age,  in 
April,  1840,  they  came  West,  settling  in  Rock  Island 
County.  Having  lost  his  first  wife,  who  died  at 
Carroll,  N.  Y.,  the  elder  Laflin  was  married  again  at 
that  place.  On  coming  to  this  county,  he  purchased 
a  farm  in  Edgington  Township,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  13,  r85o,  at  the  age 
of  52  years. 

Our  subject  lived  at  home,  working  on  the  farm 
and  attending  the  district  schools  and  a  school  at 
Mayville,  the  county  seat  of  Chautauqua  County, 
until  he  came  West.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Hazlitt,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Sarah 
(Mackay)  Hazlitt,  May  23,  1844,  at  her  home.  Her 
parents  were  formerly  farmers  of  New  Jersey,  and 


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were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  though  born  in  the 
State  of  New  Jersey.  Mrs.  Laflin  was  born  in  War- 
ren Co.,  N.  J.,  May  6,  1819,  and  was  18  years  of  age 
when  the  family  came  West.  They  stopped  for  one 
year  in  La  Salle  Co.,  111.,  and  then  came  on  to  Rock 
Island  County,  where  they  arrived  in  1S39.  They 
located  in  Edgington  Township,  on  a  farm  of  160 
acres.  Three  years  later,  Aug.  24,  1842,  the  mother 
died,  at  the  age  of  37  years.  The  father  died  Dec. 
2,  1849,  in  Edgington  Township. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laflin  settled 
on  a  farm,  and  have  since  devoted  their  energies  to 
the  quiet  and  pleasant  occupation  of  farming.  He 
has  an  excellent  farm  of  160  acres  on  section  31,  all 
well  improved,  and  also  40  acres  of  timber  land. 
Mrs.  Laflin  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Edgington,  and  Mr.  L.  has  served  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  six  years,  and  also  as  Assessor  and 
School  Director.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.  at  Edgington,  and  has  been  Master  of  his  lodge 
(Keeney  Lodge,  No.  223,)  for  several  years.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  Democrat. 

There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.,  five 
children,  as  follows :  Alexander,  deceased ;  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  I.  H.  Hazlitt;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Wm.  D. 
Crabs;  Edgar,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Lloyd;  and  Edith,  residing  at  home. 


■-fcs>»- 

^Fjffia|SEb,harles  F.  Hernenway,  cashier  of  the  Mo- 
line  National  Bank,  also  of  the  Moline 
Mfa  ^  Savings  Bank,  son  of  Luke  E.  and  Jane 
E.  (Marsh)  Hernenway,  was  born  at  Grand 
de  Tour,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  1,1846.  The 
family  removed  to  Moline  in  1855,  where  they 
have  since  resided,  and  where  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  acquired  such  education  as  was  possible  be- 
fore he  was  15  years  of  age.  Leaving  home  in  186 1 , 
he  landed  directly  at  Lansing,  Iowa,  where  he  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  postoffice  until  the  fall  of 
1862.  When  in  the  15th  year  of  his  age,  he  en- 
rolled as  a  private  soldier  in  Co.  B,  27th  Iowa  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  being  mus- 
tered out  as  Corporal  in  May,  1865.  At  enlistment 
he  was  the  youngest  soldier  in  the  corps  to  which  he 
was  attached,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  there  were 
in  the  whole  United  States  Army  a  younger  soldier 


in  the  ranks  and  bearing  a  musket.  He  spent  the 
first  year  with  his  regiment  doing  duty  and  under- 
going the  hardships  incident  to  the  life  of  an  ordin- 
ary soldier.  The  second  year  he  did  detail  duty  as 
a  clerk  for  Gen.  Hurlbut,  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
1 6th  Army  Corps,  and  the  last  year  filled  a  similar 
position  at  the  headquarters  of  the  Department  of  the 
Mississippi. 

Returning  from  the  army,  he  at  once  entered  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Moline  as  book-keeper  and 
remained  until  the  organization  of  the  Manufactur- 
ers'Bank  of  Moline  in  May,  1869.  With  this  insti- 
tution he  accepted  the  position  of  assistant  cashier, 
from  which  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  cash- 
ier in  January,  1876.  In  addition  to  his  banking  in- 
terests, he  is  Vice-President  of  the  Moline  Malleable 
Iron  Company,  member  of  the  firm  of  Gould,  Walker 
&  Hernenway,  general  insurance  agency,  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Moline  Central  Street  Railway  Company. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  Notary  Public  for  16  years, 
is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  River- 
side Cemetery,  has  served  the  city  three  years  as 
Alderman,  and  for  four  terms  as  Treasurer,  of  which 
office  he  is  the  present  incumbent.  Whatever  the 
office — either  public  or  private — the  administration 
of  Mr.  Hernenway  has  been  uniformly  of  the  highest 
character.  A  man  of  exemplary  habits,  a  cool  head 
and  strong  executive  ability,  he  is  ranked  as  one 
among  the  best  business  men  and  financiers  in  a  city 
noted  for  its  commercial  and  financial  genius. 

Mr.  Hernenway  was  united  in  marriage  at  Moline, 
Nov.  4,  1869,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Harrold,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely  :  Martha  J., 
Clara,  deceased,  Frances  B.,  Harrold  and  Joe  M. 


(  ) 


jLon.  Joseph  W.  Lloyd,  general   farmer  and 
stock-raiser,   residing  on   section    16,  Edg- 
ington   Township,   is  a    native    of    Penn- 
sylvania,   having   been    born  in    Erie    County, 
that  State,   May   10,   1S1S.     His  father,  Aaron 
Lloyd,    was   the    son    of  Benijah    Lloyd,  who, 
with  his  two  brothers,  settled    in   the  United  States 
at    an    early  day,  and  from  whom  the  origin  of  the 
Lloyd  family  in  this  country  is  traced.     They  came 
from  Wales,  and  the  three   settled   in  three  different 
States,    Pennsylvania,   Maryland   and   New   Jersey, 
the  grandfather,  Benijah,  locating  in  the  latter  State. 

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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


They  were  farmers  by  vocation,  and  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  The  father  of  Joseph  W.  was  born  in  March, 
1775.  He  had  been  taught  the  trade  of  a  tailor 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  was  there  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Margaret  Lindsey.  She  was  born  in  that 
State,  and  was  the  daughter  of  an  Englishman,  who 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Her  mother  was  a 
German  lady.  After  marriage  the  parents  of  Mr. 
Lloyd  of  this  sketch  lived  for  a  while  in  "  York  " 
State,  and  then  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
the  subject  of  this  notice  was  born,  as  stated.  He 
was  the  youngest  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  ten 
sons  and  two  daughters,  only  one  of  whom  besides 
himself  survive,  Horace,  a  farmer,  residing  in  Erie 
Co.,  Pa. 

Mr.  Lloyd,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  living  on 
the  parental  homestead  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
20  years.  The  following  year  he  came  West,  to  this 
State,  locating  in  Millersburg,  Mercer  County,  where 
he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  tailor,  from  (838  to 
1849.  He  was  united  in  marriage  at  Millersburg, 
May  15,  1844,  with  Miss  Eunice  Beardsley,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Elisha  and  Caroline  (Marvin)  Beardsley, 
natives  of  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  father  was  a 
minister  in  the  Unitarian  Church,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  both  of  English  descent,  and  were  united 
in  marriage  in  Genesee  County,  the  birthplace  of 
Mrs.  Lloyd,  where  she  was  born  Feb.  9,  1824.  She 
lived  in  her  native  State  with  her  parents,  being 
educated  in  Chautauqua  County,  until  she  attained 
the  age  of  18  years,  when  the  family  moved  to 
Millersburg,  where  they  resided  for  some  time,  and 
then  came  to  Rock  Island  city,  where  they  both 
died,  the  death  of  the  mother  occurring  in  1869,  and 
that  of  the  father  in  1882,  aged  86  years.  Mrs.  L. 
began  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native 
State,  when  she  was  a  young  lady,  and  when  she 
came  West  ceased  to  follow  her  profession,  and  was 
soon  afterward  married. 

Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lloyd,  seven  of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Emma 
C,  born  April  17,  1845,  resides  at  home;  Jasper, 
born  Oct.  15,  1849,  deceased;  Lovina  J.,  born  July 
23,  185 1 ;  she  married  Addison  Rush;  Milo,  born 
Dec.  3,  1853,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lettie  L.  Bopes;  Asenath,  born  May  21,  1856;  she 
married  Cornelius  D.Baker;  Eunice,  born  Aug.  14, 


1859,  married  Edgar  Laflin;  Luella,  born  Aug.  n, 
1S61,  married  James  W.  Titterington ;  Walter  J., 
born  May  5,  1864,  works  the  homestead,  and  is 
unmarried.  Lovina,  Asenath  and  Eunice  M.  were 
all  teachers  in  the  public  schools  of  this  county  prior 
to  their  marriage. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lloyd  came  to  Rock 
Island  County,  and  purchased  So  acres  of  raw  prai- 
rie land,  on  which  they  located,  and  at  once  entered 
vigorously  and  energetically  upon  its  improvement 
and  cultivation.  They  are  now  the  owners  of  224 
acres  of  land  in  the  township,  all  of  which  is  in  an 
advanced  state  of  cultivation,  and  on  which  they 
have  a  magnificent  residence,  good  barn  and  sub- 
stantial outbuildings.  Mr.  Lloyd  also  owns  160 
acres  of  land  in  Gage  Co.,  Neb.,  and  also  40  acres 
of  timber  land  in  Andalusia  Township.  Politically, 
Mr.  Lloyd  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  In  1865  he 
was  elected  Representative  from  this  county  to  the 
State  Legislature,  serving  one  term.  Previous  to 
that  he  was  Supervisor  three  terms,  and  has  served 
one  term  since,  likewise  serving  in  other  minor 
offices. 


-hpn- 


"■  J;  £>3  \\harles  C.  Seaberg,  of  the  Moline  Cabinet 
"t!  IfcSJij,    Organ  Company,  is  the  son  of  John  and 


years. 


m  % 

If  Org 

Louisa  Seaberg,  and  was  born  in  Sweden, 
March  8,  ^38.  He  learned  the  cabinet- 
making  trade  in  the  city  of  Guttenberg,  and 
subsequently  worked  at  pipe-organ  making  11 
He  came  to  America  in  1865,  arriving  in 
this  country  on  the  24th  of  July,  of  that  year,  com- 
ing direct  to  Princeton,  111.,  where  he  was  employed 
at  cabinet-making  till  Christmas  time,  when  he  went 
to  Chicago.  Arriving  in  the  latter  place,  he  engaged 
with  Pilch  Bros.  &  Co.,  organ-builders,  and  remained 
with  them  two  years.  Returning  then  to  Princeton, 
he  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  with  G.  Larson, 
and  that  connection  lasted  two  years,  when  he  sold 
out.  Mr.  Seaberg  then  worked  at  sash  and  blind 
making  three  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  his 
former  trade,  pipe-organ  building,  and  engaged  with 
the  Western  Cottage  Organ  Company,  at  Mendota, 
where  he  continued  for  six  years. 

In  the  spring  of    1876  he  returned   to  his  native 
country  for  his  health,  spending  one  summer  there, 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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283 


when  he  returned  to  the  States,  in  September.  Mr. 
Seaberg  spent  the  winter  at  Mendota,  and  in  the 
spring  made  a  trip  to  the  Indian  Territory,  but  was 
gone  only  a  few  months  when  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Peter  Colseth,  of 
Moline,  in  the  manufacture  of  cabinet  organs  at  that 
place.  They  began  in  a  small  way,  and  succeeded 
in  building  up  an  important  business,  operating  now 
as  an  incorporated  company,  known  as  the  Moline 
Cabinet  Organ  Company,  of  which  an  extended 
sketch  is  given  under  the  head  of  industries  of  Mo- 
line, elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Seaberg  was  united  in  marriage  at  Princeton, 
111.,  Sept.  8,  1869,  with  Miss  Louisa  Johnson,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Annie  (Hakanson)  Johnson.  Mrs. 
Seaberg  was  born  in  Sweden,  and  came  to  America 
when  two  years  of  age.  They  are  the  parents  of 
six  children,  namely:  Olive  U.  E.,  born  June  27, 
1870;  Amelia  E.  P.,  born  Sept.  16,  1871;  Lydia  L. 
\\\,  born  Sept.  9,  1875  ;  Theodora  P.  C,  born  May 
22,  1878;  Gothfried  S.  E.,  June  14,  1880;  Esther 
V.  C,  March  31,  1882. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seaberg  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  and  Mr.  Seaberg  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  views. 


f  ewis  Wilson,  a  prosperous  farmer  and  reli- 
_t  able  citizen  of  this  county,  residing  on 
jaWr  section  8,  Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of 
vjj~  William  and  Rachel  (Mills)  Wilson,  natives 
(IS  of  Kentucky.  The  father,,  as  born  March  8, 
{  1791,  a.nd  the  mother  Aug.  13,  1792.  They 
were  married,  and  settled  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  about  three  years  later  removed  to  Greene 
County,  that  State,  where  they  resided  until  the  fall 
of  1828,  when  they  removed  to  Montgomery  Co., 
Ind.  The  parents  continued  to  reside  in  the  latter 
State  until  the  fall  of  1853,  when  they  came  to  this 
county,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Rural  Township, 
where  they  resided  until  their  deaths,  that  of  the 
father  occurring  in  October,  1856,  and  that  of  the 
mother  in  June,  1S73.  Their  family  comprised  12 
children,  namely  :  Lewis,  Jacob  M.,  Mary,  Susan, 
Lydia,  George,  Hannah,  Adam,  John,  Owen,  Moses, 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Lewis  Wilson,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 


was  born  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  23,  181 1. 
His  education  was  received  at  an  old  log  school- 
house  in  his  native  county,  and  his  early  life  was 
spent  on  the  parental  homestead,  performing  such 
labor  as  is  common  to  farmers'  sons.  He  continued 
to  reside  at  home  until  he  was  24  years  of  age,  when 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Thomp- 
son, a  native  of  Indiana  and  of  Irish  ancestry.  That 
event  occurred  April  2,  1835,  and  she  became  the 
mother  of  four  children,  by  Mr.  Wilson,  namely: 
Mary,  Rachel,  George,  and  Lydia  Lovia.  Rachel  is 
the  only  surviving  child,  and  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Simmons,  a  resident  of  Rural  Township.  Mrs. 
Wilson  died  June  2r,  1842. 

Mr.  Wilson  formed  a  second  matrimonial  alliance 
June  30,  1844,  with  Miss  Minerva  Tipton,  a  native 
of  Tennessee,  of  French  ancestry,  in  which  State 
she  was  born  Nov.  1,  1823.  Of  the  latter  union 
four  children  have  been  born:  John  W.,  Sarah, 
Jacob  and  Owen  D.  Jacob  is  deceased  ;  John  W. 
resides  in  Oregon ;  and  Owen  D.  and  Sarah  reside 
in  Nebraska,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  Joseph  M. 
Piersol.  Mrs.  Wilson  died  June  29,  1852,  and  Mr. 
Wilson  was  married  a  third  time  Sept.  25,  1856,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Catherine  Simmons,  a  native 
of  Germany. 

She  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  five 
years  old,  and  lived  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio 
many  years.  Peter  and  Catherine  E.  Simmons,  her 
parents,  came  to  this  county  in  1850,  and  two  years 
later  located  in  Rural  Township,  where  they  died, 
the  father  Aug.  10,  1875,  and  the  mother  Aug.  23, 
1874, — the  former  at  the  age  of  82  years,  and  the 
latter  at  79  years.  Mrs.  \V.  was  born  July  30,  1828. 
Their  home  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children, 
who  bear  the  following  names:  Henry  P.,  Catherine 
L.,  James  R.,  Maria  L.,  Lewis  E.,  Charles  C,  Jacob 
S.  and  Charlotte  H.  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  George 
Stewart,  a  farmer  of  Rural  Township  ;  Maria  L.,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Carlson,  a  resident  of  Dakota. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  the  owner  of  240  acres  of  land  in 
Rural  Township,  150  of  which  is  in  a  tillable  condi- 
tion. He  also  owns  320  acres  in  Nebraska.  Mr. 
Wilson  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  nine 
years,  and  represented  his  township  on  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  for  five  years.  His  political  sentiments 
are  Democratic.  Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist   Church,  while   Mrs.  W.  is   connected  with 


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284 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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the  Presbyterian  Church.  As  a  highly  respected 
representative  of  the  agricultural  element  of  the 
county,  and  a  pioneer  well  and  favorably  known, 
the  portrait  of  Mr.  Wilson  is  presented  in  this 
work.  He  is  a  worthy  representative  of  a  worthy 
class. 


ev.  Henry  Oliver  Lindeblad,  Pastor  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  Moline 
'  since  1879,  was  born  in  Tanuras  Socken, 
Bohus  Lan,  Sweden,  March  7,  1S45.  He 
aid  the  foundation  of  his  education  at  the 
Gymnasium  of  Gottenburg,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1866.  He  came  at  once  to  Paxton,  111., 
where  he  entered  the  Augustana  College  and  Theo- 
logical Seminary  as  a  student,  took  a  three-years 
course  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1S69.  He  was 
then  sent  as  a  home  missionary  to  Campello  and 
Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  spent  two  years  and  or- 
ganized the  now  existing  Swedish  Congregation  in 
the  latter  city.  He  was  next  Pastor  at  Chandler's 
Valley,  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  labored  nine 
years,  or  until  1879,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  Moline,  since  which 
time  he  has  served  as  Pastor  of  this  Church,  with 
marked  ability   and  satisfaction  to  the  congregation. 

Mr.  Lindeblad  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Board 
of-  Directors  of  the  Augustana  College  and  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  of  Rock  Island,  and  has  served  as 
such  since  1880.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Library 
Board,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Central  Board  of 
Missions  of  the  Augustana  Synod.  While  a  resident 
of  Pennsylvania,  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

Mr.  Lindeblad  was  united  in  marriage,  at  Prince- 
ton, 111.,  Jan.  30,  1868,  to  Miss  Christina  Pierson, 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Elsa  Pierson.  Mrs.  Linde- 
blad was  born  in  Skane,  Sweden,  Nov.  30,  1839. 
They  have  six  children,  four  boys  and  two  girls : 
Alma  E.  E.  C,  born  July  18,  1870,  at  Campello, 
Mass.;  A.  Gothold  E.,  born  at  Chandler's  Valley, 
Pa.,  April  6,  1872,  died  May  1,  1881  ;  I.  Luther  E., 
born  March  8,  1874;  Esther  E.  Th.,  born  Aug. 
17,  1876;  Alvin  S.  N.,  born  March  15,  1879;  and 
Carl  G.  T.,  born  Sept.  27,  1881.  The  youngest  was 
born  at  Moline,  111.,  but  the  others,  with  the  excep- 


tion of  the  eldest,  were  born  at  Chandler's  Valley, 
Pa. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Lindeblad  is  Pastor  of  one  of  the 
most  important  Churches  in  the  West.  The  church 
edifice  is  the  largest  of  all  in  Rock  Island  County, 
and  the  largest  of  all  of  the  denomination  in  the 
State.  The  membership  numbers  1,100  communi- 
cants. Mr.  Lindeblad  is  a  gentleman  of  thorough 
culture,  fluent  and  entertaining  in  his  discourse, 
modest  and  unassuming  in  his  manner,  and  genial 
and  affable  in  social  intercourse,  while  his  natural 
kindness  of  heart  makes  him  easily  accessible  to 
those  in  trouble  or  distress.  It  is  no  flattery  to  tell 
the  truth,  and  it  is  only  truth  to  say  that  Mr.  Linde- 
blad is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  and  warm,  friendly 
regard,  not  only  by  his  own  people,  but  by  his  fellow 
citizens  in  general. 

He  has  always  voted  with  the  Republican  party. 


VV 


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SQeciASf 


1  Y('  it  I  \  illiam  Henry  Devore,  banker  at  Port  By 
^BsBgjC   ron,  was  a  born  and  bred  pioneer,  and  ha; 


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*^p       occupied  that  relation  to  the  business  de- 

velopment  of  Rock  Island  County,  as  well  as 

in  the  more  common  acceptance  of  the  term. 

He  was  born   Aug.  20,  1818,  at  Uniontown, 

Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is   the   eldest  son  of  John  L. 

and    Phebe   (Parrottj   Devore.     He  is   of   unmixed 

French  ex'raction,  both    parents   having  descended 

from  that   nationality.     David   Devore,  his   paternal 

grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was, 

a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  which  he  survived  many 

years,  and  he  passed  the  close  of  his  life  in  the  full 

enjoyment  of  the  privileges  of  a  beneficiary  of  his 

country  that  recognized  the  value  of  his   efforts  in 

her  behalf. 

John  L.  Devore  was  an  artisan  in  his  native  State, 
and  in  1822  he  removed  his  family  to  Licking  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land.  He 
put  his  estate  under  excellent  improvements,  and  it 
was  his  home  and  field  of  operation  until  about  ten 
years  before  his  death.  His  wife  also  died  in  Lick- 
ing Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Devore  was  a  child  of  four  years 
when  his  parents  emigrated  to  the  Ohio  forest,  and 
he  had  only  the  prescribed  privileges  of  the  son  of 
a  pioneer,  including  little  familiarity  with  books,  and 
affording   corresponding   necessity  and   opportunity 

$flg@Hli$4£ — ^^ -ft* 


has    $; 


1 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


285 


for  the  acquisition  of  mental  culture  by  observation, 
from  which  conditions,  it  may  be  remarked  in  pass- 
ing, has  arisen  the  best  element  of  humanity  on 
which  Western  institutions  have  been  founded. 

At  15  he  obtained  the  consent  of  his  parents  to 
endeavor  to  make  his  way  in  the  world  unaided. 
He  obtained  employment  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home, 
and  during  the  first  year  of  his  independent  exist- 
ence he  earned  $3  a  month,  together  with  his  board. 
Until  he  was  22  he  worked  on  a  farm  summers  and 
attended  school  winters.  In  1839  he  accepted  a 
proffered  situation  in  a  grocery  at  Akron,  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  officiated  in  that  capacity  for  two 
years.  He  then  went  South,  and  obtained  employ- 
ment in  the  service  of  the  Lower  Mississippi,  filling 
the  position  of  an  assistant  clerk  on  a  steamboat. 
He  passed  two  years  in  that  capacity,  coming  thence 
in  1844  to  Illinois.  He  bought  80  acres  of  wild 
land,  composed  in  part  of  timber  and  prairie,  in 
Sharon,  Henry  County,  of  which  he  was  the  owner 
and  proprietor  for  two  years.  His  next  remove  was 
to  Rock  Island  County  in  1846,  where  he  became 
'■  by  purchase  the  owner  of  a  farm  on  section  7 
>  of  township  18  north,  range  3  east,  of  Government 
land,  now  designated  as  Brewster  &  Hill's  farm. 

Until  1849  he  was  occupied  in  the  prosecution  of 
his  agricultural  interests.  In  that  year  he  became 
interested  in  the  glowing  rumors  concerning  the 
possibilities  afforded  by  the  resources  of  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  in  company  with  a  party  of  adventurous 
spirits,  numbering  about  70,  he  set  out  for  Oregon. 
The  company,  with  24  wagons  and  72  yoke  of  oxen, 
left  Illinois  May  1,  and  journeyed  across  the  conti- 
nent, and  arrived  at  Fort  Vancouver,  Oregon,  Oct. 
18,  1849.  Mr.  Devore  obtained  employment  as  a 
umberman,  at  Milwaukee,  Oregon,  and  was  engaged 
until  the  first  of  March,  1850,  in  cross-cutting  saw- 
logs,  hauling  and  drawing  them  to  mill,  receiving  a 
compensation  of  $5  per  day  for  his  labor.  At  the 
date  above  named  he  went  to  San  Francisco,  whence 
he  proceeded  to  Sacramento,  shortly  afterward  going 
there  by  steamer.  From  there  he  went  by  land 
route  to  Bird's  Valley,  El  Dorado  County,  where  he 
operated  some  time  as  a  miner,  but  without  satis- 
factory results.  He  then  embarked  in  mercantile 
operations,  establishing  a  store  at  Bird's  Valley,  and 
^)  dealing  in  the  general  supplies  required  by  the  min- 
^»    ing  community.     After  a  few  months  he  associated 


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with  himself  in  his  business  a  man  named  Jonas 
Barber,  a  former  resident  of  Port  Byron,  111.  After 
a  joint  management,  covering  a  period  of  ten 
months,  they  sold  their  business  interests  and  rela- 
tions, with  the  intention  of  returning  toward  the 
East. 

They  took  passage  from  San  Francisco,  and  pro- 
ceeded on  the  Pacific  Ocean  to  Realjo,  in  Central 
America,  whence  they  went  by  land  to  the  city  of 
Leon,  in  the  State  of  the  same  name.  They  pro- 
ceeded to  Granada,  crossed  Lake  Nicaragua  to  Fort 
San  Carlos,  whence  they  traveled  on  the  San  Juan 
River  to  San  Juan  de  Nicaragua.  They  sailed 
thence  on  the  English  war  steamer  "  Tay,"  to 
Chagres,  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  At  that  port 
they  embarked  on  the  United  States  steamer 
"  Philadelphia  "  for  New  Orleans.  They  came  up 
to  the  city  of  St.  Louis  on  the  same  steamer,  whence 
they  journeyed  by  stage  to  Sharon  in  Henry  County. 
This  was  in  185  1. 

Mr.  Devore  came  thence  to  Port  Byron,  and,  Jan- 
uary 2r,  in  partnership  with  A.  J.  Brown,  he  estab- 
lished a  mercantile  enterprise  under  the  firm  style 
of  Brown  &  Devore.  In  1863  the  impaired  health 
of  Mr.  Brown  necessitated  a  change  in  their  busi- 
ness relations,  and  the  senior  partner  withdrew. 
Mr.  Devore  pushed  the  enterprise  singly,  and  in 
the  same  year  founded  his  banking  business.  He 
admitted  W.  J.  Shepherd  to  an  interest  in  1866,  and 
their  associations  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Shepherd,  in  187 1.  Mr.  Devore  severed  his  con- 
nection with  commercial  affairs  in  1877,  since  which 
time  he  has  devoted  his  time  to  his  banking  inter- 
ests exclusively.  His  abilities  as  a  financier  are  of 
a  superior  character,  and  his  entire  business  career 
at  Port  Byron  is  such  as  to  result  in  permanent 
benefit  to  the  general  public.  At  the  outset  he  was 
the  possessor  of  a  cash  capital  of  $800,  from  which 
he  has  built  his  present  substantial  fortune. 

Mr.  Devore  was  united  in  marriage  in  October, 
1844,  with  Eliza  Beardslee.  She  was  born  in  Jer- 
sey, Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Rebecca  (Ayres)  Beardslee.  Her 
parents  were  born  in  Sussex  County,  State  of  New 
Jersey,  and  were  pioneers  of  the  township  of  Jersey. 
Later,  they  removed  to  Henry  Co.,  111.,  the  father 
buying  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Sharon,  which  was 
the  homestead  until   the  death  of  the   father,  after 


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286 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


which  the  mother  moved  to  Rock  Island.  She  died 
in  Geneseo,  this  State.  Rose  E.,  wife  of  Hon.  J.  W. 
Simonson,  of  Port  Byron,  is  the  only  child  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Devore. 


m^ 


s   A.    Nourse,    proprietor    of   Grand    View 
Ulk  Green-houses    and    Nursery,    established 
Jf^S?r>      ':'s  business  ra  ,865-     The  subject  of  our 

"S>     sketch  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
9,   1820.     He  came  to  Illinois  in  the  spring 

'  of  1838  and  located  at  Peoria,  where  he  re- 
sided until  the  spring  of  1S46,  when  he  removed  to 
Moline.  On  coming  to  this  place,  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  fanning-mills,  in  company  with 
his  brother  Alonzo,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wm.  A. 
&  Alonzo  Nourse.  They  were  among  the  first  man- 
ufacturers in  Moline,  shipping  their  goods  at  one 
time  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley.  Mr.  Nourse  also  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising. He  sold  out  his  fanning-mill  business  in* 
1852,  but  continued  in  mercantile  business  until  the 
commercial  crisis  of  1857,  when  he  closed  out.  In 
1859  he  commenced  improving  his  home  on  the 
bluffs  where  he  now  resides,  and  began  by  planting 
trees,  and  gradually  developed  an  extensive  nursery 
business.  In  1865  he  began  erecting  "green  houses, 
and  combined  the  business  of  florist  with  that  of 
nurseryman.  He  has  devoted  special  pains  to  his 
green-houses,  and  extended  their  capacity  until  they 
now  embrace  an  area  of  5,000  feet  of  glass,  well 
stocked  with  a  fine  variety  of  plants  and  shrubs. 
The  houses  are  said  to  excel  anything  in  this  line 
either  in  Rock  Island  Co.,  111.,  or  in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa. 
He  is  selling  out  his  nursery  stock,  and  will  in  the 
future  give  the  green-houses  his  undivided  atten- 
tion. 

Mr.  Nourse  was  married  at  Peoria,  111., in  Septem- 
ber, 1844,  to  Miss  Sarah  F.  Pettengill,  a  niece  of 
Moses  Pettengill,  of  Peoria.  Mrs.  Nourse  was  born  in 
Salisbury,  N.  H.,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
family  of  Daniel  Webster,  her  grandfather  being  a 
cousin  of  the  great  statesman.  They  have  one  child 
living,  a  daughter,  Mary  F.,  wife  of  John  H.  Porter, 
the  job  printer  of  Moline.  Mrs.  Nourse  died  in 
August,  1881,  being  killed  in  the  great  wind-storm  of 
that  season.     Mr.  Nourse  was  a  positive  anti-slavery 


man  in  slavery  times,  and  since  then  has  been  a 
Republican.  In  addition  to  his  being  a  true 
patriot,  he  has  been  a  consistent  temperance  man 
since  1836,  never  having  from  that  day  to  the  pres- 
ent time  used  ardent  spirits,  tea,  coffee  or  tobacco. 
His  health,  in  consequence  of  his  temperate  habits, 
is  excellent,  and  now,  at  the  age  of  65,  he  is  vigor- 
ous as  a  man  of  40.  Mr.  Nourse  attributes  his 
mental  and  physical  condition  to  his  belief  and  prac- 
tice in  hygiene,  which  includes  regular  habits.  He 
is  also  a  pronounced  spiritualist. 


SOOO^ 


8,   181 1,   the 


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IE,. enry  F.   Thomas.     On   Jan. 
I'    subject  of  this  sketch  was   born  at   South 
Weymouth,  Mas?.     During  his  boyhood  he 
attended  school  in  his   native  town,  and  then 
settled  down  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoemakmg, 
at  which  he  worked  for  several  years,  but  finally,  ( 
as  his  health  was  by  no  means  good,  he  was  accus-  ^  ' 
tomed  for  several  seasons  to  go  out  mackerel-fishing,  /K 
attending  to  that  almost  wholly  summers   and  mak- 
ing  shoes   winters.      His    parents    were   John    and 
Mai\'  (Stetson)  Thomas. 

Our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  Sept  10,  1835,  J; 
with  Miss  Alice  Hayward,  who  still  survives  and  re- 
sides at  Hampton.  In  1837  Mr.  Thomas  came  West 
and  settled  in  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  working  at  his  trade 
there  until  1848,  when  he  removed  and  permanently 
located  at  Hampton,  111.,  and  in  that  town,  and  at 
Valley  City  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
he  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  until  1865, 
when  he  was  elected  County  Treasurer  of  Rock 
Island  County,  serving  as  such  through  the  term  of 
two  years,  when  he  was  re-elected  to  that  responsible 
office,  thus  holding  the  same  from  1863  to  1869, 
when  he  opened  a  shoe  store  in  Moline,  111.,  in  com- 
pany with  his  son-in-law,  Theo.  D.  Wheelock,  con- 
tinuing in  that  business  until  1878.  He  then  re- 
moved his  store  to  Hampton,  and  continued  in  that 
line  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Henry  F.  died  at  Hampton  on  Tuesday,  10:30  a. 
m.,  April,  12,  1 88 1,  lung  trouble  being  the  cause  of  his 
death.  He  was  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  popu- 
lar men,  and  his  death  caused  wide-spread  sorrow 
among  his  large  circle  of  friends.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  Alice  A.,  who  was  born  July  14.  1836,  and 
died  in  1847  ;  Mary  L.,  born  Nov.  30, 1838,  and  was 


§>V^^t~- 


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Residence  of  Hon. J.  W.  Simonsom,  Cor.  High  ^WalnutSt.  Port  Byron. 


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^?OCJ  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


487    "N 


united  in  wedlock  Nov.  30,  1857,  with  Dr.  George 
Vincent;  Joseph  H.,  born  Oct.  14,  1841,  died  Oct. 
27,  1881;  Camilla  C,  born  March  20,  1845,  and 
Nov.  29,  1866,  was  married  to  Theo.  D.  Wheelock ; 
Sylvia  J.,  born  Sept.  20.  1847,  the  date  of  her  mar- 
riage being  Dec.  31,  1868,  to  Fred.  C.  Hemenway; 
Alice  H.,  born  July  30,  1850,  forming  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Samuel  S.  Crompton  Feb.  24,  1869: 
Clara  L.,born  Dec.  21,  1852,  and  united  in  marriage 
with  James  T.  Francis,  May  1,  1878;  she  died  Oct. 
29,  1884;  Herbert  E.,born  July  19,  1858,  and  March 
23,  2881,  was  married  to  Miss  Ruth  A.  Sadler;  two 
children  have  been  born  of  their  union,  viz.,  Henry 
F.,  born  Dec.  14,  1881 ;  and  Herbert  G.,  who  was 
born  Aug.  20,  1883. 

Herbert  E.,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  attended 
school  at  Hampton,  111.,  until  he  was  14  years  of 
age.  Leaving  the  latter  place,  he  began  at  Moline, 
where  he  attended  for  two  years,  then  going  to  Rock 
Island  for  one  year.  At  intervals  during  that  time 
he  worked  in  his  father's  shoe  store,  and  for  four 
years  after  leaving  school  he  remained  as  clerk  in 
the  store.  In  1878  he  accepted  a  position  as  clerk 
in  the  office  of  what  is  now  the  Moline  Scale  Com- 
pany, where  he  still  remains;  and  by  faithful  service 
and  strict  attention  to  his  duties,  together  with  prac- 
tical aptitude  for  business,  he  has  gained  a  place  as 
member  of  the  company  and  a  director  in  the  con- 
cern, where  he  now  acts  as  deputy  in  charge  of  the 
business  during  the  absence  of  Major  Grout,  the 
president,  who  is  away  most  of  the  time  at  his  farm 
in  Vermont. 

* -€<^ * 


J  heodore  M.  Jones,  photographer,  corner 
15th  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue,  Moline, 
established  business  here  in  1878.  He  is 
a  native  of  T5utler  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  born 
T  Aug.  23,  1849.  His  parents  were  Paul  B.  and 
I  Martha  A.  (Brant)  Jones.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois  when  seven  years  of  age  and  re- 
sided in  Knox  County  until  1864,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Davenport,  Iowa.  His  father  was  a 
photographer  and  he  learned  the  art  in  his  father's 
gallery. 

In  1870  he  began  business  for  himself  at  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  where  his  establishment  was  totally  con- 


sumed  by  fire  Aug.  31,  1871.  He  immediately 
rebuilt  and  resumed  business,  and  remained  in  Dav- 
enport until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Marion, 
Iowa,  and  conducted  a  gallery  at  that  place  from 
1875  to  1878.  In  June  of  that  year  he  established 
his  present  business  at  Moline  and  has  carried  it  on 
continuously  since.  Mr.  Jones  has  a  well  equipped 
gallery  and  has  won  the  reputation  of  being  an  artist 
skilled  in  his  profession.  His  work  has  given  very 
general  satisfaction,  and  is  spoken  of  with  great 
praise  by  a  community  well  qualified  to  judge  of  its 
merits.  A  large  number  of  the  portraits  in  this 
work  are  from  photographs  taken  by  Mr.  Jones. 

Mr.  Jones  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Dav- 
enport, Iowa,  Sept.  25,  187 1,  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Rice,  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Rice.  Mrs.  Jones  was 
born  in  Knox  Co.,  111.  They  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  namely :  Archie  H.,  born 
March  3,  1873;  Harry  B.,  born  May  19,  1875; 
Bessie  M.,  born  Aug.  19,  1879;  and  Theo  B.,  born 
Sept.  8,  1884.     Mr.  Jones  is  a  Republican. 


jenry  Ashdown,  a  farmer  of  Coe  Township, 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  since 
August,  1856.  In  1857  he  bought  a  farm 
US  in  company  with  his  brother  Mark,  in  Canoe 
\  Creek  Township,  upon  section  8.  It  was  un- 
cultivated, and  they  were  not  in  circumstances 
to  await  the  work  of  improvement ;  and  they  rented 
a  farm  in  the  vicinity,  which  they  conducted  three 
years,  and  at  the  same  time  placed  their  own  prop- 
erty in  condition  for  farming.  In  i860  Mr.  Ashdown 
bought  the  interest  of  his  brother  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  place,  where  he  prosecuted  his  agricul- 
tural interests  until  1878,  when  he  leased  that  place 
and  removed  to  Coe  Township  and  bought  the  west- 
ern half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  17.  On 
this  he  has  since  resided  and  has  improved  it  by  the 
addition  of  valuable  buildings. 

Mr.  Ashdown  was  born  Aug.  24,  1829,  in  the 
county  of  Kent,  England.  He  is  the  sixth  son  of 
Edward  and  Annie  (Bakurst)  Ashdown,  and  his 
parents  were  natives  of  the  same  part  of  England. 
The  senior  Ashdown  and  the  two  sons  who  have 
been  named  already,  came  in  184 1  to  the  United 
States,  and  at  first  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York, 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


where  they  remained  14  months.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  they  went  back  to  England  and  remained 
in  their  native  country  until  1850,  in  which  year  the 
two  sons  returned  to  America.  They  located  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  were  residents  there  for 
three  years.  Henry  started  in  January,  1854,  for 
California,  going  to  the  Pacific  coast  by  the  isthmus 
and  arriving  there  in  February  following.  Mr.  Ash- 
down  mined  for  gold  in  Tullama  two  years  and  four 
months.  In  June,  1856,  he  returned  to  the  Empire 
State,  and  in  August  of  the  same  year  he  came  to 
Illinois,  where  he  has  since  lived. 

Mr.  Ashdown  was  married  in  i860,  to  Nancy 
Day.  She  was  born  in  Hunterdon  Co.,  N.  J.,  Dec. 
10,  1837,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1850,  settling  in 
Canoe  Creek  Township.  She  had  one  child  by  a 
former  marriage,  named  Lucinda,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  James  McRoberts.  Four  children  were  born 
of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Ashdown,  of  whom  there  are 
three  living—  Edward,  May  and  Stella.  The  mother 
died  in  1870.  Mr.  Ashdown  was  a  second  time 
married  in  1872,  to  Hannah  Cain,  daughter  of  John 
and  Anna  Cain  and  widow  of  Rodney  McMurphy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashdown  have  one  child,  Annie.  Mrs. 
A.   is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Ashdown  is  considered  one  of 
the  best  in  the  township  of  Coe,  and  he  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  the  county, 
and  credited  with  having  the  best  buildings. 


M.    Sinner,,  son    of    Alanson  and 
T*jjE    Julia  (Webster)  Sinnet   (see  biography  of 


&  s1  fofflC  ran  cis 

Alanson  Sinnet),  was  born  in  Granville, 
Ohio,  May  22,  1834,  and  at  the  age  of  22  years 
came  to  Rock  Island.  The  college  estab- 
lished at  his  native  town  afforded  ample  op- 
portunity for  his  education,  and  the  duties  of  farm 
life  developed  his  muscles,  so  that  when  he  came  to 
a  new  country  he  was  not  lacking  in  the  essential 
prerequisites  to  success.  Soon  after  arriving  at  Rock 
Island,  he  embarked  in  the  ice  business  and  fol- 
lowed it  about  25  years.  In  company  with  his 
father  in  1857  he  bought  a  55-acre  tract  of  land  ad- 
jacent to  the  town  of  Rock  Island,  and  later  on  laid 
it  out  in  town  lots,  and  platted  it  as  "  Sinnet's  Addi- 
tion to  Rock  Island."  The  natural  appreciation 
in  the    value  of  this  property,  the  product  of  the 


stone  quarries  discovered  thereon,  and  the  immense 
profits  derived  from  the  ice  business,  has  enabled 
him  to  acquire  a  comfortable  competency. 

Mr.  Sinnet  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  push- 
ing to  completion  the  Moline  &  Rock  Island  Horse 
Railway,  large  interests  in  which  he  held  until  the 
year  1S82.  In  addition  to  valuable  real  estate  in 
Rock  Island,  consisting  of-  vacant  city  lots  and  tene- 
ment buildings,  he  owns  10,000  acres  of  fertile  prairie 
land  in  one  body  in  Nebraska.  He  was  chosen 
Alderman  from  his  Ward  in  1S83,  and  re-elected  in 
1885.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
ever  since  1880.,  and  at  this  writing  (June,  1885)  is 
the  presiding  officer  of  that  body. 

Mr.  Sinnet  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Peoria,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  with  Miss  Jennie  Mc- 
Laughlin, a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  has  had 
born  to  him  three  children,  namely:  Jesse  K., 
Julia  May  and  Mary  F.,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in 
February,  1873,  at  the  age  of  about  four  years.  Mr. 
Sinnet  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  with  mem- 
bership at  Moline,  and  Mrs.  Sinnet  is  a  member  of  the 
Central  Presbyterian  Church,  Rock  Island.  In  poli- 
tics he  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization 
of  the  party. 


=5 


r^r* 


— 


enry  H.  Parks,  a  resident  on  section  15, 
Edgington  Township,  was  born  in  Worth- 
ington,  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  July  25,  1818. 
His  father,  Jonathan  Parks,  was  born  in  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  of  New  England  an- 
cestry and  largely  of  English  descent,  and  he 
spelled  his  name  without  the  final  s,  Henry  H. 
Parks,  subject  of  this  notice,  being  the  individual  to 
add  the  sibilant  letter  to  his  name,  thereby  making 
it  "  Parks  "  instead  of  "  Park." 

Mr.  Parks,  of  this  notice,  came  West  in  183S,  set- 
tling in  Edgington  Township.  He  had  no  money, 
and  was  in  a  land  of  strangers,  with  nothing  but  a 
firm  determination  and  an  energetic  disposition  to 
aid  him  in  making  his  way  in  a  new  and  undevel- 
oped country.  After  three  years  of  hard  labor,  he 
concluded  that  to  procure  a  competency  it  was  bet- 
ter that  he  should  have  a  partner  to  share  his  joys 
and  sorrows,  his  successes  and  reverses,  and  conse- 
quently chose  Martha  Gingles,  with  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage.     She  was  born  in  Washington 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  28,  1821.  Her  parents  came  West 
and  first  settled  in  Mercer  County,  then  in  Rock 
Island  County. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parks  rented  land, 
which  he  cultivated  for  himself.  It  was  not  long 
before  they  had  accumulated  sufficient,  by  economy 
and  energetic  effort,  to  purchase  40  acres  of  land  in 
Edgington  Township,  and  on  which  they- located, 
and  threw  their  united  effort  into  the  task  of  its  cul- 
tivation and  improvement.  The  same  disposition 
and  effort  which  enabled  them  to  purchase  their  first 
40  acres  of  land  had  enabled  them  in  a  short  time 
to  purchase  160  acres  more,  which  at  that  time  cost 
the  insignificant  sum  of  $110,  but  which- to-day  is 
worth  $60  per  acre.  Mr.  Parks  has  100  acres  of 
land  at  the  present  writing  in  his  own  name,  having 
deeded  nearly  all  his  possessions  to  his  children. 

The  wife  and  mother,  who  had  labored  so  earn- 
estly with  her  husband  to  secure  a  competency,  and 
had  shared  with  him  the  trials  and  toils  of  a  pioneer 
life  in  a  new  and  undeveloped  country,  died  in  Rock 
Island  city,  while  temporarily  at  that  place  being 
treated  for  a  cancer  on  the  breast,  Dec.  28,  1876. 
She  had  borne  to  Mr.  Parks  four  children :  Martha 
A.,  born  Feb.  1,  1 841,  married  David  Montgomery; 
John  H.,  born  July  iS,  1843;  William  S.,  May  20, 
1845;  and  James  J.,  Jan.  10,  1S52.  All  are  mar- 
ried and  are  respected  and  enterprising  citizens  of 
the  county.  The  youngest  son  is  a  lawyer;  the 
others  are  engaged  in  farming. 

Religiously,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parks  were  for  some 
time  membeis  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Commissioner  of 
Highways  and  Overseer  of  the  Poor  in  his  town- 
ship. 


Joseph  L.  Allen,    farmer,  residing   on  sec- 
tion 32,  Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of  Es- 
:S3'"t" '*  bond    and    Rebecca    (Jones)    Allen,    who 
^■S^    were  natives  of  the  States  of  New   York   and 
~^C     Virginia    respectively.       His     father   came    to 
i      Mercer  County,  this   State,  about   1846,  and  a 
year  later  to  this  county,  settling  in  Rural  Township, 
where  he  married  and  reared  his  children.    His  mar- 
riage took  place  Dec.  31,  1848,  and  he  had  a  family 
of  eight   children,   namely:     Joseph   L.,.  James   E., 

-\©5^d« ^^ ^A<*>flll 


Eliza  E.,  Emet  S.,  Lillie  E.,  Mollie  A.,  Minnie  E. 
and  Leota  M. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Rural 
Township,  this  county,  Nov.  7,  1849;  was  reared  to 
manhood  here,  and  has  always  lived  in  this  town- 
ship, engaged  in  fanning.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  in  his  political  principles  is  a 
Democrat. 

He  was  married  in  Rock  Island,  Feb.  20,  1871,  to 
Ellen  Kelly,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Feb.  22, 
1850.  They  have  seven  children,  viz. :  May  R.  C, 
Katie  T.,  Edward  J.,  Bernard  A.,  Anna  G.,  Clara  C. 
and  Raymond  J. 


\\\  illiam 


fWjl?  illiam  S.  Mack,  Superintendent  of  the 
Moline  Public  Schools,  eldest  son  of  Will- 
iam W.  and  Sarah  J.  (Stuart)  Mack,  was 
born  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  April  23,  1854. 
His  father,  who  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of 
50  years,  was  for  24  successive  years  superin- 
tendent of  the  car  department  of  the  Connecticut  & 
Passumpsic  Railway,  and  was  for  the  last  two  years 
of  his  life  superintendent  of  the  packing  department 
of  the  Howe  Scale  Works,  at  Rutland,  Vt. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  improved  the  advan- 
tages offered  by  the  public-school  system  of  his  na- 
tive place,  until  about  16  years  of  age,  at  which 
time  he  came  West,  stopping  at  Aurora,  111.,  until 
the  fall  of  187S.  From  1870  to  1874  inclusive  he 
attended  the  High  and  Normal  Schools  of  Aurora, 
and,  having  graduated  thereat,  was  at  once  tendered 
the  Principalship  of  the  Brady  School,  a  position  he 
accepted  and  filled  with  the  highest  credit  to  him- 
self for  four  years. 

The  gentlemen  at  the  head  of  the  educational 
interests  of  Moline,  being  anxious  to  place  their 
many  excellent  schools  under  the  supervision  of 
some  one  not  only  possessing  the  necessary  qualifi- 
cations in  points  of  learning,  but  also  some  one  with 
known  executive  ability,  were  led  to  correspond  with 
Mr.  Mack.  The  proposition  made  to  Mr.  Mack  be- 
ing acceptable,  he  came  to  Moline  in  the  fall  of 
1878,  and  was  at  once  installed  in  the  position  he 
has  since  so  successfully  filled.  With  the  exception 
of  his  duty  as  Secretary  of  the  Public  Library  of 
Moline,  a  position   he   has   been  filling  since  July, 


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290 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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18S2,  the  schools  receive  his  entire  attention.  The 
progress  of  education  in  the  Moline  schools  for  the 
past  seven  years  reflects  much  credit  upon  the  good 
judgment  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  educational  bureau, 
and  attests  fully  the  eminent  fitness  of  their  super- 
intendent. 

Mr.  Mack  was  united  in  matrimony  at  Aurora, 
Tuly  3,  1877,  with  Miss  S.  Lottie  Allen,  a  daughter 
of  E.  R.  Allen,  Esq.,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
place,  and  she  has  borne  him  one  child,  named 
Marion  A. 


IjlBi  eorge  Pearsall,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Coe 
:1Mijlif  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Rock 
•Asp1  Island  County  since  1S54.  He  was  born 
^*^  in  Leeds  County,  District  of  Tohnstown,  Ont., 
fan.  16,  1825,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Jeremiah 
S.  and  Ann  (Chatterton)  Pearsall.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  his 
mother  was  born  in  Canada.  He  was  13  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  removed  to  the  Empire  State 
and  settled  in  St.  Lawrence  County.  The  family 
remained  there  two  years  and  then  made  another 
transfer,  to  Monroe  County,  in  the  same  State,  where 
the  son  resided  until  he  had  attained  to  the  age  and 
privileges  of  manhood.  He  was  12  years  old  when 
he  became  self-sustaining,  by  accepting  a  position 
in  a  cloth-mill,  where  he  worked  through  the  seasons 
of  spring  and  fall  and  attended  school  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year.  He  passed  his  time  alternately 
in  those  ways  until  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
then  obtained  a  situation  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods 
store  in  the  city  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  continued 
in  the  same  employment  until  he  was  27. 

In  November,  185  1,  he  started  for  California,  trav- 
eling to  the  land  of  gold  by  way  of  the  isthmus.  He 
went  to  Johnstown  and  engaged  in  mining  in  the 
region  known  as  the  Central  Mines,  and  later  he 
went  to  Coloma,  where  he  was  similarly  interested. 
He  went  to  other  portions  of  the  State,  and  altogether 
he  spent  three  years  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He  re- 
turned to  New  York,  reaching  that  city  at  a  date 
which  made  the  time  complete. 

He  remained  in  the  metropolis  three  weeks  and 
then  made  his  way  to  Rock  Island  County  and 
bought  320  acres  of  land,  which  is  situated  on  the 
southwest  of  section  24  and  the  northwest  of  section 


25,  on  which  no  improvements  had  been  made.  He 
built  a  house  on  section  24  and  gave  his  undivided 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  May,  1S77, 
while  he  was  prospecting  for  coal  on  his  farm,  when 
the  shaft  had  reached  a  depth  of  66  feet  from  the 
surface,  a  vein  of  mineral  water  was  struck  and  a 
stream  six  inches  in  diameter  ascended  with  great 
force,  rising  22  feet  in  the  air.  The  spring  is  located 
on  the  southeast  part  of  his  land,  which  lies  on  sec- 
tion 25.  The  flow  continuing,  the  proprietor,  in 
1879,  built  a  large  frame  house  on  his  farm  near  a 
beautiful  grove  situated  on  the  eastern  slope  of  a 
hill,  and  his  place  has  become  a  popular  resort  for 
people  who  wish  to  drink  and  bathe  in  the  water 
and  enjoy  a  quiet  country  retreat.  The  place  is 
known  as  "The  Fountain." 

Mr.  Pearsall  was  married  in  March,  1855,  to  Sarah 
J.  Pearsall,  and  they  have  sevjn  children, — George 
B.  and  Jerry  D.  (twins),  Minerva,  William  R.,  Fred, 
Luther  and  Jane.  Mrs.  Pearsall  is  the  daughter  of 
William  C.  and  Jane  (Elingham)  Pearsall.  She  and 
her  husband  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Port  Byron.  The  latter  is  a  Republican 
in  political  views. 

Jeremiah  S.  Pearsall  came  to  Rock  Island  County 
in  1856  and  bought  a  piece  of  land  of  his  son,  on 
which  he  was  for  some  time  resident  before  the 
death  of  his  wife.  After  that  event  he  went  to  Port 
Byron,  where  he  lived  two  years,  and  went  thence 
to  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  and  is  resident  at  the  home  of  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Edward  McDermott. 


-~& 


■Q~- 


ohn  W.  Warr,  publisher  of  the    Western 
'-  Plowman,   and  manager  of  the  advertising 

m 
w 


department  of  the  Moline  Plow  Company, 

also  Secretary  of  the  Moline  Building,  Savings 

and   Loan   Association.     The   subject   of  our 

\      sketch   was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Aug.  17, 

1844,  and   is  the  son   ->f  William   and   Mary  (Earl) 

Warr.      He  was  educated  at  Baldwin  University,  at 

Berea,  Ohio,  and  began  business  at  Painesville,  Ohio, 

in    1S63,  where    he    conducted    a   business    college 

about    five  years;   he    then    removed   to    Kentucky, 

where  he  devoted  ten  years  to  the  same  business. 

In  1878  he  came  to  Moline  and  was  employed  as 
cashier  of  the   Moline   Plow  Company  until    1S81, 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY, 


when  he  established  the  Western  Plowman,  a 
monthly  home  and  farm  paper,  20  pages  quarto, 
which  has  a  circulation  of  20,000  copies.  Mr.  Warr 
has  also  had  charge  of  the  extensive  advertising 
business  of  the  Moline  Plow  Company.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  has  served  two  terms  as  Alderman 
from  the  Fifth  Ward. 

Mr.  Warr  was  united  in  marriage  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  Jan.  17,  1866,  to  Miss  Harriet  M.  Smith, 
daughter  of  John  G.  Smith.  Mrs.  Warr  was  born 
at  Orange,  Ohio,  and  they  have  become  the  parents 
of  five  children,  namely  :  Bertha  M.,  Percy  B.,  Wil- 
bur E.,  Archie  J.  and  Eli  M. 

Mr.  Warr  was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war;  he  en- 
listed in  the  spring  of  1863,  as  a  member  of  Co.  G, 
87th  Ohio  Inf.  Four  months  after  entering  the  ser- 
vice he  was  captured  with  his  entire  regiment  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  He  accepted  a  parole  with  his 
comrades  and  was  released  under  promise  not  to 
serve  again  until  exchanged.  As  he  was  not  ex- 
changed during  his  term  of  enlistment,  he  did  not 
re-enter  the  service. 


1.'° 

feaniel  Bopes,  a  farmer  of  Edgington  Town- 


:#,§ 


j-lP'&sr,    ship,  and,  although  not  born  in  the  county 

r,j,  ji  v*  ;r)~~i*^*(j  * 

•'HlijV-  ^  was  brought  here  when  quite  young,  and 
yjt*  reared,  when  there  were  very  few  pioneers 
J{>  scattered  over  Northern  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  April  2,  1S32.  His 
father,  George  Bopes,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
where  his  parents  were  also  born.  He  went  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Bocher, 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  State  and  of  German  an- 
cestry. She  was  the  mother  of  six  children,  our  sub- 
ject being  the  youngest.  His  father  came  West  as 
early  as  1836,  and  located  an  unimproved  farm  in 
Edgington  Township.  He  was  not  spared  to  see  the 
wonderful  transformation  that  has  taken  place  in 
this  country.  He  died  in  1838,  and  was  the  second 
person  interested  in  the  Dunlap  Grove  burying- 
ground.  The  facilities  for  marking  the  resting  place 
of  the  departed  of  that  early  day  were  very  limited, 
and  the  changes  of  time  are  such  that,  as  with 
Moses,  it  can  be  said  of  the  elder  Bopes,  "  his  sepul- 
cher  is  not  known  to  this  day." 

About  three  years  after  the  death  of  his  father,  his 


mother  was  again  married,  to  Jesse  Willets,  formerly 
of  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  where  he  was  one  of  the  old 
residents,  and  who  is  a  member  of  a  very  prominent 
family  in  that  county.  His  mother  did  not  survive  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  a  pioneer  life  very  long, 
for  when  our  subject  was  about  1 1  years  old  she  died. 
Daniel  afterwards  lived  in  this  county,  working  as  a 
general  laborer  for  some  time.  In  1854,  Jan.  26,  he 
was  married,  in  Edgington,  to  Miss  Lydia  A.  Lewis. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio,  March  20,  1830,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Nathan  and  Catherine  Weaver,  formerly 
from  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  a  molder  in  the 
Pennsylvania  iron  furnaces.  Mrs.  B.  was  14  years 
of  age  when  her  father  came  West,  and  located  on  a 
farm  in  Edgington  Township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bopes  have  been  born  eight  children,  two  of  whom 
are  deceased.  The  following  is  the  record  of  their 
family :  Ketter  L.  is  married  and  resides  on  a  farm 
in  Edington  Tp. ;  Jessie  V.  married  Charles  Laflin 
and  resides  in  the  Indian  Territory;  Thomas  was 
married  to  Miss  Laura  Neff,  and  they  reside  in  An- 
dalusia Township,  this  county;  Clella  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Laflin ;  Isaac  N.  resides  at  home ;  Sallie  is  de- 
ceased; and  Nellie  resides  at  home. 

After  marriage  Mr.  B.  settled  on  a  farm  in  Buffalo 
Prairie  Township,  this  county,  and  in  1861  he  pur- 
chased 250  acres  of  land  on  section  6,  of  Edgington 
Township,  where  he  now  lives.  This  was  almost  all 
wild  land  at  that  time,  being  but  slightly  improved. 
He  yet  owns  the  whole  estate,  and  has  it  under  ex- 
cellent improvement.  He  has  a  good,  large  residence, 
and  fine  farm  buildings.  On  religious  subjects  he  is 
a  free-thinker.  Take  him  all  in  all,  he  is  a  man  of 
large  parts  and  deep  penetration. 


orenzo  E.  Fish  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  of  Moline,  111.,  since 
the  year  1883,  and  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  1885  has  been  serving  his 
second  term  as  its  Secretary.  His  first  iden- 
tity with  the  educational  institutions  of  this 
place  was  as  Janitor  of  the  Public  Schools,  a  position 
he  held  for  six  years.  That  his  progress,  step  by 
step,  from  the  humblest  walks  of  life  into  positions 
of  trust  and  honor  has  been  the  result  of  individual 
merit  upon  his  own  part,  will  be  seen  by  a  perusal  of 
this  brief  history  of  his  life. 


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■3^r       Qy^DH'&'Dtlf^^H ^^- 


294 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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1> 


Mr.  Fish,  eldest  son  in  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren of  Rev.  Erasmus  D.  and  Cynthia  (Russell) 
Fish,  of  Massachusetts,  was  born  in  Franklin  Coun- 
ty, that  State,  Jan.  21,  1837.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  in  the  Revolutionary  War;  and  a  brother, 
Rev.  R.  D.  Fish,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  for  the 
Union  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Vicksburg.  His 
father  would  have  been  a  soldier,  as  he  was  a  very 
patriotic  and  public-spirited  man,  but  his  health 
would  not  permit.  At  the  schools  of  his  native  place, 
Lorenzo  acquired  the  rudiments  of  an  English  edu- 
cation, which  was  supplemented  by  a  course  at  a 
commercial  college.  At  the  age  of  22,  he  accepted 
employment  in  a  minor  official  capacity  in  a  refor- 
matory school  in  New  York  city,  a  position  he  held 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  American  Rebellion.  Dec.  6> 
1861,  he  enrolled  in  the  First  N.  Y.  Vol.  Eng'rs  and 
went  immediately  to  the  front.  His  first  furlough 
was  dated  in  1863,  and  indorsed  in  red  ink,  "Com- 
plimentary on  account  of  good  conduct  in  the  field." 
In  February,  1S64,  he  veteranized,  and  soon  after- 
ward took  his  second  furlough  home.  It  was  a  long 
distance  from  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  to  Rowe,  Mass.,  but 
as  the  records  disclose  that  Lorenzo  E.  Fish  was 
married  at  the  latter  place,  April  6,  1864,  to  Miss 
Lucy  A.  Starr,  it  may  be  reasonably  presumed  that  a 
very  good  line  of  communication  had  been  estab- 
lished between  the  two  points,  and  also  that  the 
"  Veteran  "  had  not  allowed  much  grass  to  grow  under 
his  feet. 

In  June,  1864,  he  was  appointed  a  Hospital  Stew- 
ard of  the  United  States  Army  and  afterwards  was 
assigned  to  the  32d  United  States  (colored)  Infantry. 
A  year  later  he  was  commissioned  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, with  which  rank  he  was  mustered  out  at  Phila- 
delphia, Aug.  29,  1865.  He  brought  his  family  to 
Moline  in  November,  1867,  and  here  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  has  served  the  city  eight  years  as  Con- 
stable, and  four  years  as  Marshal.  Was  President 
of  the  Board  of  Associated  Charities  of  Moline,  in 
1884,  and  in  18S5  is  their  Secretary  and  manager. 
He  is  a  Deacon  and  Treasurer  of  the  Baptist  Church 
(to  which  his  wife  and  two  daughters  also  belong), 
and  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  State  Board  of  Missions,  and  State 
Sabbath-school  Executive  Committee.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. ;  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,    of  which    he   is    a   member   of  the  head 


finance  committee;  and  he  is  also  Adjutant  of  Gra- 
ham  Post,  No.  312,  G.  A.  R. 

Mr.  Fish  is  at  present  engaged  in  the  fire,  life 
and  accident  insurance  business  in  Rock  Island 
County;  office  in  Moline.  Eudora,  his  daughter, 
now  18  years  old,  assists  him  in  his  office. 

The  names  of  his  children  are,  Eudora,  Darwin  S., 
Christina,  Richard  E.,  Herbert  C,  Lorenzo  E.,  and 
Cynthia  L.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

As  Mr.  Fish  has  exerted  a  good  influence  and  a 
liberal  beneficence  through  so  many  and  varied  chan- 
nels, and  has  thus  done  far  more  good  by  his  "  right 
hand  "  than  his  "  left  hand  "  knows  anything  of,  it  is 
no  more  than  fit  and  proper  that  a  portrait  of  his 
facial  features  should  accompany  the  foregoing  brief 
biographical  outline. 


||p(|'(|!  lexander  Ashdown,  of  Canoe  ( 'reek  Tom  11- 
ship,  is  a  citizen  of  this  country  by  adop- 
83  tion.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial  and 
reliable  men  of  the  county,  and  he  has  the 
double  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  whatever 
of  success  he  has  won  has  been  the  result  of 
his  own  efforts,  aided  only  by  his  hands  that  were 
willing  to  labor,  showing  that  the  firm  health  which 
most  of  humanity  live  to  realize  is  the  best  possible 
capital  on  which  to  found  a  career  of  usefulness. 

He  was  born  in  the  County  of  Kent,  England, 
April  21,  1824,  and  is  the  son  of  Edward  and  Nancy 
Ashdown.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native 
land,  on  the  farm  on  which  his  ancestors  had  labored 
for  years  before  him,  and  in  which  their  children 
could  only  claim  the  right  to  labor  as  fruitlessly  as 
their  sires.  He  also  worked  for  a  time  as  a  brick- 
layer, and  he  continued  his  residence  there  until 
1857.  He  left  the  city  of  London  June  20,  taking 
passage  on  a  sailing  vessel,  the  "  James  R.  Keeler," 
and  he  landed  at  the  port  of  New  York  after  a  pass- 
age of  45  days. 

Mr.  Ashdown  came  at  once  to  Rock  Island  County 
and  located  in  Canoe  Creek  Township.  He  rented 
various  tracts  of  land  for  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  then  bought  a  farm  on  section  8.  A  small 
frame  house  had  been  built  on  it  and  about  70  acres 
broken.  The  place  presents  a  greatly  improved  ap- 
pearance, as  the  proprietor  has  erected  a  good  set  of 
buildings   and    planted  a    considerable    number  of 


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ROCK  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


2  9s 


fruit-trees.  In  addition  to  his  moneyless  condition 
on  his  arrival  in  the  township,  he  was  $75  in  debt, 
and  he  often  contrasts  his  situation  then  with  that  of 
the  present. 

He  was  married  in  1850  to  Charlotte  Martin.  She 
is  a  native  of  Kentshire  hills,  in  old  England,  where 
she  was  born  May  22,  1831.  They  have  eight  chil- 
dren living:  George  lives  in  Wyoming  Territory, lo- 
cated in  Sun  Dance,  Crook  Co.,  Wyoming;  Eliza  is 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Robinson,  and  they  live  in  the 
township  of  Coe;  Henry  is  a  resident  of  Hillsdale; 
Alfred  is  a  resident  of  the  same  place;  Fannie  mar- 
ried William  G.  McConnell,  and  they  live  in  the 
same  township  as  the  parents ;  Clara,  Katie  and 
Emma  are  names  of  the  other  children.  Politically, 
Mr.  A.  is  a  Democrat. 


JjLol.   William  Clendenin,   dealer  m    drugs 

||/  and  stationery,  at   Moline,  Colonel  of  the 

l/?"*"^    Sixth  111.  Nat.  Guards,  and  Commander  of 


Graham   Post,  No.  312,  Grand    Army  of  the 
Republic,   was   born   in    Lyndon,  Whiteside 
Co.,  111.,  April  12,  1845.     His  parents,  Robert 
i>  G.  and  Hannah  (Clark)  Clendenin,  natives  of  Penn- 

f|  sylvania  and  New  York,  and  probably  of  Scotch-Irish 
and  German  extraction  respectively,  reared  at  that 
place  three  sons,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
itice  being  second  in  the  order  of  their  birth.  In  1859 
the  family  removed  to  Morrison,  111.,  where  Mr. 
Clendenin  made  his  home  until  1873.  At  the  public 
\i  schools  of  his  native  State,  he  received  a  fair  Eng- 
|  lish  education,  which  formed  but  the  nucleus  of  the 
wide  range  of  his  learning  and  information  at  the 
time  of  which  we  write. 

In  April,  1864,  he  enrolled  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States  as  First  Sergeant  of  Co.  B,  140th  111. 
Inf.,  and  served  to  the  expiration  of  his  term,  some- 
thing over  five  months,  "and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  rank  of  Sergeant-Major.  Returning  from  the 
army,  he  entered  the  banking  house  of  Smith  &  Co., 
afterwards  the  First  National  Bank  of  Morrison,  111., 
as  clerk,  which  position  he  abandoned  in  February, 
1865,  to  accept  the  Second  Lieutenancy  of  Co.  A, 
108th  United  States  (Colored)  Infantry.  This  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Vicksburg, 
in  March,  1866,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 


ft 


Mr.  Clendenin  having  been  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
First  Lieutenant.  Returning  again  to  Morrison,  he 
clerked  in  S.  T.  Harding's  drug-store  for  one  year, 
when,  in  company  with  A.  H.  Martin,  he  bought  Mr. 
Harding  out,  and  conducted  the  business  about  seven 
years.  In  1873  he  came  to  Moline,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  drug  trade. 

Col.  Clendenin  has  been  twice  married ;  first  at 
Morrison,  111.,  in  1867,  to  Miss  Rachel  E.  Gridley, 
who  died  Oct.  15,  1 877,  leaving  three  children  :  Rob- 
ert G.,  Frank  J.  and  Mabel  H.;  and  second,  in  May, 
1879,  also  at  Morrison,  to  Mrs.  Laura  E.  Mayo.  The 
only  child  born  to  this  union,  Ward  O.,  died  at  the 
early  age  of  one  year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  deservedly  one  of  the 
most  popular  men  of  Moline.  He  was  first  called  to 
the  Illinois  National  Guards  in  1877  as  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, and  between  that  time  and  May  17,  1S82, 
when  he  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  Sixth 
Regiment,  he  held  every  intermediate  commission  in 
the  line.  He  was  elected  Commander  of  Graham 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Jan.  1,  1885.  He  votes  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  from  principle,  and,  in  company  with  his 
wife,  attends  the  Congregational  Church  as  a  relig- 
ious duty. 


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lames  Edgington,  one  of  the  reliable  citi- 
f  zens  and  energetic  farmers  of  Edgington 
*  Township,  is  a  resident  on  section  32  of 
He  is  the  oldest  born  citizen 
T|£  of  Rock  Island  County,  south  of  Rock  River, 
\  his  birth  having  taken  place  March  20,  1835. 
He  is  the  son  of  John  Edgington,  a  native  of  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  July  4,  18 10. 
His  mother,  nee  Susan  Crabs,  was  also  a  native  of 
Jefferson  County,  in  which  county  she  was  married, 
and  shortly  afterwards  emigrated  to  this  State,  set- 
tling in  Edgington  Precinct,  which,  when  divided 
into  townships,  embraced  what  is  now  Buffalo  Prai- 
rie. He  helped  make  up  the  first  jury  in  the 
County  Court,  and  they  are  both  yet  living  in 
Buffalo  Prairie  Township. 

James  Edgington,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, is  the  oldest  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of 
nine  children, — three  sons  and  six  daughters.  One 
son  and  two  daughters  are  deceased.  He  was 
educated    in    this    county,  and    at    Geneseo,  Henry 

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^OCVT  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


County,  and  was  employed  on  his  father's  farm 
until  the  date  of  his  marriage.  That  event  occurred 
in  Coe  Township,  this  county,  April  4,  1861,  and 
the  lady  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Lucy  Schriver,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Feb.  10,  1834,  and  was 
young  when  her  parents  came  to  this  county.  Her 
father  was  a  cabinet-maker,  and  she  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  her  native  State,  residing  at 
home  until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Edgington.  She 
is  the  mother  of  two  children  by  Mr.  Edgington,  one 
of  whom  is  deceased.  The  surviving  child,  Lewis 
N.,  was  bom  April  26,  1867,  reared  at  home  and 
educated  in  the  schools  here  and  at  Hopkinton, 
Iowa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edgington,  after  marriage,  settled 
on  a  farm  of  200  acres,  which  Mr.  E.  had  previously 
purchased,  and  on  which  they  have  constantly  re- 
sided until  the  present  time.  They  have  a  good 
residence  on  their  farm,  together  with  substantial 
outbuildings,  and  the  land  is  in  an  advanced  state 
of  cultivation.  Mr.  Edgington  is  one  of  the  ener- 
getic and  progressive  farmers  of  this  township,  and 
his  prosperity  is  due  to  his  own  individual  effort, 
pluck  and  perseverance,  combined  with  the  help  of 
his  wife.  She  is  an  active  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Edgington  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  tenets  of  the  Democratic  party.  He 
has  held  the  position  of  School  Director  in  his  town- 
ship for  some  15  years. 


-«3- 


-e~>- 


1876. 


eorge  B.  Hull,  senior  partner  of  Hull  Bros., 
1,630  Third  Avenue,  Moline,  merchants, 
dealers  in  general  merchandise  and  car- 
pets. This  house  was  established  in  1868  by 
H.  J.  Hull.  The  present  partnership,  existing 
under  the  name  of  Hull  Bros.,  was  formed  in 
This  is  one  of  the  leading  mercantile  houses 
of  Moline,  and  carries  an  average  stock  of  $30,000 
value. 

George  B.  Hull,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Conn.,  in  June, 
1837,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  E.  T.  (Jennings) 
Hull.  He  removed  to  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  child- 
hood, and  in  1850  to  La  Grange  Co.,  Ind.  He  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  business   at  Lima,  Ind.,   14 


years,  and  came  from  Lima  to  Moline  in  1876,  when 
he  formed  the  existing  partnership  with  his  brother, 
H.J. 

Mr.  G.  B.  Hull  formed  his  matrimonial  union  at 
Lima,  Ind.,  in  January,  1863,  with  Miss  Lucy  Ross- 
man,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  namely: 
Jennie  R.  and  Mattie  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hull  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  in 
political  sentiment  Mr.  Hull  is  a  Republican. 


-5 ^^gf 


lathaniel  Dorrance,  a  substantial  citizen  of 
Port  Byron,  was  born  July  15,  1817,  in 
"*  Plainfield,  Windham  Co.,  Conn.  The 
family  on  the  paternal  side  are  of  Irish  ances- 
try, and  first  settled  in  Rhode  Island  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  War.  Alexander  Dorrance, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  married  Nancy  Cole,  a  native  of  Connecticut. 
They  settled  on  a  farm,  where  the  father  died  when 
the  son  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  the  latter  lived  on 
the  farm  with  his  mother  two  years  after  that  event. 
His  mother  then  rented  the  farm,  on  which  was  a 
mortgage,  and  went  to  Willimantic,  where  the  chil- 
dren were  employed  in  the  cotton  mills,  and  they 
earned  sufficient  money  to  liquidate  the  indebtedness 
on  the  homestead  property. 

At  the  age  of  17,  Mr.  Dorrance  went  to  work  for  a 
farmer  near  Willimantic,  earning  the  means  to  go  to 
Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.  On  his  arrival  there  he 
obtained  employment  on  a  farm  by  the  month,  and 
subsequently  engaged  in  lumbering,  in  which  voca- 
tion he  received  a  monthly  remuneration  of  $io, 
which  was  afterwards  raised  to  $13,  through  his  un- 
remitting efforts  in  the  interests  of  his  employer.  He 
remained  in  Chautauqua  County  20  months,  and  in 
the  early  spring  of  1837  turned  his  face  Westward 
to  secure  for  himself  the  benefits  of  the  boundless  re- 
sources foreshadowed  in  the.  glowing  reports  from 
that  region.  He  made  the  journey  to  the  West  by 
the  Allegheny,  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  pro- 
ceeding up  the  Illinois  to  the  mouth  of  Spoon  River, 
whence  he  journeyed  on  foot  to  Port  Byron,  a  dis- 
tance of  more  than  a  hundred  miles.  His  first  job 
was  with  a  farmer,  planting  corn.  He  then  began  to 
operate  as  a  contractor,  and  his  first  engagement  in 
that  capacity  was  the  building  of  a  cellar  under  the 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


'  Port  Byron  Hotel.  He  continued  his  operations  in 
';  that  line  of  business  until  1848,  when,  in  company 
.  with  T.  C.  Temple,  he  built  a  steam  saw-mill,  and 
embarked  in  the  lumber  trade.  They  continued 
their  interests  as  lumbermen  until  the  fall  of  1850, 
when  they  extended  the  capacity  of  their  es- 
tablishment and  attached  the  apparatus  of  a  grist- 
mill. These  were  the  first  saw  and  grist  mills  at 
Port  Byron. 

Mr.  Dorrance  sold  his  interests  in  the  spring  of 
1852,  preparatory  to  a  change  of  base.  On  the  29th 
of  March,  of  that  year,  with  a  company  of  eight  and 
an  equipment  of  five  yoke  of  oxen,  four  horses  and 
three  wagons,  he  started  for  Oregon,  landing  there 
Aug.  20,  at  a  point  30  miles  from  Salem.  From 
there  he  went  south  150  miles,  to  Jacksonville,  where 
they  devoted  themselves  vigorously  to  milling.  The 
snows  and  severities  of  winter  set  in  at  an  earlier 
•.  date  than  was  anticipated,  and  the  depleted  condi- 
tion of  their  stores  necessitated  their  retreat  from  the 
mines,  where  50  pounds  of  flour  commanded  $75 
and  salt  sold  for  $5  per  pound.  Mr.  Dorrance  in- 
tended to  proceed  homeward,  but  no  steamer  was 
ready  to  leave,  and  he  obtained  employment  for 
about  two  weeks,  chopping  wood  at  a  dollar  a  day. 
The  profits  of  this  enterprise  did  not  add  material  to 
his  surplus  capital,  as  he  paid  one  dollar  for  his 
board.  At  the  end  of  two  weeks  he  obtained  a  situ- 
ation in  which  he  received  a  compensation  of  $t  a 
day  and  his  board,  and  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
that  place  for  a  month.  He  was  then  employed  to 
nurse  a  sick  man  and  passed  a  month  in  that  posi- 
tion, earning  $5  daily.  He  was  engaged  in  the  same 
capacity  two  weeks  subsequently,  receiving  a  daily 
remuneration  of  $10.  His  next  enterprise  was  in 
the  vocation  of  a  contractor,  to  build  a  highway 
through  a  piece  of  timber,  and  he  so  managed  his  re- 
lations that  he  earned  an  average  of  nearly  $20  per 
day. 

In    1854  he  set  out  on  his  return  to  Port  Byron, 
coming  by  way  of  the  water  route  via  the  isthmus   to 
the  port  of  New  York.     He  arrived  at  Port  Byron  in 
December  of  that  year,  where  he  established  a  per- 
:    manent  citizenship.     He  has  since  devoted  his  abili- 
ties to  the  management  of  his  private  business.     He 
JA?    is  the  most  extensive  owner  of  real  estate  at  Port 
Byron,  and  has  built  and  owns  a  number  of  business 
■    blocks  and  dwellings  at  that  place,  some  of  which 


6 


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have  come  into  his  possession  by  purchase.  He  is 
also  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  land,  which  comprises 
tracts  of  farming,  timber  and  pasture  land,  the  larger 
part  being  in  Coe  Township. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Dorrance  married  Harriet,  widow  of 
George  S.  Morse  and  daughter  of  John  Dodge. 
Hattie,  their  only  child,  born  Oct.  29,  1857,  married 
H.  C.  Stevens  and  removed  to  Colorado.  She  died 
Nov.  19,  1883,  after  giving  birth  to  two  children,  one 
of  whom  is  now  deceased.  The  name  of  the  one 
living  is  Clarence  Stevens,  an  inmate  of  his  grand- 
father's home. 

Mrs.  Dorrance  had  five  children  by  her  former 
marriage,  all  living  but  one.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dorrance  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
He  is  Republican  in  politics,  having  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  in  i86t.  He  joined  the 
Republican  party  in  1856,  and  since  that  time  has 
continued  steadfast  in  his  early  political  principles. 

Mr.  Dorrance  is  among  the  pioneers  of  Rock 
Island  County.  He  has  lived  here  continuously 
since  May,  1837,  except  the  short  time  he  was  ab- 
sent on  the  Pai  ific  coast. 

His  father-in-law,  John  Dodge,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  Mrs.  Dorrance  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1815.  She  came  West  with  her  uncle,  Silas 
Marshall,  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and  settled  in  Rock 
Island  County,  in  Port  Byron,  where  she  has  since 
resided.  Her  uncle  was  the  first  landlord  of  the 
"Port  Byron  Hotel." 


-<~3- 


-G— 


ouis  P.  Youngren,  of  the  Moline  Cabinet- 
Organ  Company,  and  a  resident  of  that 
city,  was  born  in  Sweden,  Aug.  10,  1832, 
and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Carrie  Youngren. 
Mr.  Youngren  served  a  regular  apprenticeship 
to  the  painter  and  grainer's  trade  in  his  native 
country,  where  he  continued  to  follow  that  occupa- 
tion until  1864.  At  this  period  in  his  life's  history 
he  realized  that  better  inducements  were  offered  in 
the  United  States  for  the  procuring  of  a  competency 
than  in  his  native  land,  and  concluded  to  emigrate, 
which  he  did,  landing  at  Quebec,  Canada.  Soon 
afterwards  he  came  to  Chicago,  via  the  Great  Lakes 
and  railway.  Going  from  the  latter  place  to  Indiana, 
he  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  time,  then  returned  to 

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7?OCZ  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


this  State,  and  spent  some  time  at  Galesburg  and 
Geneseo.  In  1865,  Mr.  Youngren  came  to  Moline 
and  Rock  Island.  He  engaged  with  the  Buford  & 
Co.  Plow  Manufactory  of  Rock  Island.  A  few 
months  later  he  became  an  employe  of  Deere  &  Co.'s 
manufactory  at  Moline,  in  the  painting  department, 
and  continued  with  that  company  from  1866  to  1881, 
during  which  time,  except  a  few  years,  he  was 
foreman  of  the  paint  department.  In  i88r  Mr. 
Youngren  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Moline  Cab- 
inet-Organ Company,  and  assumed  charge  of  the 
finishing  department  of  those  works,  which  position 
he  has  filled  continuously  since.  Mr.  Youngren  is  a 
thorough  master  of  his  business,  as  the  fine  finish  of 
the  large  number  of  organs  which  have  passed 
through  his  hands  testify. 

Mr.  Youngren  was  united  in  marriage  Nov.  1, 
1868,  at  Moline,  this  county,  with  Miss  Sophia  Peter- 
son, the  accomplished  daughter  of  Andrew  Peterson. 
Mrs.  Youngren  was  born  in  Sweden,  and  emigrated 
to  the  land  of  possibilities  with  her  parents  when  she 
was  three  years  of  age.  Seven  children  have  been 
born  of  their  union,  three  boys  and  four  girls,  six  of 
whom  survive.  The  record  is  as  follows  :  Berdena 
C,  born  Feb.  24,  1870;  Franz  O.,  Nov.  6,  1872; 
Alben  O.,  Nov.  16,  1874;  Hilda  J.,  May  13,  1877; 
Hannah  S.,  Nov.  26,  1879;  Anna  L.,  Jan.  22,  1882, 
and  died  in  childhood  ;  Reuben  L.,  born  Oct.  24, 
r884. 

Religiously,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Youngren  are  both 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  Mr. 
Youngren  has  always  voted  with  the  Republican 
since  obtaining  citizenship  in  1869. 


^-harles  L.  Gould,  residing  on  section  32, 
Edgington  Township,  and  engaged  in 
i\fef' v  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  was 
born  Jan.  14,  1854,  in  Indiana.  He  was  but 
r/tf  a  small  child  when  his  parents  emigrated  to 
(  Iowa,  settling  at  Muscatine,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  His  father  died  when  he  was 
eight  years  of  age,  and  necessarily  many  hardships 
fell  to  his  lot.  Shortly  after  this  sad  event  he  was 
taken  to  rear  by  Jacob  Caster,  of  Muscatine,  who 
kept  him  until  he  was  14  years  of  age.  From  that 
time  on  he  has  earned  his  own  living;  and,  though 


ISK@*3®*- 


enjoying  but  limited  advantages,  has  proven  his 
ability  as  a  man  of  business  by  the  success  which 
has  attended  his  efforts. 

Our  subject  was  married  Feb.  19,  1879,  in  Edging- 
ton  Township,  to  Miss  Sophia  Titterington.  Mrs. 
G.  was  born  and  reared  in  this  township,  and  her 
parents,  who  are  well-known  pioneers  here,  are  still 
living,  in  this  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  have 
been  blest  with  three  children — Moses  R.,  Charles 
L.  and  Emma  M  After  Mr.  Gould's  marriage  he 
lived  for  a  year  on  a  farm  in  Iowa ;  he  then  came  to 
Edgington  Township,  and  purchased  a  farm  of  220 
acres  on  section  32,  all  of  which  is  improved  and 
under  excellent  cultivation.  Mrs.  Gould  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  politically  Mr. 
Gould  is  a  sound  Republican. 


-(&• — 


ffi^m^. 


uther  H.  Barker,  manufacturer  of  Bean's 
Celebrated  Double-Acting  Stone  Force 
Pump,  No.  387,  Eleventh  Street,  Moline, 
established  his  present  business  in  1874. 
He  was  born  in  Mori  ah,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  29,  1822,  and  is  the  son  of  Gardner  and 
Harriet  L.  (Lyon)  Barker.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm  until  he  attained  the  age  of  20,  when  he  went 
to  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  woolen  goods,  with  an  older  brother. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Essex  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Sept.  19,  1844,  with  Miss  Martha  Cook.  She 
was  born  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Barker  and  his 
brother  were  burned  out  at  Pittsfield,  but  rebuilt  and 
continued  the  business ;  but  shortly  after  the  fire  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  sold  out  and  returned  to  his 
old  home  in  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barker  were 
the  parents  of  two  children  :  Maria  was  the  wife  of 
C.  P.  Curtis,  of  Moline,  and  died  in  October,  1883. 
Charles  was  for  many  years  a  forwarding  freight 
agent  at  Omaha,  but  mysteriously  disappeared  from 
the  Harper  House,  of  Rock  Island,  in  July,  1875; 
and,  although  earnest  efforts  have  been  made  by  his 
friends  to  find  him,  his  fate  is  still  a  mystery.  The 
closest  scrutiny  of  the  circumstances  reveal  no  cause 
for  his  disappearance.  Mrs.  Barker  died  in  New 
York,  Dec.  26,  1849. 

Mr.  Barker  went  to  California  during  the  gold  ex- 
via  New  York   and  the  Isthmus. 


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where  he  spent  one  year  and  a  half,  and  returned  to 
the  States  overland,  via  the  city  of  Mexico  and  New 
Orleans.  He  came  to  Illinois  and  made  his  home  in 
Peoria  one  year.  He  then  returned  to  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  and  engaged  ir  buying  wool,  which  business 
he  pursued  in  Massachusetts,  Vermont  and  New 
York. 

He  was  again  married  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,Nov. 
9,  iS54,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Allen,  daughter  of  C.  C. 
Allen.  She  was  born  at  Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  and  she 
and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Luther  D.,  now  an  employe  of  the  Chicago,  Rock 
Island  &  Pacific  Railway;  and  the  daughter,  Sarah 
L.,  is  a  teacher  in  the  city  schools.  Immediately 
after  his  last  marriage  (December,  1854)  Mr.  Barker 
removed  to  Peoria,  II!.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade  till  May  20,  1855,  when  he  came  to  Mo- 
line,  and  was  appointed  agent  at  this  place  for  the 
Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway,  and  of  all 
lines  interested  over  that  route.  He  was  also  ap- 
pointed express  agent  for  all  express  companies 
doing  business  here.  He  held  his  position  as  station 
and  express  agent  for  20  years,  or  until  1875,  "'hen 
he  resigned  it  to  engage  in  the  pump  business,  which 
lie  has  carried  on  successfully  to  this  date.  Mr. 
Barker  is  not  pushing  the  pump  trade,  as  his  time  is 
partially  occupied  in  the  care  of  his  tenement  houses 
and  business  blocks,  which  he  has  leased.  He  owns 
the  State  right  for  the  Bean  patent  force  pump,  and 
has  agencies  which  he  supplies  in  various  counties. 
Mr.  Barker  was  one  of  the  city  "fathers"  in  an  early 
day,  and  in  religious  views  is  liberal.  In  political 
sentiment  he  is  a  staunch  Democrat. 


'   I  f-Si  ;.  harles   Tittering  ton   is   a   ge 

,;  iJ^fh'    and     stock-raiser,     section    5, 

f'ii'J/^     Township.     Although  Mr.  T:  is  a  native 


neral    farmer 
7„  Edgington 


pfe  of  England,  he  was  brought  to  this  country 
,-^  by  his  father  when  quite  young,  and  was 
\  reared  and  educated  here.  His  father,  Thomas 
Titterington,  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  by  occupation  a  weaver.  He  was  there  married 
to  Mary  Greenwood,  who  died  when*  Charles  was 
but  one  year  old,  he  being  the  youngest  of  a  family 


of  seven  children.  After  the  death  of  his  mother, 
his  father,  with  the  children,  six  of  whom  were  liv- 
ing, came  to  America  and  settled  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio, 
on  a  farm,  where  he  remained  for  many  years,  and 
where  Charles  lived  until  he  was  19  years  of  age. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  Eng.,  Jan.  2, 
i8r4,  and,  as  above  stated,  was  brought  to  this 
country  by  his  father,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Ohio.  In  1835,  he  came  to  what  is  now  Will  Co.,  111., 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  on  shares  for  two  years. 
Soon  after  his  removal  to  that  county,  his  brother 
Moses  joined  him  there  and  remained  a  few  months. 
The  two  brothers  came  to  Rock  Island  County  and 
bought  240  acres  of  land  in  Edgington  Township, 
the  purchase  being  completed  in  March,  1835.  The 
country  at  that  time  was  undeveloped,  and  Mr.  T. 
began  early  the  following  spring  to  break  the  sod. 
He  afterwards  secured  considerable  property  in  this 
county,  amounting  to  830  acres  altogether,  part  of 
which  was  in  Buffalo  Prairie  Township.  He  after- 
wards sold  part  of  his  estate  and  now  owns  354 
acres,  most  of  which  is  improved  and  all  under 
fence,  except  54  acres  of  timber.  In  1870  he  built 
one  of  the  most  commodious  and  desirable  houses 
in  the  township.  He  raises,  buys  and  feeds,  and 
sells  large  herds  of  stock;  indeed,  he  is  one  of  the 
large  and  prominent  stock-dealers  in  the  county. 

In  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  on  Dec.  20,  1838,  Mr. 
Titterington  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sophie  Eberhardt,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Nancy 
(Kerwood)  Eberhardt.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Maryland  and  New  Jersey  respectively,  and  were  of 
New  England  parentage,  and  the  father  of  German 
descent.  By  occupation  he  was  a  glass-blower; 
both  parents  died  in  this  township,  the  father  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  T.,  in  December,  1878, 
and  the  mother  on  the  old  homestead,  in  1861.  Mrs. 
Titterington  was  bom  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  June  28, 
1820.  She  came  West  with  her  parents  in  1835,  af- 
ter having  spent  some  years  in  New  York,  near 
Geneva.  Her  parents  settled  in  Edgington  Town- 
ship, becoming  pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  State. 
She  is  the  mother  of  eight  children,  who  are  widely 
separated,  being  in  five  different  States.  They  are 
all  married,  and  three,  Charles,  Maria  and  Frederick, 
live  in  Illinois;  David  and  Thomas  reside  in  Iowa; 
Milton  lives  in  Douglas  Co.,  Kan,;  Emma  resides 
in  Gage  Co.,  Neb.;  Anna  lives  in  Minnesota,  being 


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ROCK  ISLAXD   COUXTY. 


the  wife  of  J.  E.  Benjamin;  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
Ernest  O.  Kretsinger,  Judge  of  Gage  Co.,  Neb.,  and 
an  attorney-  by  profession. 

Mr.  Ti::erington  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
E  -  ropal  Church,  and  has  served  as  Steward.  Mrs. 
T.  is  an  active  member  of  the  Pres  .n  Church. 

In  politics,  Mr.  T.  is  an  earnest  Republican,  has 
been  Supervisor  of  his  township,  and  has  held  sev- 
eral minor  offices. 


-~s«- 


-*s~- 


enry  C.  Trent,  a  merchant  at   Per:    F 

-    orn  Sep;    ::      $30,  in  Lewis  Co..  Ky. 

His  father,  German  X.  Trent,  was  also  a 

native  of  the  samr   State     as  was  his   mother, 

E   :  .   (Doyal)  Trent.     His  ancestral  stock  on 

both  sides  was  from  Virginia,  and  settled  in 

Kentucky    at     an   early  day.      When   he   was    rz 

-  old  his  mother  died,  and  at  1 6  he  was  wholly 

orphaned  by  the  death  of  his  father. 

Soon  after  the  latter  event,  he  went  to  Mason 
County,  in  the  State  of  his  nativity,  and  obtained 
employment  on  a  farm,  in  which  variety  of  occupa- 
tion he  was  engaged  until  1S50.  He  then  came  to 
Illinois,  traveling  on  the  Mississippi  River  to  Cordova, 
re  he  landed  April  5.  He  followed  farming  for 
two  vears  at  that  point,  and  in  1852  came  to  Port 
Byron,  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  trade  of  a 
wagon-maker.  After  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years 
he  opened  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  custom  or- 
ders for  wagons,  and  also  conducted  a  repair  shop. 
Dec.  9.  i86r,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  5  1st  Regt.  111. 
Inf.,  as  a  private.  He  went  to  the  front  with  his 
command,  in  the  capacity  of  Orderly  Sergeant,  June 
15.  1863,  was  made  Second  Lieutenant  and  held 
that  rank  until  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  latter  battle,  and  after  he  fell 
he  lay  between  the  contending  lines  and  the  battle 
was  fought  over  him,  and,  with  other  wounded  sol- 
diers, he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels.  He,  with 
others,  were  kept  in  hospitals,  and  in  ten  days  were 
exchanged  for  an  equal  number  of  wounded  Con- 
federates, and  reached  the  camp  Oct.  1st,  and  went 
into  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  and  then  to  Nash- 
ville, and  then  made  application  for  leave  of  absence, 
which  after  considerable  delay  was  granted.  He 
returned  home,  and  after  the  expiration  of  his  leave 


of  absence,  it  was  renewed,  and  he  then  reported  to 
parole,  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  and  was  finally  and 
honorably  discharged  June  15.  1S64. 

Retaining  to  Port  Byron,  he  engaged  in  the  g 
eery  business,   in   which   he  has  continued  to  the 
present.     He  is,   at  the  present  writing,  associated 
with  his  son.  Cassius   C,  and   their  stock  includes 
groceries,  hardware,  etc. 

He  was  married  Nov.  9,  1S54,  to  Flora  A.  Van 
Order.  She  was  born  in  Essex  Co.,  X.  Y.  They 
have  eight  children  living:  Ella,  wife  of  W.  W. 
Pearsall,  resides  in  Coe  Township  :  Cassius  C.  is  the 
oldest  son;  Lincoln  and  Lucy  are  twins:  Philip 
Sheridan,  Flora.  Mary  and  Henry  G.  are  the  names 
of  the  younger  children,  who  are  yet  beneath  the 
parental  roof-tree. 

Mr.  Trent  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


oses  Titterington.  retired  farmer,  resi- 
ding on  section  7,  Edgington  Township, 
1  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  Sept. 
24.  1S10.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Greenwood)  Titterington,  natives  of  Eng- 
land. (For  further  mention  of  his  parents  see 
sketch  of  Charles  Titterington.)  Our  subject  was 
seven  years  of  age  when  his  father  came  to  Amer- 
ica. They  landed  at  Philadelphia,  July  4,  iSt;, 
then  coming  to  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  where  Moses  was 
reared,  and  enjoyed  very  limited  advantages  for  an 
education.  In  1835  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  be- 
came pioneers  in  Will  County,  and  again  removed 
to  Rock  Island  County,  where  they  selected  about 
240  acres  of  wild  land  in  one  of  the  best  portions  of 
the  county,  being  in  the  west  line  of  Edgington 
Township.  Upon  this  our  subject  has  since  lived, 
having  during  the  meantime  acquired  more  than  700 
acres  of  good  land.  He  has  been  very  generous  to 
his  children,  providing  almost  all  of  them  with  a 
start  in  life. 

Our  subject  was  married  March  25,  1841,  to  Miss 
Anna  Dunlap,  daughter  of  Joseph  Dunlap.  (See 
sketch.)  She  was  born  in  Steuben ville,  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  17,  1822,  and  it  was  in  that  State 
where  she  attended  school.  Her  parents  came  to 
Illinois  in  1835,  where  they  were  early  pioneers,  and 


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here  she  was  reared.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine 
children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  following 
is  their  record  :  Mary  resides  at  home  ;  Christina  is 
the  wife  of  James  Venable  (see  sketch) ;  Marshal 
P.  is  married  and  resides  on  the  homestead ;  George 
resides  at  home;  Sophie  is  the  wife  of  C.  M.  Gould 
(see  sketch) ;  Joseph  is  deceased  ;  John  is  living  at 
home ;  Margaret  is  deceased,  and  Moses  resides  at 
home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Titterington  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  former  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  views.  He  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing, active  and  enterprising  men  of  his  township, 
and  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire  com- 
munij  t. 


,qfea- 


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SalLdwin  B.  Knox,  city  undertaker  and  dealer 

HP    .  .  . 

i^SCIiL'    111  pictures  and  picture  frames,  established 
/jgf  himself  in  business    at    Moline  in    1874, 

Jnjv.  at  413  Fifteenth  Street.  The  subject  of  our 
sketch  was  born  at  Rock  Island,  Oct.  15,  1842, 
and  is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Gorham) 
Knox.  He  received  an  academic  education.  His 
father  was  the  pioneer  undertaker  of  Rock  Island, 
having  established  his  business  in  1841  and  con- 
tinued until  this  day,  covering  a  period  of  44  years. 
Edwin  B.  received  a  thorough  and  early  training 
in  this  line  of  business  under  the  tutorship  of  his 
father,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  his  success  in 
later  years,  when  he  adopted  the  vocation  as  a  busi- 
ness. From  i860  to  1863  he  enlisted  in  the  late 
war,  as  a  member  of  Co.  G,  140th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  (100- 
day  service).  He  served  the  term  of  enlistment  and 
returned  to  Rock  Island,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brooms,  which  business  he  continued 
until  the  spring  of  1.864,  when  he  re-enlisted,  and 
was  appointed  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Co.  G,  47th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
On  his  return  from  the  army  he  resumed  the  broom 
business.  A  year  and  a  half  later  he  began  house- 
painting,  a  calling  which  he  pursued  some  years. 
He  was  also  engaged  in  farming  four  years  near 
Rock  River,  but  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  Moline 
in  1874,  where  he  engaged  in  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness, since  which  time  he  has  led  all  competitors  in 
his  line.     His  establishment   is  filled  with  all  mod- 


ern appliances  known  to  the  art,  using  two  fine 
hearses,  one  of  which  is  of  the  finest  style  in  use. 
His  instruments  and  appliances  for  embalming  are 
complete.  In  fact  his  establishment  is  most  com- 
plete in  all  its  appointments,  and  his  business  has 
developed  to  very  satisfactory  proportions. 

Mr.  Knox  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at  Rock 
Island,  Sept.  15,  1867,  with  Miss  Lizzie  Van  Harren. 
She  was  born  in  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  March  15,  1852. 
The  issue  of  their  union  is  two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  namely,  Amy  and  Luther  C. 

Mr.  Knox  has  served  five  years  in  the  City  Council 
as  Alderman  from  the  Third  Ward,  and  was  chosen 
Mayor  in  the  spring  of  1883,  for  the  years  1883  and 
1884.  During  the  two  years  of  his  administration 
the  affairs  of  the  city  were  managed  economically 
and  judiciously.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political 
opinion.  Mrs.  Knox  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

Not  only  do  the  publishers  of  this  work,  but  also 
will  the  public  of  Rock  Island  County  generally,  take 
great  pleasure  in  having  Mr.  Knox's  portrait  in  this 
Album. 


fUl^on.  Albert  S.  Coe,  deceased,  in  whose 
I  honor  the  township  of  Coe  is  named,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Rock  Island  County,  of  1840. 
He  was  born  Oct.  1,1817,  m  Monroe  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  was  the  third  son  of  Simeon  Maltby  ' 
I  and  Mary  (Miles)  Coe.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and  were  also 
pioneers  of  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  lived  until 
1838,  when  they  removed  to  the  county  of  Whiteside, 
in  Illinois,  and  settled  near  Sterling.  There  the  par- 
ents both  died. 

Mr.  Coe  lived  at  home  with  his  parents  until  the 
time  of  his  first  marriage,  and  about  the  date  of  that 
event  he  bought  a  farm  near  Sterling,  of  which  he 
was  the  owner  and  occupant  until  his  removal  to  the 
county  of  Rock  Island  at  the  time  already  referred 
to.  He  sold  his  property  in  Whiteside  County  and 
bought  a  tract  of  wild  land  in  township  21  north, 
range  2  east :  the  same  now  bears  his  name.  The 
improvements  consisted  of  a  few  acres  broken.  He 
at  once  entered  into  the  preparations  necessary  to 
the  business  of  a  nurseryman  and  commenced  plant- 
ing   trees,    establishing  the   "  Bluffs  Nursery."     He 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


set  out  an  area  of  100  acres  in  trees  and  shrubs  and 
other  plants  necessary  to  an  extensive  business  of 
that  character,  in  which  he  continued  to  operate  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  place  Oct.  17, 1869. 
Meanwhile  he  had  erected  all  the  buildings  common  to 
a  well  equipped  homestead,  which  he  had  fitted  with 
the  comforts  of  an  Eastern  home.  He  was  one  of 
the  leading  horticulturists  of  the  county,  particularly 
in  the  northern  part. 

He  was  first  married  to  Arethusa  Barnett,  the  date 
of  whose  death  is  not  known.  Mr.  Coe  was  a  sec- 
ond time  united  in  marriage,  with  Lucy  C.  Hollister, 
Feb.  26,  1856.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Edmund  and 
Emma  L.  (Hall)  Hollister,  of  whom  an  extended 
sketch  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Coe  had  six  children,  of  whom  three  are  now 
(18S5)  living.  The  survivors  are  named  Edmund 
H.,  Emma  L.  and  Simeon  F.  By  the  first  marriage 
there  are  two  children :  George  is  a  resident  of  Da- 
kota and  Florence  lives  at  Sterling.  Mrs.  Coe  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  to  which  Mr. 
Coe  also  belonged.  He  was  an  active  and  energetic 
man,  and  always  prominent  in  the  promotion  of  the 
public  interests.  He  held  various  offices  of  trust  and 
officiated  as  Supervisor  several  terms.  In  1867  he 
was  elected  to  represent  his  District  in  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Illinois  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  his  politics,  and  an  active  man  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  In  politics  he  was  a  representative  man 
and  was  recognized  by  his  party,  particularly  in  local 
politics,  which  is  shown  by  the  number  of  local 
offices  he  has  held. 


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He  has  edited  the  most  prominent  religious  papers 
published  in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  for  the 
past  30  years.  At  present  he  edits  the  weekly 
"  Angus  tana  och  Missionaren." 


avid  Ziegler,  a  retired  merchant,  residing 
*  Port  Byron,  was  born  in  West  Penns- 


|;  ev.  T.  N.  Hasselquist,  D.  D.,  of  Moline, 
President  of  the  Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminary,  and  Professor  of 
Homiletics  and  Pastoral  Theology  in  the 
same  institution,  was  born  in  Sweden,  March 
2,  1816,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  University 
of  Lund.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  a  Pastor 
in  Sweden  from  1839  to  1852,  when  he  emigrated  to 
America.  In  the  new  country  he  was  also  Pastor, 
in  Galesburg,  111.,  from  1852  until  1863,  when  he 
became  President  of  the  Augustana  College  and 
Theological  Seminary  at  Paxton.Ill.,  until  1875,  and, 
after  its  removal  to  Rock  Island,  President  to  date. 


__ 


Mforvi 

'Cif^pk,   at 

-'jlGijV-        borough  Township,  Cumberland  Co,   Pa., 

vy»i      Nov.  7,  18 1 4,  and  is  the  second  son  in  order 
X    of  birth,  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Bear)  Zieg- 

S     ler,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania   and  of  Ger- 
man descent. 

The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Ziegler  on  the  father's 
side  was  born  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  and  his  grandfather 
on  his  mother's  side,  Mr.  Bear,  was  born  in  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Ziegler,  whose  sketch  we  write,  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  town.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  owning  a  farm  in  that  county, 
and  David  alternated  his  labors  on  the  farm  by  at- 
tendance at  the  common  schools  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  15  years,  when  he  engaged  to  learn  the 
tailor's  trade.  He  served  three  years  with  one  man 
in  West  Pennsborough  Township,  when  he  went  to 
Carlisle,  and  served  a  year  and  a  half  with  another 
gentleman  at  his  trade.  He  then  visited  Ohio  and 
Western  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  working 
at  his  trade  for  two  years,  when  he  returned  to  Carl- 
isle, and  again  worked  at  his  trade  there  for  some 
time.  He  then  opened  a  shop  in.Centerville,  Cum- 
berland County,  where  he  carried  on  his  business 
one  year  and  then  went  to  Franklin  County,  that 
State,  where  he  carried  on  the  same  business  in 
Fayetteville,  that  county,  one  year.  He  next  re- 
turned to  Cumberland  County,  and  was  engaged  at 
his  trade  in  his  native  town  for  three  years  ;  then,  in 
1851,  he  went  to  Blairsville,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
followed  the  same  business  there  until  1855. 

During  the  year  last  named,  Mr.  Ziegler  came  to 
this  county  and  located  at  Port  Byron,  where  he 
opened  a  tailor  shop,  and  continued  in  that  business 
until  1869.  During  the  time  he  was  in  business  at 
the  latter  place,  in  i86r,  he  added  a  small  stock  of 
merchandise,  and  in  1 865  he  added  ready-made 
clothing  to  his  business,  and  took  in  a  partner.  In 
1S69,  in  company  with  his  son,  Thomas  J.,  Mr. 
Ziegler  erected  a  building  and  put  in  a  good  stock  of 

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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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dry  goods  and  clothing.  They  continued  at  the 
trade  until  1879,  when  Mr.  Ziegler  sold  his  interest 
to  his  son,  and  retired  from  the  active  business  la- 
bors of  life. 

In  August,  1839,  Mr.  Ziegler  was  united  in  mar- 
riege  with  Sarah  A.  Swisher,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Bender)  Swisher. 
She  was  born  in  York  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  8,  18(5.  Their 
living  children  are  four  in  number,  namely  :  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  the  wife  of  R.  W.  Justin,  and  resides  in 
Chicago;  Thomas  J.  is  a  merchant  residing  in  Janes- 
ville,  Wis. ;  William  W.  is  a  resident  of  Port  Byron, 
and  is  a  traveling  salesman  by  occupation;  Mary  I. 
is  the  wife  of  Howard  Meyer. 

Mr.  Ziegler  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Port  By- 
ron in  1858  and  again  in  1866.  He  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Village  School  Board,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent one  of  the  Trustees.  In  his  political  views  he  is 
a  Democrat. 


-*»>•- 


illiam  Edwards,  deceased,  was  a  pioneer 

of  Rock  Island  County  of  1835  ;  was  born 

jM&.%°'   m   Guilford,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  July  18, 

\S!>  1795.  His  father,  Benajah.  was  a  native  of 
New  England  and  of  Welsh  descent.  The 
subject  of  our  sketch  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Huldah 
Bangs,  Jan.  28,  1823.  His  wife  was  born  in  Mon- 
tague, Mass.,  Dec.  1,  1798.  Their  family  consisted 
of  five  sons:  William  H.  was  born  Oct.  17,  1823, 
and  married  Caroline  Fleming,  residing  at  Cedar 
Rapids,  Iowa;  Herbert  R.,  born  Dec.  3,  1826,  mar- 
ried Harriet  M.  Gordon,  and  he  died  Nov.  21,  1874; 
his  widow  resides  at  Geneseo,  111.;  George  H.  was 
born  June  13,  1829,  married  Maria  Waterman  and 
resides  at  Moline  (see  his  sketch  on  another  page)  ; 
Charles  T.,  born  Aug.  23,  1834,  married  Eunice  V. 
Spencer  and  resides  at  Moline;  Sanford  N.,  born 
May  14,  1841,  died  Aug.  5,  1842. 

Mr.  Edwards  first  came  to  'Illinois  in  1830,  ex- 
amined the  country  and  returned  East.  He  was  so 
favorably  impressed  by  the  great  natural  advantages 
of  this  region  that  he  put  his  affairs  in  shape  and 
emigrated  to  Green  County,  this  State,  in  the  fall  of 
1834.  He  wintered  in  that  county  and  in  the  spring 
of  1835  came  to  what  is   now  Moline,  and  built  a 

— ^§^ — ^OM 


cabin  at  a  point  situated  at  the  present  junction  of 
Twenty-second  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue.  The 
house  stood  about  where  the  railroad  tracks  cross 
Twenty-second  Street.  He  entered  a  tract  of  Gov- 
ernment land  on  section  33,  at  this  point,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Edwards' 
settlement  at  Moline,  there  were  not  more  than  a 
half  dozen  families  located  within  the  present  city 
boundaries.  Mr.  Edwards  continued  to  make  this 
place  his  home  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  July  3,  1848.  He  was  an  honorable,  up- 
right man,  of  liberal  views  and  good  principles. 
His  political  preferences  led  him  to  join  the  Whig 
party,  while  in  his  religious  views  he  was  a  Univer- 
salist.  Mrs.  Edwards  was  a  Congregationalist ;  she 
survived  her  husband  many  years,  and  died  Feb.  21, 
1885. 

Mr.  Edwards'  parents,  Benajah  and  Mary  Ed- 
wards, worthy  people  of  New  England  birth,  came  to 
Rock  Island  Co.,  111.,  in  1838.  They  located  in  the 
town  of  Hampton,  but  neither  long  survived  the  re- 
moval to  the  West ;  they  both  died  at  Moline, — the 
mother  in  1839,  and  the  father  in  1840. 


■e>-°- 


1 


rV^C 


erry  M.  Cheney,  who  is  a  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 22,  Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of  John 
E*^  and  Hannah  (Valentine)  Cheney.  His 
5  father  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  his 
J-  mother  of  New  Jersey,  and  supposed  to  be  of 
Irish  and  French  ancestry.  His  father  served 
in  the  War  of  181 2,  in  a  Kentucky  regiment.  They 
married  and  settled  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
removed  thence  to  Logan  Co.,  same  State,  where  he 
died  Feb.  29,  1836.  The  widow  afterward  came 
with  her  family  of  six  children  to  this  county.  She 
died  in  Rural  Township,  Feb.  24,  1876.  All  her 
children  numbered  n,  and  were  named  Mary  A., 
William  C,  Edward  J.,  Joanna,  Nelson  W.,  Lafay- 
ette, Perry  M.,  Francis  M.,  Jane,  Sarah  A.  and 
John  M. 

Mr.  Cheney,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  born 
in  Clarke  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  25,  1826.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  school,  and  has  always 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  came  to 
Rock  Island  County  in  October,  1848,  with  his 
I   mother   and    her   other   children,  settling  in    Rural 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


Township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  281  acres  of  land  in  that  township,  and 
most  of  his  ground  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
furnished  with  good  buildings,  etc. 

Mr.  Cheney  has  held  the  offices  of  Township  As- 
sessor four  years,  Highway  Commissioner  three  years, 
and  School  Director.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with 
the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Cheney  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Rural 
Township,  Jan.  12,  1871,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  C, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Catherine  E.  Simmon.  She 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  April  24,  1834.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  C.  have  become  the  parents  of  one  child,  De- 
witt  C,  who  was  born  May  12,  1872. 

.    ;     ^VV%     ,    . 


illiam  Wait,  deceased,  formerly  a  resident 
on  section  35,  Edgington  Township,  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Ohio,  May 
4,  1 82 1.  He  was  the  son  of  a  farmer,  Henry 
Wait,  who  was  a  native  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tain State,  and  came  to  Ohio,  where  he  was 
married  to  Sophia  Wells,  a  native  of  New  England 
and  who  is  yet  living,  having  attained  the  venerable 
age  of  84  years.  She  is  residing  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Kendall. 

Mr.  Wait  was  only  four  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Switzerland  Co.,  Ind.,  from  Ohio,  and  he  re- 
mained upon  the  parental  homestead  assisting  in 
the  maintenance  of  the  family  by  labor  on  the  farm, 
and  in  attendance  at  the  common  schools,  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  20  years.  At  this  age  in  his  life's 
history,  he  engaged  in  running  flat-boats  down  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers  for  his  own  individual 
profit,  and  continued  in  that  vocation  for  12  years, 
meeting  with  financial  success.  He  formed  a  matri- 
monial alliance  March  23,  1854,  in  Switzerland  Co., 
Ind.,  with  Miss  Lucinda,  the  accomplished  daugh- 
ter of  Truman  and  Lavina  (Bradford)  Gray  ;  the 
mother  was  a  direct  relative  of  Gov.  Bradford,  of 
Connecticut.  The  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Wait 
were  both  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and 
descendants  of  a  long  line  of  connection,  identified 
with  the  early  settlement  of  the  New  England  States. 
They  were  married  in  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
came  immediately  after  to  Switzerland  Co.,  Ind., 
when  that  territoiy  was  only  partially  settled,  and 


located  on  a  farm ;  and  were  connected  with  the 
early  history  of  the  county.  Their  family  comprised 
seven  children, — Joel,  Robert,  Freeman  (deceased), 
Lucinda  (Mrs.  Wait),  Theda  and  Parker,  and  Mr. 
Gray  had  one  child  by  his  second  marriage,  Adela. 
Mrs.  Wait  was  born  near  Patriot,  Switzerland  Co., 
Ind.,  Dec.  20,  1828.  She  lived  with  her  parents,  as- 
sisting in  the  household  duties  and  attending  the 
common  schools,  in  which  she  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, and  at  the  age  of  19  years  engaged  in  the 
profession  of  teaching,  which  she  followed  for  six 
years,  and  until  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Wait.  Her 
parents,  who  were  prominent  farmers,  lived  in  Switz- 
erland Co.,  Ind.,  until  their  deaths,  that  of  the  father 
occurring  Feb.  n,  1880,  aged  84  years,  and  that  of 
the  mother  in  1839,  aged  41  years. 

Mrs.  Wait  is  the  mother  of  five  daughters  by  Mr. 
Wait,  viz.:  Helen,  born  Jan.  5,  1855,  who  married 
Geo.  T.  Galloway,  and  they  reside  in  Wa  Keeney, 
Trego  Co.,  Kan.,  where  Mr.  Galloway  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  cattle-raising:  they  are  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Milton  B.  and  Lewis  H.;  Nettie,  born 
June  1,  1858,  married  Wm.  G.  Haefele,  and  they  re- 
side in  Reynolds,  this  county,  where  Mr.  H.  is  en- 
gaged in  the  butcher  business,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Charles  W.  and  Wilfred  A.  ;  Grace,  born 
Oct.  1,  i860,  married  Wm.  Davis,  whose  sketch  may 
be  found  in  this  work;  Lou  M.,  born  May  29,  1865  ; 
and  Cora  B.,  born  Aug.  10,  186S,  both  reside  with 
their  mother. 

Immediately  after  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wait 
came  to  this  Stale  and  located  on  160  acres  of  land, 
which  Mr.  Wait  had  purchased  one  year  prior,  and 
on  which  they  had  made  some  improvement.  They 
have  made  the  same  their  home  until  the  present 
time,  the  husband  having  died,  and  Mrs.  W.  still 
survives  and  conducts  the  homestead.  Prior  to  his 
death,  Mr.  Wait  also  purchased  80  acres  of  addi- 
tional land,  which  consisted  of  timber,  and  also  160 
acres  well  improved  in  Mercer  County.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers  in  his  township, 
and  erected  a  beautiful  residence  on  his  farm,  and 
by  energetic  effort  had  placed  his  land  under  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation.  He  was  accidentally 
killed  by  falling  from  a  timber  in  his  barn,  striking 
on  the  floor  and  dislocating  his  spinal  column,  from 
which  accident  he  died  in  36  hours,  the  date  of  his 
death  being  June  14,  1882.  He  was  Supervisor  of 
his  township  several  years,  and  also  held   the   posi- 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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tion  of  Road  Commissioner  and  other  minor  offices. 
Religiously,  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  As  a  farmer  and  stock-grower  he 
ranked  among  the  first  in  the  county  and  township. 
Mrs.  Wait  is  also  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  full  standing,  and  three  of  her  daughters, 
Nettie,  Lou  and  Cora,  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Reynolds. 

Politically,  Mr.  Wait  was  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  He  was  a  gentleman  respected  by 
those  who  knew  him,  and  whose  word  was  consid- 
ered as  good  as  his  bond.  His  accumulation  of  this 
world's  goods  was  attributable  to  his  indomitable 
energy,  perseverance  and  pluck,  coupled  with  his 
good  judgment  and  the  active  co-operation  of  his 
good  helpmeet. 


illlam  Runge,  proprietor  of  Runge's  Sum- 
mer Garden,  Moline,  and  dealer  in  gen- 
eral merchandise,  established  business, 
herein  1869,  at  No.  1,601,  15th  Street.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  the  son  of  Claus  and  Margaret  (Zor- 
nig)  Runge,  and  was  born  May  15,  1844.  He  served 
a  regular  apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith's  trade  in 
his  native  country,  and  followed  that  vocation  until 
1865,  when  he  emigrated  to  America.  He  landed  in 
New  York  on  the  8th  day  of  May  of  that  year,  but 
came  directly  to  Moline  and  about  a  year  thereafter 
engaged  as  blacksmith  in  the  plow  works  of  Deere  & 
Co.  He  worked  for  that  company  about  three  years, 
and  in  1869  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 

Having  a  taste  for  landscape  gardening,  he  began 
at  an  early  day  to  ornament  his  grounds  with  fine 
trees  and  shrubbery,  flowers  and  summer  houses.  In 
1878  he  opened  his  place  as  a  summer  garden,  fitted 
with  many  devices  for  innocent  amusement  and 
conveniences  for  pleasure.  His  place  is  cool  and 
well  shaded,  very  tastefully  arranged,  and,  taken  on 
the  whole,  is  a  very  welcome  resort  for  the  tired, 
warm  and  thirsty  populace.  To  sit  in  the  cool  shade 
in  an  atmosphere  laden  with  the  perfume  of  a  thou- 
sand flowers,  listening  to  the  singing  birds  or  the 
rippling  laughter  of  some  bright-eyed  and  rosy- 
cheeked  maiden,  while  one  quaffs  the  cool  lager  or 
sparkling  wine,  and  watches  the  smoke  curl  from  a 


fragrant  Havana,  is,  or  ought  to  be,  pretty  nearly 
perfect  bliss  to  a  broad-gauge  man  of  good  physique 
and  of  sound  mind.  Such  a  condition  of  things  is 
possible  at  Runge's,  and  the  writer  takes  pleasure  in 
saying  a  good  word  for  the  man  who  contributes  to 
the  innocent  enjoyment  of  the  people  in  this  world  of 
hard  work  and  many  cares. 

Mr.  Runge  was  united  in  marriage  at  Moline,  May 
7,  1866,  to  Miss  Josephine  C.  D.  Petersen,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Anna  (Dierks)  Petersen.  Mrs. 
Runge  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  April  25, 
1845,  and  came  to  America  in  1866.  They  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  six  girls  and  three  boys 
all  born  in  Moline.  Sophia,  born  March  15,  1867; 
Anna,  born  Sept.  13,  1868,  wife  of  John  Wither- 
spoon,  of  Moline;  Mary,  born  Aug.  20,  1870;  Her- 
mann, born  Feb.  13,  1872;  Mina,  born  June  17,1874; 
William,  Oct.  3,  1877;  Louisa,  July  3,  1879;  Gusta> 
June  6,  1 88 1  ;  Henry,  May  27,  1883.  Mr.  Runge  is 
liberal  in  his  religious  views  and  independent  in 
political  opinion.  He  has  served  as  Alderman  from 
the  Fifth  Ward  .two  years;  is  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Druids,  and  of  the  Concordia  Germania 
Turnverein. 


*  illiam  Nelson  Johnson,  a  farmer  of  Coe 
Township,    resident  on    section   24,   was 


born  March  29,  1807,  in  Baltimore  Co., 
Md.  He  is  the  third  son  of  William  and 
Annie  (Hope)  Johnson,  and  by  descent  is  of 
Irish  origin,  his  paternal  grandfather  having 
been  born  in  that  country,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  when  he  was  a  young  man,  settling  in  Balti- 
more Co,  Md.  On  the  maternal  side  he  is  of  Scotch 
extraction. 

When  he  was  n  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to 
the  then  far  West,  settling  in  Ohio.  They  arrived  in 
Guernsey  County  Oct.  10,  18 18,  where  they  took 
possession  of  a  farm  which  the  father  purchased,  and 
and  on  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
to  manhood. 

June  30,  1830,  he  was  married  to  Rebecca  Doug- 
lass, who  was  born  Jan.  15,  1804,  in  Montgomery 
Co.,  Md.,  and  removed  with  her  parents  to  Guernsey 
County  in  1826.  The  young  couple  located  in  the 
same  county  where  they  were  married   and  the  hus- 


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band  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Belmont  with  his  family.  In  185 1 
they  started  for  Illinois  and  drove  from  Guernsey 
County  with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon.  The 
party  was  compelled  to  stop  in  Franklin  County  on 
account  of  the  illness  of  several  members  of  the 
family,  as  the  additional  expenses  soon  exhausted 
their  little  fortune.  They  remained  there  one  year, 
and  meanwhile  Mr.  Johnson  was  variously  engaged 
as  he  could  obtain  employment.  At  the  expiration 
of  the  time  named  the  family  once  more  set  out  for 
their  original  destination,  in  the  same  manner  in 
which  they  had  first  started,  with  a  team.  They 
came  directly  to  Illinois  and  to  the  county  of  Rock 
Island.  They  sought  a  home  in  the  township  of 
Coe.  The  head  of  the  family  had  but  $7.10  in  his 
pocket,  but  found  employment  without  delay  in  the 
construction  of  the  saw-mill  on  Canoe  Creek,  and 
after  it  was  finished  he  was  for  some  time  an  assist- 
ant in  it.  In  1853  he  entered  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  24  in  the  township  where  he  has  since 
pursued  his  agricultural  interests.  He  built  a  small 
log  house  on  the  southern  part  of  the  place,  which 
was  for  a  time  his  home.  He  then  erected  the  house 
in  which  the  family  has  since  lived  and  which  is 
situated  on  the  northeast  part  of  the  section.  The 
entire  tract  is  now  enclosed,  and  the  land  is  all  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation,  with  the  exception  of  the 
pastures. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  had  n  children,  and 
five  of  them  only  are  now  living:  Annie  H.  is  the 
wife  of  James  Hewitt;  John  A.  lives  with  his  par- 
ents; Samuel  is  a  farmer  in  Smith  Co.,  Kan.;  Re- 
becca is  the  widow  of  Grier  Stanley;  and  Ellen  is 
the  wife  of  James  Benjamin,  and  lives  in  Meade,  Neb. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  both  joined  the  Methodist 
Church  in  their  younger  days.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  Dec.  25,  1880. 

John  A.  is  the  only  son  who  is  a  resident  of  the 
county  of  Rock  Island.  He  was  born  in  Belmont 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  31,  1836,  and  he  was  16  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  married 
July  1,  1866,  to  Hannah  E.  Osier.  She  was  also 
born  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Jane  (Bates)  Osier.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  Maryland  and  her  mother  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia. Emma  J.,  Ora  N.,  Robert  H.  and  Kittie  A. 
are  the  names  of  the  children  of  the  household. 
Both  father  and  son  are  Democrats. 


-    ■-■-■:■ 


illiam  F.  Cram,  drruggist,  Keator  House 
Block,  established  business  in  Moline  in 
May,  1880,  and  carries  an  average  stock 
of  $5,000  value.  Mr.  Cram  is  a  native  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  is  the  son  of  George  C.  and 
Agnes  (Jackson)  Cram,  and  was  born  Jan.  25, 
1856.  He  came  to  Chicago  in  1867,  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools  and  took  a  regular  course  at  the 
College  of  Pharmacy  of  Chicago,  and  graduated  in 
1874.  He  then  entered  the  drug-store  of  J.  F. 
Brabook,  of  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed  as 
prescription  clerk  three  years.  He  also  spent  one 
and  a  half  years  with  Dr.  Quirk  (druggist),  of  the 
same  city,  but  left  for  Oregon,  111.,  where  he  ran  a 
drug-store  for  three  years. 

He  came  to  Moline  and  clerked  for  Mr.  W.  G. 
Morris,  druggist,  until  May,  1880,  when  he  estab- 
lished his  present  business.  Mr.  Cram  is  a  thor- 
oughly educated  and  experienced  pharmacist ;  has  a 
large  and  well  stocked  establishment,  and  is  prompt 
and  careful  in  the  preparation  of  medicines. 

Mr.  Cram  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Ore- 
gon, Ogle  Co.,  111.,  June  13,  1S77,  with  Miss  Annie 
E.  Strop,  daughter  of  L.  M.  and  M.  E.  Strop.  Mrs. 
Cram  was  born  in  Oregon,  Ogle  Co.,  111.  The  issue 
of  their  union  is  three  children, — Bert  H,  born  June 
13,  r879;  Agnes  A.,  born  Sept.  10,  1881 ;  and  Ethel, 
born  Feb.  9,  1S84.  Mr.  Cram  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  In  political  sentiment  he  is  a 
Republican. 


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=*- 


r  ohn  Buffum,  grain  dealer,  farmer  and  stock- 
g,-  grower,   residing  on  section  26,  Andalusia 
^  Township,    was    born    in    Ashtabula   Co., 
Ohio,    Feb.    5,    1825.     His    father,    Jonathan 
Buffum,   was    a    native    of  Vermont,    and   of 
English  ancestry,  and  by  occupation  a  farmer. 
The  family  was  started  in  this  country  by  two  broth- 
ers, who  were  Quakers,  and  who,  owing  to  the  per- 
secution of  the   Friends  in   England,  came  with  a 
number  of  others  to  free  America,  and  located  in 
Connecticut.     The  family  all  remained  members  of 
the  Quakers'  organization  in  New  England  until  the 
generation  ot  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.     His 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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name  was  Stephen  Buffum,  who  moved  outside  of 
the  pales  of  the  Church  and  was  also  married  out- 
side of  the  Church,  and  really  was  not  identified 
with  any  Church  in  particular.  He  came  to  Illinois, 
and  died  in  Fulton  County. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  when  a  boy  to 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  At  that  time  there  were  but 
few  settlements  even  in  Ohio,  and  the  date  of  his 
coming  to  that  State  was  as  early  as  18T4.  He  was 
married  in  Ashtabula  County  to  Sarah  Rockwell, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  a  farmer.  After  his  marriage, 
in  1826,  he  came  to  Canton,  Fulton  Co.,  111.  This 
was  a  very  early  day  in  the  history  of  the  State,  and 
prior  to  any  settlement  being  made  in  Northern  Illi- 
nois. He  was  among  the  first  to  start  a  settlement 
in  that  part  of  the  State.  In  i83r  he  settled  seven 
miles  northwest  of  Monmouth,  in  Warren  County; 
there  he  built  a  grist  and  saw-mill,  which  was  the 
first  in  that  section  of  the  State.  In  1832,  in  com- 
pany with  his  uncle,  L.  P.  Rockwell,  he  furnished 
the  lumber  with  which  the  barricade  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  people  against  the  Indians  during  the 
Blackhawk  War  was  constructed.  The  Governor 
sent  a  squad  of  soldiers  to  this  stockade,  and  Mr. 
Buffum  was  made  Corporal  of  the  company.  In 
1836,  he  came  to  Rock  Island  city,  and  became  pro- 
prietor of  the  "  American  Hotel,"  the  first  hotel  in 
the  town.  In  1841  he  made  a  settlement  in  Anda- 
lusia Township,  where  his  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  now  resides.  This  was  among  the  first  farms 
that  were  broken  in  the  township.  Here  the  elder 
Buffum  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1848,  at  the  age  of  53  years  and  nine  months.  His 
wife,  who  had  shared  so  many  hardships  of  pioneer 
life  with  him,  died  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  73  years. 

John  Buffum  was  the  fourth  son  and  fifth  child  of 
a  family  of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing, the  youngest  being  over  45  years  of  age,  while 
the  eldest  is  nearly  70.  In  his  early  life,  John 
shared  the  privations  of  his  father's  family,  during 
their  sojourn  and  travels  in  a  new  country.  After 
their  arrival  in  Edgington  Township,  he  spent  his 
time  on  his  father's  farm  until  Dec.  12,  1850,  when 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  M.  Ray- 
mer,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1830,  and 
came  West  with  her  parents  in  1843.  They  Jwere 
respected  farmers  of  Edgington  Township,  where 
they   died    some   years   ago.     Mrs.   Buffum    is]  the 

^^ — %pgm 


mother  of  seven  sons,  one  of  whom  is  deceased,  El- 
mer. Those  living  are :  Rinah  W.,  who  is  married 
and  lives  in  the  far  West;  John  M.  resides  in  Ne- 
braska; Ira  H.  married  Miss  Anna  Hayes  and  re- 
sides in  the  village  of  Andalusia;  Samson  R.  lives 
with  his  parents,  as  do  also  Frank  and  Grant. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Buffum  settled  on  the  home- 
stead where  he  now  resides.  At  present  he  is  the 
owner  of  320  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  improved. 
In  1858,  he  began  to  deal  in  grain  and  produce, 
which  he  has  since  continued  to  follow,  and  is  now 
doing  quite  an  extensive  business.  In  1884  he  sold 
over  30,000  bushels  of  potatoes,  besides  25,000  bush- 
els of  grain.  He  is  an  active,  enterprising  citizen, 
and  has  represented  his  township  in  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  for  nine  years,  and  for  three  years  was 
Chairman  of  the  Board.  He  has  been  School  Treas- 
urer for  29  years,  and  has  also  held  other  offices. 
In  politics  he  was  formerly  a  stanch  Republican,  but 
since  the  organization  of  the  Greenback  party  he 
has  been  an  active  worker  in  it,  and  was  a  Delegate 
to  the  National  Convention  of  that  party  held  in 
Indianapolis  in  June,  1884,  and  has  also  served  as 
Delegate  to  the  State  Convention. 


VT 


-«<4#'§a**- *- 


(jWjerton  Yale  Cady,  architect  and  proprietor 
|Qt  of  the  "  Alderney  Hill  Farm,"  is  a  native 


of  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.     He   was  born 
.  ^\   May   20,    1840,  and   is  the  son  of  Ira  and 
Clotilda   (Yale)   Cady.     His  maternal    grand- 
father, Linus  Yale,  was  the  original  inventor  of 
the  celebrated  so-called  "  Yale  Lock." 

Merton  received  an  early  training  in  the  laws  of 
mechanics  under  the  tutorship  of  his  gifted  grand- 
father, which  has  been  of  great  practical  use  to  him 
in  the  course  of  his  life,  devoted  as  it  has  been 
largely  to  mechanical  pursuits.  He  removed  with 
his  parents  in  1857  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where 
he  was  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Yale 
lock  and  burglar-proof  mechanism.  Having  a  na- 
tural turn  for  such  pursuits,  he  devoted  himself  with 
ardor  to  the  business,  at  which  he  ultimately  became 
an  expert.  He  spent  three  years  in  New  York  city 
under  the  best  masters  in  the  study  of  architecture. 
He  was  subsequently  employed  with  his  father  in 
erecting  iron  fronts  for  city  buildings.     Among  those 


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ROCK  ISLAND    COUNTY. 


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built  under  their  supervision  was  that  of  the  New 
York  Equitable  Life  Insurance  Company.  He  was 
also  employed  as  superintendent  of  the  manufacture 
of  burglar -proof  apparatus. 

In  the  spring  of  1872  he  came  to  Chicago  with 
the  expectation  of  introducing  burglar-proof  locks 
and  other  mechanisms  in  that  line,  and  continued  a 
resident  of  that  city  till  1878,  when  he  removed  to 
Moline  and  became  proprietor  of  the  well  known 
"  Alderney  Hill  Farm,"  formerly  Mr.  John  Deere 's 
blooded-stock  farm.  He  remodeled  the  residence 
and  farm  buildings,  making  various  improvements, 
till  he  now  has  one  of  the  most  tasteful  and  beauti- 
ful homes  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  farm  is 
situated  one  mile  east  of  the  city  of  Moline  and  con- 
sists of  250  acres  of  valley  and  upland;  fronting  on 
the  river  is  a  beautiful  natural  grove,  the  favorite 
resort  of  picnic  and  pleasure  parties.  Between  the 
grove  and  house  stretches  a  broad  belt  of  fertile  val- 
ley dotted  with  trees,  while  the  residence  rests  on 
a  small  plateau  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  river, 
with  wooded  bluffs  and  green  sloping  hills  in  the 
background.  A  copious  spring  of  pure  water  supplies 
house  and  barns  through  a  well  arranged  system  of 
mains.  One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this 
attractive  place  is  the  fine  herd  of  thoroughbred  Jer- 
sey cows.  Their  very  color  is  suggestive  of  rich 
milk,  yellow  cream  and  golden-hued  butter. 

Mr.  Cady  has  devoted  considerable  care  to  per- 
fecting his  stock,  and  now  has  a  fine  herd  of  20  pure 
bloods  of  this  the  most  popular  breed  of  butter- 
making  cows.  Many  citizens  of  Moline  and  sur- 
rounding country  are  glad  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  afforded  them  by  the  advantages  of 
"  Alderney  Hill  Farm  "  to  secure  choice  Jersey  stock. 

In  addition  to  the  care  of  his  stock  farm,  Mr. 
Cady  has  been  busily  employed  in  his  profession  as 
architect.  He  designed  and  superintended  the  con- 
struction of  the  lodge  at  Riverside  Cemetery,  the 
John  Deere  building  at  the  corner  of  17  th  Street  and 
Third  Avenue,  and  the  tasteful  tenement  now  ad- 
jacent on  17th  Street.  He  also  planned  and  super- 
intended the  construction  of  the  water  works,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  new 
postoffice  block  for  Charles  H.  Deere  at  the  corner 
of  1 6th  Street  and  Third  Avenue,  which  will  be  com- 
pleted in  the  near  future.  He  is  also  preparing 
plans  for   a  chapel  for  the  Congregational  Church, 


and  for  S.  S.  Davis  &  Co.'s  new  building,  to  be  built 
near  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  depot. 

Mr.  Cady  was  married  at  Moline,  Jan.  2,  1865,  to 
Miss  Alice,  youngest  daughter  of  John  and  Dimis 
(Lamb)  Deere.  Mrs.  Cady  was  born  at  Grand  de 
Tour,  III,  July  31,  1844.  Her  father  is  the  well 
known  plow-manufacturer,  and  Moline's  most  prom- 
inent and  respected  citizen. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cady  have  two  children,  a  son  and 
a  daughter,  namely :  John  Deere,  who  was  born 
Jan.  26,  1866;  and  Alice  Mabel,  born  June  19,  1872. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cady  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Cady  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


■  ,  Jf  ;- aeob  A.  Carpenter,  general  farmer  and 
•  USfifiT  stock-raiser,  residing  on  section  30,  Edg- 
'     j  ington  Township,  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 

Hk  vania,  having  been  born  in  Lycoming  County, 
|t  that  State,  March  17,  1842.  His  father,  Caleb 
\  Carpenter,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  was  a  farmer.  He  was  a  descendant 
of  one  of  the  old  families  that  had  settled  in  New 
England  in  the  17th  century.  He  came  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  settled  in  Lycoming  County,  where  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Hester  M.  Bastian,  a  native 
of  that  county. 

Mr.  Carpenter,  subject  of  this  notice,  was  the  eld- 
est but  one  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. He  was  but  ten  years  old  when  his  father's 
family  came  West  and  settled  in  Edgington  Town- 
ship, and  at  that  time  the  settlement  there  was  new 
and  undeveloped.  The  mother  of  Jacob  Carpenter 
is  yet  living  on  the  old  homestead,  with  her  younger 
son,  Henry,  and  has  attained  the  venerable  age  of 
74  years.  The  father  died  on  the  homestead  Oct. 
24,  1866.  Jacob  A.  Carpenter  was  educated  in  the 
public  school  of  the  county,  residing  under  the  par- 
ental roof-tree  until  1862.  Aug.  n,  of  that  year,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  B,  126th  III.  Vol.  Inf.,  Capt.  Henry 
D.  Cline  (at  present  a  resident  of  Rock  Island).  He 
participated  in  but  few  active  engagements,  the  most 
important  being  that  of  the  capture  of  Little  Rock, 
Ark. ;  and  he  was  honorably  discharged  at  Spring- 
field, this  State,  Aug.  1,  1865. 

He  at  once  returned  to  this  county,  and  Feb.  22, 
1870,  was  united  in  marriage,  at  Keithsburg,  Mercer 


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Lieu-Col.  of    Ord.     U.  S.A 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


317 


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§ 


1 


Co.,  111.,  to  Miss  Letitia,  daughter  of  James  and 
Ellen  (Ewing)  Venable,  natives  of  Tyrone  Co.,  Ire- 
land, Mrs.  Carpenter  was  born  in  the  last  named 
county,  Dec.  2,  185 1.  Her  father  died  before  her 
birth,  and  she  was  raised  by  her  mother  and  came  to 
America  with  her,  when  she  was  about  six  years  of 
age,  locating  soon  afterwards  in  Mercer  County.  In 
the  spring  of  1866  they  moved  to  Edgington,  and 
Mrs.  Carpenter's  mother  died  at  that  place,  in  June, 
1869. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  are  the  parents  of  four 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  surviv- 
ing are:  Paul  L.,  born  Oct.  28,  1870;  Eugenia, 
born  April  14,  1876;  and  Nellie  C,  Oct.  13,  1880. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  lived 
in  Edgington  village  about  eight  years.  In  1878  Mr. 
Carpenter  purchased  80  acres  of  land  located  on 
section  30,  Edgington  Township,  on  which  he  at 
once  located  and  entered  vigorously  and  energeti- 
cally upon  the  task  of  its  improvement.  By  economy 
and  energetic  effort,  combined  with  the  active  assist- 
ance of  his  good  helpmeet,  he  has  subsequently 
added  to  his  original  purchase  until  he  is  at  present 
the  proprietor  of  200  acres  of  land,  the  major  portion 
of  which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Politically,  Mr.  Carpenter  is  a  believer  in  and  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
and  is  at  present  Road  Commissioner  and  School 
Director.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Carpenter  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


-■'-> 


aniel  W.  Flagler,  the  Commandant  at 
Rock  Island  Arsenal,  whose  portrait  ap- 
j'jlr^^3  pears  on  the  opposite  page,  was  born  in 
M'<*  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  20,  1835,  a  son  of 
Sylvester  and  Abby  (Remington)  Flagler.  On 
the  Fagler  side  of  the  house  he  descended  from 
Holland  Dutch,  who  emigrated  to  Dutchess  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  about  the  year  1700.  On  the  maternal  side  he 
is  English.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Brig. -Gen. 
C.  A.  Finley,  Surgeon-General  U.  S.  A.,  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  and  has  two  children,  viz.  :  Elizabeth 
Moore,  who  was  born  in  r866,  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  and 
Clement  A.,  born  at  the  same  place,  in  1867.  The 
latter  is  now  a  cadet  at  West  Point. 

Col.  Flagler's  military  record  is  creditable,  and  he, 

— :s^ — e?K^» 


)«§^K 


seeing  what  Gen.  Rodman  saw,  has  been  a  strong 
advocate  for  the  location  of  a  military  establishment, 
or  rather  a  place,  where,  in  time  of  emergency,  the 
Government,  without  appealing  to  foreign  powers, 
could  equip  an  army  in  a  short  time.  While  advo- 
cating this  Col.  Flagler  says  he  is  opposed  to  war, 
but  that  our  institutions  ought  to  be  maintained  ;  and 
that  in  the  nature  of  things  we  cannot  have  a  large 
standing  army  in  this  country;  and  furthermore  says 
he  is  glad  of  it,  but  that  this  Government  may  at 
some  time  become  involved  among  its  various  sec- 
tions, or  with  some  other  peoples,  and  the  result 
might  prove  disastrous  to  civil  liberty.  The  Ameri- 
cans, as  a  rule,  are  a  level-headed  people,  and  seek 
no  wars;  they  never  have  been  a  people  for  con- 
quest ;  their  progenitors  came  here  at  a  time  when 
they  had  nothing  to  hope  for  but  liberty.  The  lib- 
erty they  sought,  and  have  maintained.  Shortly 
25  years  ago  the  country  became  involved  in  a  con- 
troversy that  cost  thousands  of  lives,  and — but  the 
money  consideration  is  not  a  thought.  Col.  Flagler 
says  that  he  has  no  desire  for  a  large  standing  army ; 
that  he  is  in  true  and  hearty  sympathy  with  the  ideas 
of  the  men  who  make  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and 
who  have  borne  the  burdens.  "  But,  "  says  he  (and 
to  see  him  when  he  said  it  would  impress  every  one 
that  he  had  nothing  but  the  good  of  his  country  at 
heart),  "  the  building  of  an  arsenal  at  an  accessible 
point  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  while  costing  but  a 
tithe  of  the  amount  required  for  supporting  a  stand- 
ing army,  would  at  any  time  be  of  more  service,  for 
the  reason  that  the  arsenal  would  be  constantly  em- 
ployed in  the  improvement  of  articles  of  warfare; 
"  and,''  said  he,  "  the  American  people  can  always 
fight."  There  is  reason  in  this;  and  it  shows  that 
American  soldiers  possess  what  none  other  on  earth 
do.  This  man  Flagler  has  with  a  steady  determi- 
nation carried  out  his  views.  He  is  familiar  with  all 
the  detail  work  connected  with  the  arsenal  at  Rock 
Island,  and,  like  most  soldiers,  is  a  gentleman. 

These  comments  are  gathered  from  people  who 
have  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Col.  Flagler's  work  for 
many  years. 

He  is  a  man  of  powerful  physique  ;  and  more  than 
that,  the  development  of  his  head  shows  that  he  is  a 
man  of  great  strength  of  mind,  and  a  genial  gentle- 
man. The  country  ought  to  understand  how  he  has 
labored  for  its  best  interests,  and  realize  how  great 
such  men  are.     They  are  not  the  men  that  sought 

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the  conquest  of  everybody  and  every  nation.  It  has 
remained  for  America  to  develop  a  class  of  soldiers 
that  will  stand  far  ahead  of  the  Spartans  ;  and  the 
old  guard,  after  doing  their  duty,  returned  to  their 
homes.  Conquest,  malice  never  entered  into  their 
ideas  ;  they  fought  from  principle.  His  record  as  a 
military  man  is  second  to^none,  only  the  great  cap- 
tains of  the  country.  A  graduate  of  West  Point,  he 
was  an  ardent  and  faithful  advocate  of  the  war  dur- 
ing the  late  civil  strife.  He  served  through  the  war 
with  distinction  in  many  positions, — among  others, 
as  Chief  of  Ordnance  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
on  the  staff  of  Gens.  McDowell,  McClellan,  Burn- 
side,  Hooker  and  Meade  ;  was  also  with  Burnside's 
expedition  to  North  Carolina,  and  obtained  three 
brevets  during  the  war.  He  served  in  command  at 
Augusta,  Ga.,  until  May,  187  t,  when  he  assumed 
command  of  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal.  Subsequently, 
he  assisted  in  the  trial  of  experimental  powders  and 
heavy  gun-carriages,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  in   1873. 

His    record  appears  in    a    published   register   of 
West  Point  men. 

~§N^€5H^# — 

LC  ilpin  Moore,  Moline.     Prominent    among 

those  who  have  became  noted, — by  inven- 

^g—   K   tion, — is  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands 

0  *  at  the  head  of  this   sketch.     He  was  born  in 

Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.   27,    1831,   his  father's 

name  being  Hibbard  and  his  mother's   Jane 

(Gawthrop)  Moorg.     His  father  was  of  English  and 

his  mother  of  Scotch  descent. 

Gilpin  Moore  remained  in  Pennsylvania  at  school 
until  he  was  14  years  of  age,  and  then  came  to  Rock 
Island,  111.,  to  which  town  his  father  had  come  seven 
years  before.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and  after 
his  arrival  in  Rock  Island  he  alternately  attended 
school  and  worked  in  his  father's  shop,  until  he  was 
18  years  of  age.  At  that  age,  it  had  become  evident 
that  Mr.  Moore  naturally  possessed  more  than  or- 
dinary mechanical  and  inventive  ability  and  taste - 
and,  believing  it  would  be  desirable  to  learn  thor- 
oughly the  machinist's  business,  he  apprenticed 
himself  for  three  years,  in  a  machine  shop  in  Rock 
Island,  where  he  faithfully  served  his  time,  and  after 
that  took  entire  charge  of  the  shops,  as  superintend- 
ent, until  1864,  becoming  noted  in  Rock  Island  and 
vicinity  as  a  workman  and  inventor  of    rare  ability. 


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During  the  year  above  mentioned  his  services  were  * 
engaged  by  Deere  &  Co.,  Moline,  111.,  manufacturers    , 
of  agricultural  implements;  and  when  the  now  im-  t!}- 
mense  concern  was  organized  as  a  stock  company,  in 
1868,  he  became  a  partner  therein  and  took  the  posi- 
tion of  superintendent  of  the  iron  department,  which 
he  still  holds,  wherein  his  inventive  genius  has  large- 
ly developed,  and  he  has  taken  out  numerous  es- 
sential and  important   patents  for  improvements  in 
agricultural  implements,  not  the  least  of  which  has 
resulted  in  the  production  of  the  splendid  "  Gilpin," 
a  sulky  plow  which  has  carried  the   name  not  only 
all  over  America,  but  also  into  foreign  countries. 

His  work  in  his  father's  shop,  his  chances  at  the 
practical  working  of  machinery,  his  schooling  in 
mechanism,  drafting  and  designing,  tended  to  develop 
extraordinary  inventive  faculty  and  genius,  not  only 
in  plows  and  cultivators,  but  also  in  engines,  of  all 
descriptions;  in  fact,  in  him,  invention  rises  almost 
to  inspiration,  and  he  has  been  and  is  of  marked  and 
practical  value  to  the  colossal  concern  of  which  he 
is  an  active  and  energetic  member. 

Mr.  Gilpin  Moore  was  married  March  3,  1853,  to 
Miss  Ludica  Crisswell,  and  they  have  four  children, 
namely:  Truesdale  L.,  born  July  n,  1856;  Charles 
E.,  born  Feb.  13,  1865;  Adah,  born  July  17,  1S68, 
and  Anna,  born  July  22,  1874. 

Though  so  closely  identified  with  one  of  the  tower-   ( 
ing  industries  of  Moline,  Mr.  Moore  has  always  been 
a  resident  of  Rock  Island,    since    coming  here   in 
1845.     Politically  he   has  been  a  Republican    ever 
since  the  organization  of  that  great  party. 


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]:;-  onathan  H.  Parks,  who  resides  on  section 
26,  Edgington  Township,  and  is   engaged 
in  general  farming,   together  with  raising 
stock,  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  large  land- 
owners of  the  township  in   which  he   resides, 
July  18,  1843.     His   father,  H.  H.  Parks  (see 
sketch),  was  a  prominent  pioneer  of  the  township. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  district  schools  of  Edgington.  He  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  25  years  of  age, 
when  he  was  married,  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  June 
20,  187S,  to  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  J.  M. 
Davis,  of  this  county.     His  wife  was  born  and  edu- 


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cated  in  Edgington  Township,  and  on  May  28,  1880, 
she  died.  Mr.  Parks  subsequently,  Sept.  29,  1881, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rebecca  C.  Davis, 
a  sister  of  his  former  wife.  She  was  born  in  Anda- 
lusia, March  23,  1864,  and  was  reared  and  educated 
in  this  county.  Her  parents,  J.  M.  and  Jane  (Pep- 
pers) Davis,  are  well  known  and  early  settlers  of  the 
county.  The  former  was  born  in  Ohio  and  the  lat- 
ter in  Indiana,  but  both  came  West  previous  to  their 
marriage.  The  former  is  deceased  and  the  mother 
resides  in  Andalusia. 

During  the  late  Rebellion  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F, 
144th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  mustered  in  at  Alton,  111., 
with  the  rank  of  Corporal,  Sept.  24,  1864.  He  served 
until  peace  was  declared  and  received  an  honorable 
discharge  at  the  end  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Parks  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother  William,  and  they  now  own  in 
partnership  640  acres,  most  of  which  is  well  im- 
proved. Both  himself  and  brother  are  active  and 
enterprising  farmers,  largely  engaged  in  stock-raising, 
and  quite  a  benefit  to  the  community  in  which  they 
live.  Our  subject,  politically,  is  a  reliable  Republi- 
can. 


{  sear  Peal,  proprietor  of  "  Peal's  Hotel,"  cor- 
ner Third  Avenue  and  13th  Street,  and 
junior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Wixon  &  Peal, 
proprietors  of  a  livery,  feed  and  sale  stable. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Sweden 
Feb.  ro,  1849,  and  in  the  year  1852  emigrated 
to  America  with  his  parents,  locating  at  Fulton,  111., 
until  i860.  They  then  came  to  Moline  and  spent 
one  year  in  this  city,  when  they  removed  to  Geneseo, 
where  he  resided  until  1868,  then  returned  to  Moline, 
which  he  has  made  his  home  continuously  since. 
Mr.  Peal  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  in  1881,  and 
in  the  livery  business  with  Mr.  John  Wixon  in  1883. 
He  was  elected  Alderman  from  the  Second  Ward  in 
the  fall  of  r88r,  to  fill  a  vacancy;  was  re-elected  the 
following  spring  and  at  each  succeeding  election,  and 
holds  the  position  until  the  spring  of  1886. 

Mr.  Peal  was  united  in  marriage  at   Moline,   July 
18,  1872,  to  Miss  Carrie  A.  Van  Strand,  daughter  of 
N.  P.  Van  Strand.     Mrs.  Peal  was  born  in  Sweden 
and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  three  children, 


namely:  Freddie,  born  Aug.  24,  1873;  Edwin,  born 
May  17,  1875;  and  Rolla,  born  July  12,  1876. 

Mr.  P.  has  recently  refitted  and  improved  his 
hotel,  and  is  ready  to  cater  to  the  traveling  public  in 
good  style.  He  is  a  genial,  accommodating  landlord, 
and  understands  the  business  of  caring  for  the  com- 
fort of  traveling  public.  Mr.  Peal  is  a  Republican  in 
political  sentiment. 

* -«- * 

ewis  E.  Hesseman,  who  follows  the  occu- 
pation of  a  farmer  on  section  36,  Drury 
^  Township,  and  who  is  one  of  the  progress- 
ive and  energetic  farmers  of  his  township,  is  a 
son  of  Christian  and  Margaret  (Lyman)  Hesse- 
man, natives  of  Germany  and  Virginia  re- 
spectively. The  children  of  the  parents  were  four 
in  number,  namely  :  William  F.,  Lewis  E.,  Mar- 
garet and  Nancy.  The  father  came  to  Rock  Island 
County  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Drury  Town- 
ship, where  he  resided  and  reared  his  family,  and 
remained  until  the  date  of  his  death,  Aug.  4,  1880. 
The  mother  still  survives  her  husband,  and  resides 
in  Drury  Township,  making  her  home  with  her  chil- 
dren. 

Lewis  E.  Hesseman,  subject  of  our  notice,  was 
born  in  Drury  Township,  Nov.  18,  1846.  He  re- 
ceived the  advantages  afforded  by  the  public  schools, 
alternating  his  studies  therein  by  labor  on  the  farm, 
and  in  fact  has  resided  on  the  old  homestead  all  his 
life.  At  the  death  of  his  father,  Lewis  E.  came  in 
possession  of  the  old  homestead  farm,  comprising 
174^2  acres,  and  has  resided  on  the  same  until  the 
present  time. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hesseman  to  Sarah  B., 
daughter  of  David  and  Ellen  (Corbin)  Clarkson,  oc- 
curred Oct.  31,  1867,  in  Drury  Township.  Her 
perents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State 
her  mother  died.  Her  father  is  still  living.  The 
children  of  Mrs.  Hesseman 's  parents  were  seven  in 
number,  and  named  :  John  C,  Samantha,  Benjamin 
F.,  William  M.,  Sarah  B.,  Susan  I.,  Nancy  E.  Sarah 
E.  (Mrs.  Hesseman)  was  born  in  Huntington  Co., 
Pa.,  Dec.  19,  1844.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hesseman  are 
the  parents  of  eight  children:  Margaret  E.,  born 
May  15,  1869;  David  C,  Nov.  15,  1870;  Eliza  L., 
Aug.  12,  1872;  William  F.,  Nov.  1,  1873;  Elmo  F., 


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Aug.  15,  1875;  Iyy  G.,  Nov.  15,  1877;  Lewis  C, 
Sept.  25,  1879;  Percy  C,  Sept.  16,  1881.  Eliza  L. 
died  Aug.  13,  1872. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hesseman  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  has  held  the  office  of  School 
Director  in  his  township  for  12  years. 


Starlow  E.  Barber,  proprietor  of  the  Keator 
il|  House,  Moline,  was  born  at  Bridgewater, 
N.  Y.,  June  3,  1827,  and  was  the  eldest 
son  of  Champlin  and  Malancy  (Greene)  Bar- 
ber, natives  of  the  same  State.  The  elder 
Barber  was  a  farmer  and  brought  his  seven 
sons  up  to  that  vocation. 

Harlow  E.  acquired  whatever  of  an  education  he 
possesses  at  the  district  school-house,  which  was 
built  of  logs ;  and  he  taught  one  term,  when  about 
20  years  of  age.  He  left  home  a  short  time  before 
arriving  at  his  majority  and  took  a  tramp  to  New 
York  city  behind  a  drove  of  cattle.  A  short  experi- 
ence away  from  home  was  enough  for  the  first  trip, 
and  the  hearts  of  the  old  people  were  soon  gladdened 
by  his  return.  When  22  years  old  he  penetrated 
the  wilds  of  Illinois,  and  for  a  sustenance  cut  cord- 
wood  a  few  weeks  at  or  near  the  town  of  Marengo, 
111.,  leaving  then  on  a  tour  of  discovery  through  the 
forests  of  Wisconsin.  In  this  State,  however,  he  is 
recorded  as  a  farmer,  and  later  on  as  a  peddler  of 
Yankee  notions,  and  before  the  end  of  the  year  1850 
he  had  even  peddled  brass  clocks,  and  got  back  to 
Illinois.  His  genius  now  took  another  turn,  and  we 
find  him  at  St.  Paul  and  St.  Anthony,  selling  needles, 
pins,  beads,  ribbons  and  jack-knives  to  the  "  red 
man,"  and  taking  in  exchange  anything  "  Lo  "  had, 
except,  perhaps,  his  squaw  and  his  papooses. 

It  is  no  easy  task  for  the  historian  to  trace  the 
many  interesting  meandering*  of  this  now  most  pop- 
ular caterer  of  one  of  the  best  kept  hostelries  in  the 
State;  but  as  his  nomadic  life  has  long  since  been 
abandoned,  we  feel  it  but  a  duty  to  perpetuate  at 
least  a  part  of  it  in  history.  From  Indian  trader  in 
Minnesota  he  turned  stage-driver  in  Terre  Haute, 
and  before  the  savages  had  used  up  their  jack-knives 
or  beads  he  was  on  his  road  to  Rockford,  111.,  where 
he  invested  largely  in  a  patent  churn.  We  can  only 
surmise  the  financial  result  of  this  last  venture;  but 


as  we  find  him  for  the  next  two  years  working  in  the 
lumber  districts  around  Grand  Haven  and  other  lake 
points,  we  conclude  it  must  have  struck  him  pretty 
hard!  It  was  about  this  time  he  footed  it  from 
Green  Bay  through  the  forests,  following  routes 
marked  only  by  the  blazed  trees  a  distance  of  r5o 
miles  to  Little  Bay  de  Noquet.  He  was  soon  back, 
however,  to  Chicago,  from  which  point  he  radiated 
several  years,  taking  in  Green  Bay,  Grand  Rapids, 
Grand  Haven,  New  York  city,  etc.,  trafficking  in 
lumber,  running  saw-mills,  getting  wrecked  at  sea, 
shipping  cattle,  and  finally  peddling  cigars,  and 
started  the  first  street  omnibus  on  Lake  Street,  Chi- 
cago. All  this,  and  much  more  that  will  forever  re- 
main unrecorded,  he  did  in  a  half  dozen  years,  for 
we  find  him  in  Moline  in  1856,  in  the  employ  of 
Candee  &  Swan.  In  ^58  he  crossed  the  plains, 
which  required  five  months,  searching  for  gold  be- 
yond the  "  Rockies,"  and  did  not  find  any  to  speak 
of.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he  was  back  at  Moline, 
having  returned  via  Panama,  Island  of  Cuba  and 
New  Orleans. 

In  T862  he  enlisted  in  the  army  as  First  Ser- 
geant of  Co.  K,  129th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served 
three  years,  being  mustered  out  as  First  Sergeant. 
The  129th  regiment  was  organized  in  Livingston 
County,  and  ordered  to  Somerville,  Ky.,  to  join  Gen. 
Granger's  command,  who  were  chasing  Bragg  and 
his  army.  They  drove  the  Confederate  forces  through 
Frankfort,  Crab  Orchard  and  Prairieville  to  Bowling 
Green,  at  which  place  Sergeant  Barber  did  duty, 
guarding  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  Railroad.  From 
there  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Nashville,  and 
thence  to  Chattanooga,  where  they  were  assigned  to 
the  20th  Corps,  under  command  of  "  Fighting  Joe  " 
Hooker.  The  r2gth  participated  in  all  the  engage- 
ments before  reaching  Atlanta  and  on  through  to 
Savannah.  They  were  part  of  the  victorious  army 
that  marched  through  the  Carolinas  and  Richmond 
to  their  final  destination,  Washington,  having  taken 
part  in  13  battles,  among  them  those  of  Snake  Creek 
Gap,  Big  Shanty,  New  Hope  Church,  Peach-Tree 
Creek,  Bentonsville,  Averysborough,  etc. 

Returning  to  Moline,  he  manufactured  well  pumps 
awhile,  in  company  with  N.  Harper,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Candee,  Swan  &  Co.,  now  the  Moline 
Plow  Company ;  and  later  to  Deere  &  Co.  About 
his  last  important  failure  was  as  merchant  in  the  far 


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West.  He  purchased  in  Colorado  a  large  grocery 
stock,  loaded  it  into  ox  wagons  and  started  for  New 
Mexico;  but  in  an  unguarded  moment  he  slept,  and 
the  red  man  (probably  the  same  one  with  whom  he 
had  traded  at  St.  Anthony!)  crept  upon  him,  stam- 
peded his  cattle,  fired  his  wagons,  and  gave  him  a 
race  for  his  scalp-lock  that  he  will  probably  remem- 
ber to  the  end  of  his  life! 

After  trying  unsuccessfully  to  hold  down  a  claim 
in  Kansas,  he  returned  to  his  old  stamping  ground 
and  was  employed  as  salesman  for  Parlin,  Orendorff 
&  Co.,  of  Canton,  111.,  for  four  years,  and  finally,  in 
1883,  opened  the  Keator  House,  and  now  runs  it  as 
only  a  man  of  such  versatile  experience  could.  In 
short,  Mr.  Barber  makes  one  of  the  best  landlords 
in  the  country. 

Interspersed  with  his  many  adversities,  he  has  en- 
joyed many  successes.  He  has  made  fortunes  and 
lost  them;  and  no  difference  how  abrupt  may  have 
been  the  change  from  opulence  to  necessity,  no  man 
ever  saw  him  disheartened  or  discouraged.  Like  a 
a  cat,  every  time  he  falls  he  alights  upon  his  feet. 
With  an  unfailing  faith  in  the  recurrence  of  pros- 
perity, he  has  been  known  to  spend  his  last  dollar 
as  princely  as  if  he  had  thousands. 

Mr.  Barber  is  a  Republican,  a  Master  Mason  and 
Senior  Vice-Commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  has 
been  twice  married ;  first  to  a  Miss  Abby,  who  died 
in  1871,  having  one  child,  Jessie  Alice;  and  secondly 
to  Miss  Frances  Parker. 


-S3 


«- 


^fi^lff?  illiam  Hayes,  one  of  the  good  farmers  of 
l|"^BSis|'  Buffalo  Prairie  Township,  residingon  sec- 
jH^O  "  tion  31,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Pa.,  Feb.  11,  1811,  and  is  the  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Nancy  (Reynolds)  Hayes,  both  na- 
tives of  the  Keystone  State.  He  came  to  Rock 
Island  as  early  as  1843,  and  two  years  later  bought 
40  acres  of  land,  where  he  located  and  began  to 
develop  his  farm.  He  was  compelled  to  undergo 
many  hardships  and  privations,  as  the  early  settlers 
in  all  the  new  sections  must  necessarily  undergo, 
but  a  fair  amount  of  success  has  been  his  good  for- 
tune. He  located  on  section  31,  township  16, 
range  4.  On  this  he  built  a  log  house,  where  he 
resided  until  1858,  when  he  erected  a  large  frame 


residence.  At  the  present  time  lie  is  the  owner  of 
280  acres  of  land,  all  well  improved. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1835,  with 
Dorcas  Maxwell,  a  native  of  Westmoreland,  Pa., 
and  who  became  the  mother  of  six  children,  the 
record  of  whom  is  as  follows :  John  resides  in 
Drury  Township,  this  county,  and  was  born  in  July, 
1836;  Joseph  was  born  in  October,  1839,  and  now 
resides  in  Iowa  ;  Reynolds,  born  in  February,  1848, 
resides  in  Drury  Township;  Martha,  born  in  May, 
1851,  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Rine,  who  lives  in  Drury 
Township;  William,  born  in  May,  1854,  carries  on 
the  home  farm.  He  married  Miss  Addie  Rine,  of 
Buffalo  Prairie  Township. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  "born"  a  Democrat.  His  first 
vote  was  cast  for  Andrew  Jackson,  and  he  has  al- 
ways voted  the  Democratic  ticket  since,  saying  he 
expects  to  die  in  the  same  faith. 


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acob  A.  Seiver,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 32,  Drury  Township,  is  a  son  of  Law- 
rence W.  and  Mary  (Miller)  Seiver,  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  in  which  State  they  were 
^L  married  and  settled,  and  where  they  resided 
until  their  deaths.  Their  family  was  increased 
by  the  birth  of  eight  children,  namely:  Eli,  Jacob 
A.,  Samuel  W.,  James  L.,  Sarah,  Lorenzo  M.,  John 
H.  and  Mary  A. 

Jacob  A.,  mentioned  at  the  beginning  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Virginia, 
Aug.  27,  1820.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  Jacob 
lived  on  the  old  homestead,  alternating  his  labors 
thereon  by  attendance  at  the  public  schools  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  21  years.  On  arriving  at  his 
majority,  he  went  to  Highland  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
resided  a  few  months.  He  then  removed  to  Wayne 
Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself 
and  others  for  three  years  longer.  In  September, 
1844,  he  came  to  this  county  and  rented  land  in 
Drury  Township  for  six  years,  when  by  economy  he 
had  succeeded  in  saving  sufficient  means  to  pur- 
chase 80  acres  of  land  on  section  32,  Drury  Town- 
ship, on  which  he  located  and  at  once  began  the 
task  of  clearing,  cultivating  and  improving  it,  de- 
termined to  make  it  a  future  home  for  himself  and 
family,  and  on  which  he  has  since  resided.     He  has 


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erected  good  buildings  and  otherwise  improved  his 
place,  and  has  added  to  his  original  purchase  until 
he  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  200  acres,  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Seiver  was  first  united  in  marriage  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Ind.,  July  22,  1840,  to  Miss  Clarissa  Reynolds, 
daughter  of  W.  G.  and  Sarah  (Denny)  Reynolds. 
She  was  born  June  22,  1822,  and  has  borne  him 
three  children,  namely:  Senora,  born  Dec.  17, 
1842;  Viola,  Jan.  22,  1847;  and  Almira,  June  21, 
1849.  Mrs.  S.  died  in  Drury  Township,  July  25, 
1852,  and  Mr.  S.  was  again  married,  in  the  same 
township,  March  26,  1858,  to  Sarah  D.  Wray,  a  twin 
sister  of  John  E.  Wray  (see  sketch).  She  was  born 
at  Gallipolis,  Ohio,  July  20,  rS33.  They  are  the 
parents  by  this  marriage  of  five  children  :  Albert, 
born  Nov.  1,  1858;  Ida,  Aug.  20,  1861 ;  John  W., 
Oct.  13,  1864;  James  M.,  June  1,  1867;  and  Nellie 
M.,  April  18,  1872. 

Mr.  S.  has  held  the  office  of  Road  'Commissioner, 
School  Trustee  and  School  Director,  and  in  politics 
is  identified  with  the  adherents  of  the  [Republican 
party. 

-5 #-# 5- 


1  ilbert  K.  Sloan,  M.  D.,  is  a  son  of  John 
Montier  and  Nancy  Ann  (Fast)  Sloan,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania, of  Scotch  and  German  extraction, 
and  was  born  in  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct. 
19, 1846.  His  father,  who  died  March  4,  1849, 
at  his  home  in  Ohio,  aged  44  years,  was  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer,  but  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the 
ministry.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  ;  but,  not  fully  indorsing  their  system 
of  itinerancy,  he  never  accepted  any  regular  appoint- 
ment at  the  hands  of  the  conference,  preferring  to 
do  what  good  he  could  in  his  own  way,  and  without 
reward  other  than  the  consciousness  of  having  done 
his  duty  and  the  enjoyment  of  the  love  and  con- 
fidence of  those  with  whom  he  labored. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  brought  up  to  farm 
life,  and  followed  the  vocation  until  1866.  His  pri- 
mary education  was  acquired  at  the  public  schools, 
supplemented  by  a  short  term  at  Oberlin  College.  In 
1868  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of 
Dr.  Crane,  of  Ashland,  Ohio,  and  the  next  year  went 


to  Oregon  with  a  view  to  locating.  Taking  sick  on 
the  way,  he  stopped  in  Southern  Illinois,  and  while 
convalescing  decided  to  go  no  further.  He  here 
taught  school  and  read  medicine  until  1870,  when 
he  removed  to  Knoxville,  Iowa,  where  he  pursued  a 
similar  course  up  to  1873.  In  this  year  he  entered 
college,  and  two  years  later  graduated  as  M.  D. 
After  practicing  his  profession  about  two  years  in 
Iowa,  he  came  to  Moline  in  1880,  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  Dr.  P.  L.  McKinnie,  which  lasted 
two  years,  where  his  abilities  were  at  once  recog- 
nized, and  he  stepped  without  difficulty  or  delay  into 
a  lucrative  and  eminently  respectable  practice. 

Dr.  Sloan  is  a  prominent  member  of  both  Rock 
Island  County  and  Moline  Medical  Societies;  is 
now,  and  has  been  since  1882,  a  member  of  the 
School  Board,  and  at  the  head*  of  one  of  the  most 
important  committees;  also  a  member  of  the  Library 
Board,  and  Chairman  of  its  Executive  Committee. 

While  at  Knoxville,  Iowa,  the  Doctor  became  ac- 
quainted with  Miss  Emma  J.,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Mr.  A.  W.  Collins,  President  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  that  place,  and,  April  26,  1S76, 
made  her  his  wife.  Miss  Collins  (now  Mrs.  Sloan) 
was  one  of  the  brightest  of  the  class  in  which  she 
graduated,  at  Western  University,  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Iowa ;  and  the  happy  grace  with  which  she  presides 
over  her  domestic  affairs  and  discharges  the  pleasant 
duty  of  wife  and  motherhood — the  latter  including 
the  care  and  training  of  three  pretty  children,  Ches- 
ter C,  Clara  Olive,  and  "  Carl  " — is  but  another 
evidence  of  the  fact  that  it  is  to  the  education  of 
women  that  men  must  look  for  the  purest  and  surest 
elevation  of  their  race. 


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^l^sa'l-*  Warman  follows  the  vocation  of  a  farmer 
t-;[^0|q  on  section  18,  Drury  Township,  where  he 
3=/*  is  the  proprietor  of  120  acres  of  good  till- 
able land.  He  is  a  son  of  Enoch  and  Mary 
(Brockway)  Warman,  natives  of  Virginia.  They 
settled  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  both 
died.  Their  family  comprised  nine  children,  of 
which  Enoch  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Warman  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ind.,  Nov. 
6,  1825.  He  resided  on  the  parental  homestead, 
alternating  his  labors  thereon  by  attendance  at  the 


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325 


common  schools,  in  which  he  received  a  good  educa- 
tion. He  continued  to  follow  the  vocation  of  a 
farmer  in  Wayne  County  until  185 3,  when  he  moved 
to  Louisa  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  and 
was  engaged  in  its  cultivation  for  about  eight  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1861  Mr.  Warman  came  to  Rock  Island 
County  and  purchase  120  acres  of  land,  located  in 
Drury  Township,  and  at  once  entered  upon  its  culti- 
vation and  improvement,  erecting  good  buildings 
and  otherwise  improving  his  land,  and  on  which  he 
has  resided  to  the  present  time  (1885). 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Warman  occurred  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  17,  1852,  and  the  lady  of  his  choice 
was  Miss  Elmira  Reynolds,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Milton  and  Orpha  Reynolds.  She  was 
the  second  child  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  and 
was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Nov.  12,  1834.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Warman  are  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  survive.  The  living  are  :  Vie  Emma, 
wife  of  Albert  Bowser;  Mary  J.,  Mrs.  Albert  T. 
Brown;  Sarah  R.,  wife  of  Wilson  Bowser;  James  L., 
Sherman,  Willard  and  Orson  O.  Grant  and  Medora 
are  the  deceased. 

Mr.  Warman  enlisted  in  March,  1864,  in  the  28th 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  six  months,  when  he  was 
discharged  at  Brownsville,  Tenn.,  on  account  of 
disability.  Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  School  Director  in  his  township. 


\  rof.  K.  Erixon,  Pastor  of  the  Gust.  Adolph 
(Swedish    Lutheran)    Church    of     Moline 


since  the  spring  of  1882,  is  a  native  of 
Sweden,  where  he  was  born  June  2,  1827.  He 
was  educated  at  the  university  at  Stockholm, 
that  country  ;  served  as  preacher  and  teacher  in  his 
native  land ;  had  the  government  of  the  children's 
home  of  the  city  mission  of  Stockholm  ;  was  founder 
and  publisher  of  the  politico-religious  paper  entitled 
the  New  Posteti,  at  Stockholm,  yet  continued,  but 
under  the  name  of  Hemlandsvannen  (Homeland's 
Friend),  one  of  the  most  widely  circulated  papers  in 
Sweden. 

In  1878,  Prof.  Erixon  moved  to  the  United  States, 
locating  at  Knoxville,  this  State,  where  he  was  de- 
nominated Professor  in  Ansgari  College,  a  Swedish- 


American  institution,  and  subsequently  President  of 
the  college.  This  connection  continued  eight  years, 
when  he  went  to  Lindsborg,  Kan.,  where  he  was 
employed  as  Pastor  of  the  mission  Church  from  18S0 
to  1882.  In  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he  came 
to  Moline  to  accept  his  present  position.  While  at 
Knoxville  he  was  also  chosen  President  of  the  Synod, 
and  served  as  such  until  his  removal  to  Kansas  in 
1880. 

•Prof.  Erixon  was  married  in  Sweden,  March  2, 
1849,  to  Miss  Helena  Elizabeth  Olsen,  and  they 
have  three  children,  namely  :  Hildegard,  Bertha  and 
Charles.  The  last  named  died  in  1857,  and  Bertha 
became  the  wife  of  Christ.  Krause,  and  died  Dec  3, 
1884. 


^avid  Mardock,  who  follows  the  vocation  of 
.    a  fanner  on    section   32,  Drury  Township, 


hjjS-"     's  a  son  °f  James  and  Catherine  (Bowers) 


[n,      Mardock,  natives  of  North  Carolina  and  Ten 


nessee  respectively,  and  of  Irish  and  German 
ancestry.  They  were  united  in  marriage  and 
settled  in  Tennessee,  from  where  they  removed  to 
Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  and  afterward  to  Union  Co.,  Ind., 
where  they  resided  until  their  deaths. 

David  Mardock  was  the  fourth  child  in  order  of 
birth  of  a  family  of  15  children.  He  was  born 
in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  28,  1815.  He  was  quite 
young  when  his  parents  moved  from  the  latter  State 
to  Indiana,  and  lived  at  home,  assisting  in  the  main- 
tenance of  the  family  by  working  on  the  farm  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  29  years.  His  education  was 
received  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county. 
In  the  spring  of  1844  Mr.  Mardock  came  to  this 
county,  but,  after  a  few  months'  sojourn  here,  re- 
turned to  Indiana,  where  he  remained  engaged  in 
the  vocation  of  farming  until  185 1.  During  the  latter 
part  of  that  year  he  again  returned  to  this  county, 
and  in  1852  permanently  located  in  Drury  Township, 
on  section  32,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is 
the  proprietor  of  160  acres  of  land  in  that  township, 
on  which  he  has  erected  a  good  residence,  together 
with  substantial  outbuildings,  and  placed  his  acreage 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Mardock  was  united  in  marriage  in  Muscatine, 

Iowa,  Sept.  11,  1853,  with   Mary   E.   Irwin,   the   ac- 

I   complished  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Sophia  (Bear) 

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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Irwin,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky  re- 
spectively. Her  father  lived  several  years  in  Ken- 
Lucky  and  Indiana,  and  in  1841  he  emigrated  to 
Muscatine,  Iowa.  He  enlisted  in  the  114th  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.  and  was  killed  on  the  Yazoo  River.  Her 
mother  died  in  Madison,  Ind.  Mrs.  Mardock  was 
born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ind.,  July  9.  1S33.  The  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mardock  are  four  in  number, 
namely:  Effie,  born  Sept.  3,  1854;  Bertha,  born 
Aug.  28,  1S58;  Carrie  A.,  born  March  9,  1S61;  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy.     Effie  is  also  deceased. 

Mr.  Mardock  has  been  Supervisor,  School  Director 
and  School  Trustee  in  his  township.  Politically,  he 
he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles 
advocated  by  the  Democratic  party. 


-  ;         -,_ 


lbert  Hanson,  of  the  firm  of  Anderson  & 
=gkHanson,  dealers  in  stoves,  tinware,  gas-pipes, 


etc,  Moline,  was  born  in  Rock  Island,  Sept.  9, 
1855,  and  is  the  son  of  Jonas  P.  Hanson.  He 
came  to  Moline  in  boyhood  and  worked  three 
years  with  the  Moline  Paper  Mills,  and  13 
years  with  James  Shaw,  merchant,  as  salesman.  In 
187S  he  went  to  Sweden  to  make  a  visit,  and  re- 
mained there  nine  months.  On  the  1st  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1884,  he  entered  into  the  existing  partner- 
ship with  A.  Q.  Anderson.  Politically,  Mr.  Hanson 
is  a  Republican. 


tenry  Ziegler,  a  resident  of  Buffalo  Prairie 
Township,  was  born  on  the  Rhine,  in  the 
the  Province  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, Aug.  19,  1829.  His  parents  were  John 
and  Antoinette  (Weisbach)  Ziegler.  As  soon  as 
Mr.  Ziegler  was  large  enough  to  attend  school 
in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  his  native  country,  he 
was  placed  in  school  and  continued  there  until  his 
18th  year.  In  the  spring  of  1847,  when  iS  years  of 
age,  he  emigrated  to  America.  At  that  time  he  did 
not  come  with  the  intention  of  making  this  his  home. 
He  landed  in  New  Orleans,  and  from  that  city  went 
to  Cincinnati,  where  he  worked  in  a  hotel  for  a  time, 
going  thence  to  Louisville,  where  he  resided  until  the 


winter  of  1S49-50,  when  he  unexpectedly  received  a 
letter  from  his  mother  and  brother  in  Rock  Island 
County,  and  started  immediately  to  meet  them  here. 
On  his  arrival  in  this  county  he  engaged  with  a  cabi- 
net-maker, and  worked  at  that  trade  for  two  years. 
He  then  purchased  land  on  section  14,  Buffalo  Prai- 
rie Township,  on  which  he  located  and  for  two  years 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Leaving  the 
farm,  he  went  to  Rock  Island  city  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  trade,  which  he  followed  for  two 
years,  when  he  engaged  in  farming  again.  His  farm 
consists  of  350  acres,  the  major  portion  of  which  is 
fenced  and  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Ziegler  was  united  in  marriage  Feb.  19,  1853, 
with  Miss  Barbara  Fuhr,  daughter  of  Valentine  and 
Barbara  Fuhr.  She  was  born  May  27,  1830.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ziegler  are  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Elizabeth,  born  April  12,  1S54,  and  is 
now  the  wife  of  Gotlieb  Lehmann ;  Henry,  born 
June  16,  1857;  Julius,  June  29,  1S59;  Otto,  Oct.  25, 
1865;  Caroline,  Dec.  6,  1S67  ;  Herman,  Dec.  25, 
1869,  and  Emil,  April  20,  1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ziegler  are  both  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 
In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  has  been  since  its  organization. 


-J 


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antes  Hanna,  deceased,  formerly  a  farmer 
~  residing  on  section    12,  Rural  Township, 


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was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  July 
21,  1823.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  in  his 
native  county  until  1S52,  when  he  emigrated 
to  the  "  land  of  great  possibilities  "  and  came 
direct  to  this  county,  settling  on  section  12,  Rural 
Township,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  the 
date  of  his  death,  March  14,  1872.  On  locating  on 
his  land  in  Rural  Township,  he  entered  at  once  vig- 
orously and  energetically  on  the  task  of  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation,  and  at  the  date  of  his  death 
was  the  owner  of  1  60  acres  of  good  tillable  land,  on 
which  he  had  erected  a  fine  residence,  together  with 
barn  and  good  substantial  outbuildings. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hanna  was  celebrated  Sept. 
2,  1852,  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  the  lady  selected  to 
share  his  joys  and  sorrows,  reverses  and  successes 
through  life  was  Miss  Mary  McWhinney.  She  was 
born  in  the  County  Down,  Ireland,  June  27,  1832, 
and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in   1S49,  and  re- 


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sided  in  Pittsburg  until  her  marriage.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children  :  Eliza  J.,  John,  Sarah 
H.,  Mary,  Robert  M.,  James,  Charles  M.  and 
Maggie. 

Mrs.  Hanna  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  She  is  an  active  business  woman, 
and  is  at  present,  with  the  assistance  of  her  children, 
carry  on  the  farm  left  her  by  her  husband,  in  which 
vocation  she  has  become  somewhat  proficient. 


^ 


llpjlml  lanson  Sinnet,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
'^■MJSt-  ci''zens  °f  tne  county  and  a  resident  of 
W~™  Rock  Island,  was  born  at  Blandford,  Mass., 
;  Aug.  15,  1S01.  His  father,  James  Sinnet,  was 
a  native  of  Ireland,  and  his  mother,  Mary 
(Isham)  Sinnet,  was  ^probably  of  English  de- 
scent, though  her  family  was  among  the  earliest 
New  England  settlers.  James  Sinnet  came  to  Amer- 
ica while  very  young,  and  settled  at  Blandford, 
where  he  grew  up,  married  and  established  a  home, 
the  old  homestead  being  at  this  writing  (1885)  oc- 
cupied by  some  of  his  descendants.  He  emigrated 
to  Ohio  in  1806,  and  died  at  Granville,  that  State, 
two  years  afterward.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  in  this  his  sons  followed,  somewhat,  his 
footsteps.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  fair 
English  education  at  the  common  schools  of  Ohio, 
and  in  after  life  became  one  of  the  foremost  patrons 
of  an  academy  of  learning  established  in  the  village 
where  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  his  youth.  He  was 
one  of  the  earliest  founders  of  Granville  College, 
Ohio,  and  at  different  times  subscribed  the  sum  of 
$1,000.  He  was  a  Trustee  of  that  institution  22 
years,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
for  the  same  time. 

Mr.  A.  Sinnet  was  iS  years  of  age  when  he  began 
business  for  himself,  on  a  capital  alone  of  energy, 
physical  strength,  a  well  balanced  mind  and  a  fixed 
determination.  Licking  County,  Ohio,  was  the  scene 
of  his  earliest  struggles  and  his  ultimate  success. 
He  began  as  a  farmer  and  cattle-raiser,  but  in  a  few 
years  abandoned  the  latter  and  adopted  sheep  rais- 
ing instead,  and  soon  became  one  of  the  three  largest 
sheep  dealers  in  that  part  of  the  country.     In  1S56 


he  sold  out  his  property,  realizing  therefrom  about 
$8, 000  in  cash  and  came  at  once  to  Rock  Island 
County.  This  sum  of  money  at  his  command  at 
that  early  day  gave  him  a  great  advantage,  and  it 
was  not  many  years  before  he  was  recognized  as  a 
wealthy  man.  In  partnership  with  his  son,  who  had 
preceded  him  to  Illinois  by  about  one  year,  he  bought 
a  tract  of  land  containing  55  acres,  now  known  as 
"  Sinnet's  Addition  to  the  City  of  Rock  Island."  To 
the  improvement  of  this  property  he  has  devoted 
much  of  his  time,  though  not  to  the  exclusion  of  vari- 
ous other  business  interests.  He  has  been  a  money 
lender,  ice  dealer,  and  was  the  prime  mover  in  the 
construction  of  the  street  railway  running  through 
his  addition  between  Rock  Island  and  Moline.  His 
was  the  first  name  upon  the  subscription  list  in 
that  enterprise,  and  he  set  opposite  his  signature 
"  $4,000."  This  act  gave  other  moneyed  men  courage, 
and  the  result  was,  the  "  Moline  &  Rock  Island 
Horse  Railroad  "  was  pressed  to  completion  many 
years  earlier  than  it  would  have  been  but  for  the 
foresight  and  business  sagacity  of  Mr.  Sinnet. 

From  the  abundance  of  wealth  accumulated,  not 
at  the  expense  of  his  neighbors,  not  by  speculations 
in  "  margins,"  nor  by  the  wrecking  of  railroads  for 
the  purpose  of  gobbling  in  their  stocks,  but  by  purely 
legitimate  means,  he  has  been  one  of  the  most  liberal 
givers  to  worthy  objects  of  charity.  The  churches, 
schools,  and  eleemosynary  institutions  in  various 
places  have  been  the  recipient  of  his  bounties.  In 
1883,  he  had  erected  at  his  own  expense,  a  chapel 
in  Northern  India,  where  the  gospel  of  Christ  is 
preached  every  Sabbath  by  a  native  minister,  sup- 
ported entirely  by  Mr.  Sinnet.  The  following  letter, 
from  a  resident  missionary  in  India  to  a  minister 
identified  with  the  foreign  missionary  cause,  is 
deemed  in  place  here,  as  it  throws  full  light  upon  a 
subject  somewhat  difficult  of  explanation  : 

"  Baptist  Mission,  Nt^rsa-    ) 

RAVAPETT,  Dec.  27,   1884.    j 

"  Rev.  C.  Tolman, 

"  Dear  Brother  : — An  explanation  is  due,  I  think, 
in  reference  to  my  long  silence  in  regard  to  the  '  Sin- 
net Station.'  In  the  firsi  place,  I  have  been  away  to 
Ongole  for  medical  treatment;  besides  this,  the 
opening  up  of  this  new  station  has  been  attended 
with  difficulties,  and  I  was  not  anxious  to  write  un- 
til I  could  report  that  the  '  Sinnet  Station'  was  fully 
established.  I  am  glad  to  say  now  that  this  is  the 
case,  and  I  would  therefore  like  to  tell  Father  Sinnet, 
through  you,  something  about  it. 


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"  l!ro.  Sinnet's  station  is  about  six  miles  south  of 
the  Krishna  River,  and  about  25  miles  north  of  Nur- 
saravapett.  I  think  it  is  the  most  northern  mission 
station  of  our  Teloogoo  Mission.  We  have  Chris- 
tians north  of  it,  but  I  do  not  think  we  have  any 
preachers  established.  It  is  therefore  a  '  frontier 
point,' — a  light  in  a  dark  place. 

"  In  my  former  letter  I  said  something  about  Sol- 
omon and  his  wife.  I  am  glad  to  report  that  they 
have  proved  all  that  I  anticipated.  It  would  do  you 
good  to  hear  Solomon  pray.  He  is  a  man  in  real 
earnest,  and  lays  hold  of  the  people.  But  we  are 
scarcely  at  the  beginning  of  the  work  at  that  dark 
corner  of  my  field.  I  feel  confident  that  Solomon  in 
the  '  Sinnet  Station'  will  be  the  means  of  leading 
many  to  the  Savior. 

"  I  have  appointed  one,  named  Abraham,  to  labor 
with  Solomon.  Unlike  the  majority  of  our  Teloogoo 
Christians,  this  old  man  can  read  and  sing  well. 
He  was,  in  former  days,  an  enthusiastic,  noted  idol- 
ator,  but  now  a  devoted  preacher  of  the  gospel, 
spending  all  his  time  traveling  from  village  to  vil- 
lage, singing  and  preaching.  His  influence  with  the 
people  is  great,  and  scarcely  a  quarterly  meeting 
passes  without  his  bringing  some  converts  for  bap- 
tism. Thus  you  will  see  that  the  '  Sinnet  Station  '  is 
manned  by  worthy  incumbents. 

"  Our  chief  success,  I  think,  has  been  the  planting 
of  this  new  station  in  the  midst  of  this  vast  unevan- 
gelized  population,  and  the  beginning  of  what  I  am 
sure  will  prove  a  great  work.  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
glad  I  am  that  Father  Sinnet  has  enabled  me  to  be- 
gin this  good  work.  Please  thank  him  for  me.  Tell 
him  I  will  write  him  full  accounts  of  the  work  as  it 
goes  on.  His  money  is  being  expended  upon  worthy 
men,  and  has  already,  I  believe,  been] the  means  of 
leading  some  into  the  truth. 

"  Believe  me  yours  faithfully, 

R.  Maplesden." 

Mr.  Sinnet  was  made  a  life  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  in  1855,  and  of 
the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union  in  1881. 
He  has  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  since  1827,  and  an  active  Sunday-school 
worker  for  more  than  50  years.  He  is  also  an  hon- 
orary member  of  the  [Old  'Settlers'  tSociety  of  this 
county. 

Mr.  Sinnett  was  first  married,  at  Granville,  Ohio, 
to  Miss  Julia  A.  Webster,  a  cousin  of  the  famous 
Massachusetts  statesman  of  that  name.  Mrs.  Sinnet 
died  Feb.  rr,  1868,  at  the  age  of  68  years,  leaving 
seven  children,  as  follows :  James  W.,  now  a  law- 
yer, resident  in  the  State  of  Missouri;  Georgeana, 
wife  of  Geo.  Heck,  Esq.,  of  Moline;  Eugene  A., 
born  April    10,    1S30,  died  Nov.    7,    1884;  Francis 


M.,  of  Rock  Island  (see  biography  of  F.  M.  Sinnet, 
Esq.)  ;  Laura  E.,  wife  of  I.  P.  Wilson,  of  Chamber- 
lain, D.  T. ;  Ellen  J.,  born  March  10,  1839,  died 
April  5,  r  875,  wife  of  H.  Bowman,  of  Rock  Island; 
and  Henry  H.,  born  Nov.  10,  1841,  died  July  19, 
1882.  Mr.  Sinnet's  present  wife  was  Miss  Pauline 
E.  Williams,  relative  of  United  States  Senator  Raw- 
lings  and  a  native  of  Vermont.  They  were  married 
at  Rock  Island,  Nov.  n,  187  1.  Being  much  younger 
than  her  husband,  she  takes  charge  of  his  corre- 
spondence and  book-keeping,  in  addition  to  the  many 
other  duties  incident  to  a  supervision  of  household 
affairs. 

Mr.  Sinnet  was  originally  a  Whig,  but  since  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  has  regularly 
been  identified  therewith.  At  no  time  in  life  has  he 
sought  political  preference,  but  on  the  contrary  has 
refused  any  and  all  official  distinction. 

Mr.  Sinnet's  portrait,  on  a  preceding  page,  is 
naturally  to  be  expected  in  this  connection  by  the 
public  in  this  part  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  even 
by  Christians  throughout  the  world  who  are  inter- 
ested in  the  gpspel  work  in  Northern  India.  The 
publishers  of  this  work  also  take  pleasure  in  present- 
ing the  portraits  of  his  former,  as  well  as  his  present, 
wife. 

sr.  Jacob  Stewart,  homeopathic  physician, 
proprietor  of  "  Stewart's  Addition  to  Mo- 
line "  and  dealer  in  real  estate,  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  28,  1824,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Covode)  Stewart. 
His  mother  was  a  sister  of  Hon.  John  Covode, 
M.  C,  from  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Stewart  lost  his 
father  in  childhood,  and,  his  mother  marrying  again, 
he  accompanied  her  and  his  stepfather  to  Ohio  in 
1839.  He  studied  medicine  and  took  a  regular 
course  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati, 
and  graduated  in  1849.  He  then  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  Sharpsburg,  Pa.,  the  same 
year,  and  pursued  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
that  city  and  adjacent  country  till  1S71,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Moline  and  has  been  in  practice  here  con- 
tinuously since,  except  while  devoting  his  attention 
to  his  extensive  real-estate  interests  south  of  the  city. 
On   coming  to  Moline,   Dr.  Stewart  purchased  a 


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Deceased 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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tract  of  land  comprising  89^  acres,  lying  just  south 
of  the  city,  two-thirds  of  which  he  has  platted  as 
South  Moline,  and  which  is  commonly  known  as 
Stewartsville.  He  has  adopted  the  plan  of  erecting 
buildings  on  his  lots  and  then  selling  them  on  such 
easy  terms  that  it  has  afforded  many  people  of  limited 
means  the  opportunity  of  securing  homes  for  an 
annual  outlay  of  about  as  much  as  they  would  have 
to  pay  in  rents.  The  construction  of  the  street  rail- 
way in  South  Moline,  or  Stewartsville,  has  made  his 
property  easily  accessible,  and  materially  increased  in 
the  value  of  the  same,  as  well  as  that  of  his  customers. 
Dr.  Stewart  has  displayed  great  enterprise  and  en- 
ergy in  building  up  and  improving  South  Moline, 
and  is  at  present  possessed  of  much  valuable  prop- 
erty in  that  locality.  He  also  has  a  valuable  farm, 
comprising  400  acres,  which  is  located  near  Hum- 
boldt, Kan. 

Dr.  Stewart  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Mary  E.  Herr,  in  Sharpsburg,  Pa.,  May  16, 
1850.  She  was  born  in  the  place  where  she  was 
married,  Jan.  6,  1832.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Stewart  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  the  Doctor  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Politically,  Dr.  Stewart 
is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


~w\.-o*a£&>tsvi8~ 


|-x"g§^WZT<rav.  "VW*. 


Herbert  Foster,  a  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
t-  tion  18,  Drury  To.nship,  is  a  son  of  Jona- 
than and  Huldah  (Griffin)  Foster,  natives 
of  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  respectively. 
They  were  married  and  settled  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,    where  they  resided  until  their  deaths. 
Their  family  comprised  seven  children — Amos,  Sarah 
P.,  Kate  F.,  J.  Herbert,  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mary, 
William  S.,  and  Fred  E. 

J.  Herbert  Foster,  who  heads  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  May  15,  1840.  He  received  the 
[  advantages  afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  attended  the  university  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  for  two  years,  receiving  a  good  English 
education.  In  1861,  Mr.  Foster  came  to  this  county 
^  and  located  in  Drury  Township,  where  he  has  since 
resided  with  the  exception  of  five  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Mus- 


:! 


catine,  Iowa.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of  240 
acres  of  land  located  in  Drury  Township,  and  under 
an  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  with  good  substan- 
tial residences. 

Mr.  Foster  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Louise  Wimble,  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  0,t.  25, 
1 86 1,  just  previous  to  his  coming  to  this  county. 
She  was  born  in  the  city  in  which  they  were  mar- 
ried, Sept.  6,  1840.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children — George  G.,  born  March  5,  1863; 
F.  Warner,  bom  Jan.  31,  1S65  ;  Beulah,  born  Oct. 
21,  1867;  Sadie  J.,  born  June  7,  1876;  and  Kate, 
born  Jan.  21,  1881.     Sadie  J.  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Foster  has  held  the  office  of  Township  Col- 
lector, and  Mrs.  Foster  at  present  is  School  Treas- 
urer of  the  township.  Politically,  Mr.  Foster  is  a 
member  of  the  National  party. 


^6££S£? 


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illiam  A.  France,  a  resident  of  Buffalo 
Prairie  Township,  and  one  of  the  energetic 
jlllP-f31  and  progressive  farmers,  as  well  as  large 
H/  land-owners  of  that  township,  was  born  in 
Rootstown,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  May  30, 
1834.  His  father,  Lewis  France,  is  a  native  of 
Maryland,  in  which  State  he  was  born  in  1808.  His 
father  was  for  a  time  a  hotel-keeper  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore.  When  Mr.  France,  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  was  quite  young  his  parents  moved  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  Lewis  France  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  settled  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
united  in  marriage  to  Guli  Landon,  a  native  of  that 
county.  After  marriage  they  settled  in  Portage 
County,  where  he  purchased  a  small  place,  which  he 
cultivated  in  connection  with  following  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter.  In  the  fall  of  1848,  Lewis  France, 
hoping  to  better  his  financial  condition  in  life,  came 
to  this  county  with  his  family.  He  had  previously 
disposed  of  his  property  in  Portage  County,  and  he 
made  the  journey  overland  with  a  team  of  horses 
and  wagon,  bringing  with  them  a  few  household 
goods.  After  a  journey  of  three  weeks,  they  arrived 
in  this  county,  where  Lewis  rented  land,  which  he 
cultivated    for    three    years.     He    then    purchased 

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school  land  on  section  16,  Buffalo  Prairie  Township, 
and  entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon  the 
task  of  its  improvement  and  cultivation.  He  at  first 
erected  a  log  house  on  his  land,  in  which  he  resided 
for  six  years,  when  he  replaced  the  old  log  structure 
by  a  neat  and  commodious  residence.  In  1859  he 
sold  his  land,  and  moved  to  Missouri  and  located  in 
Harrison  County,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  on 
which  he  resided  until  after  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  a  Union  man  during  the  war;  and,  living  in 
a  neighborhood  intensely  identified  with  the  cause  of 
the  South,  he  was  compelled  to  defend  his  home  and 
family  from  incendiarism  and  attack.  From  Mis- 
souri he  moved  to  Kansas,  in  1878,  and  took  a  claim 
in  Osborne  County.  He  lived  there  three  years,  and 
raised  a  crop,  but  it  was  a  failure,  and  he  returned 
to  Rockport,  Mo.,  where  he  resided  with  his  son, 
John  W.  In  June,  1882,  his  wife  died,  and  he  then 
went  to  Atlanta,  where  he  resided  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Jacob  Templeman,  nine  months,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Buffalo  Prairie  Township,  and  has  since 
lived  with  his  son,  William  A.,  subject  of  this  notice. 

William  A.  France,  of  whom  we  write,  was  in  his 
14th  year  when,  in'company  with  his  parents,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  here  grew  to  manhood.  In  1S56  he 
went  to  Missouri,  and  pre-empted  land  in  Harrison 
County.  He  lived  there  long  enough  to  prove  up  on 
his  land,  and  the  next  season  was  engaged  in  break- 
ing prairie.  He  was  there  a  little  more  than  a  year, 
and  then  returned  to  this  State,  and  for  a  time 
rented  land,  which  he  cultivated.  In  1S63  he 
bought  80  acres,  on  which  there  was  a  log  house 
18  x  12  feet  in  dimensions.  He  has  since  added  to 
his  original  purchase  until  he  at  present  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  462  acres  of  land,  all  located  in  Buffalo 
Prairie  Township,  and  all  of  which  is  enclosed  ex- 
cept 20  acres.  He  has  erected  a  good  frame  resi- 
dence, barn  and  substantial  outbuildings,  and  has 
planted  fruit,  shade  and  ornamental  trees  on  his 
place,  until  it  not  only  presents  a  fine  appearance, 
but  is  also  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  France  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Dec. 
9,  1859,  with  Miss  Emma  Bruner,  daughter  of  John 
M.  and  Ann  (Bockins)  Bruner.  Their  children  have 
been  five  in  number — John  H.,  born  Aug.  21,  1859  ; 
Issie,  born  June  21,  1861  ;  Wyndham  H.,  born  Feb. 
16,  1863;  Charles  Samuel,  born  July  22,  1867  ;  Wil- 
liam Aimer,  born  June  5,  1S72.  The  eldest  son, 
John  H,  went  to   Kansas  in    1884,  and  located  at 


Sharon,  Barbour  County,  where  he  purchased  160 
acres  of  Government  land,  on  which  he  is  engaged 
in  the  vocation  of  a  farmer. 

Politically,  Mr.  France  upholds  the   principles  of 
the  Republican  party. 


#*#* 


'  ]  i )}havid  °"  Reid'  resident  at  Moline,  is  a  na- 
ilij>  l've  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  the  eldest  son 
^ifgp3  of  Robert  Findlay  and  Sarah  (Ogle)  Reid, 
of  Irish  and  Pennsylvania  nativity  respective- 
ly, and  was  born  June  r,  1S34.  The  family  re- 
moved to  Indianapolis  in  183S,  where,  with  the 
exception  of  his  father,  who  died  there  in  1843,  tney 
resided  about  ten  years. 

Mrs.  Reid  returned  with  her  children  to  Harris- 
burg, and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  placed 
under  the  instruction  of  M.  A.  Swiler,  who  taught 
him  the  tinsmith's  trade.  Alternating  his  labors  of 
his  apprenticeship  with  attendance  at  the  common 
schools,  he  acquired  the  rudiments  of  an  English 
education.  He  came  to  Rock  Island  city  in  1856, 
and  engaged  at  once  in  the  tin  business,  which  he 
followed  until  i86r.  In  February,  of  that  year,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amanda  L.  Webster, 
of  Rock  Island. 

In  the  summer  following  he  enlisted  as  a  private 
soldier  in  Co.  H,  45th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  served  three 
years,  veteranized  at  Vicksburg  in  1863  and  re- 
mained in  the  army  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  July,  1865,  with 
the  rank  of  Captain  of  the  company  in  which  he 
first  enrolled.  His  first  promotion  was  to  the  office 
of  Second  Sergeant  of  his  company,  and  from  that 
he  rose  through  every  subordinate  position  in  their 
order  to  the  Captaincy.  He  was  wounded  at  Ray- 
mond, Miss.,  in  May,  1863,  and  captured  probably 
about  the  same  time.  In  September  following  he  was 
exchanged  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  at  once  ap- 
pointed, by  Col.  Bonneville,  Adjutant  of  the  post  of 
Benton  Barracks,  a  position  he  held  till  relieved,  and 
then  returned  to  his  command,  in  January,  1864 
He  participated  in  all  the  battles  where  his  regiment 
was  engaged  up  to  the  time  of  his  capture,  and  after- 
wards, with  the  60,000  others,  accompanied  Sherman  , 


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on  his  triumphal  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  He 
was  at  the  head  of  his  company  in  the  Grand  Re- 
view at  Washington  in  1865,  and  at  Louisville  in 
July  of  that  year  bade  farwell  to  his  few  surviving 
comrades  of  old  Co.  H,  and  in  a  short  time  there- 
after joined  his  young  wife,  who  had  so  patiently 
awaited  his  coming  through  the  long,  dreary  years  of 
war. 

Returning  to  Rock  Island,  he  again  engaged  in  tin- 
smith business,  which  he  abandoned  in  April,  1S68, 
to  accept  the  City  Clerk's  office,  a  position  he  held 
one  year.  In  April,  1869,  he  removed  to  Moline, 
and  in  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Spencer  engaged  in  the 
business  he  has  since  followed,  that  of  dealer  in 
stoves,  tin  and  hardware.  Mr.  Spencer  retired  from 
the  firm  in  1870,  and  was  succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Stone, 
who  sold  out  to  Capt.  Reid  in  1873.  Since  coming 
to  Moline,  Capt.  Reid  has  served  the  city  about 
five  years  as  Supervisor  and  Rock  Island  County  two 
terms  as  Treasurer. 

Mr.  Reid  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  Past  Post  Commander  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
and  affiliates  with  the  A.  O.  U.  VV.  He  held  the 
commission  of  Colonel  and  Aide-de-Camp  on  the 
staffs  of  both  Governors  Cullom  and  Hamilton,  in  all 
eight  years.  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Reid  have  become  the 
parents  of  n  children,  the  following  being  their 
names:  John,  deceased,  Caroline,  Sarah,  Robert, 
David,  deceased,  Catharine,  deceased,  Henrietta, 
Frances,  William,  Arthur  W.  and  Elizabeth. 


ames  F.  Palmer,  farmer,  section    24,  Coe 


m&  Township,  was  born  April  7,  1848,  and  i 
v        the  third  son  of  David  and  Clarissa  (Smith 


(Smith) 
Palmer.  His  father  was  born  June  28,  181 1, 
in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  early  life  was 
left  to  the  sole  care  of  his  mother  by  the  death 
of  his  father,  which  was  caused  by  an  accident.  The 
mother  came  with  her  family  to  Michigan  and  they 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Wayne  County. 

David  Palmer  bought  a  tract  of  timber,  cleared  a 
small  place  for  a  house  and  erected  the  house  of  the 
pioneer — the  regulation  log-cabin.  He  went  vigor- 
ously to  work  to  improve  his  land  and  cleared  a  fine 


farm,  on  which  he  was  a  resident  with  his  family  un- 
til 185 1.  In  that  year  lie  exchanged  his  Michigan 
farm  for  unimproved  prairie  in  what  is  now  Coe 
Township.  He,  with  his  wife  and  nine  children, 
drove  to  their  new  home  with  a  pair  of  horses  and 
a  wagon,  carrying  with  them  the  supplies  they  need- 
ed for  sustenance  on  the  route,  which  they  were  four 
weeks  in  traversing.  The  head  of  the  family  had 
never  seen  the  land  on  which  he  purposed  to  estab- 
lish a  new  home  until  he  took  the  final  step  of  re- 
moval to  it.  The  family  spent  the  winter  with  the 
Allen  household,  who,  with  the  true  pioneer  spirit, 
kept  open  house  and  hearts  for  all  new  comers.  In 
the  spring  Mr.  Palmer  built  a  small  house  sufficient- 
ly large  for  the  simple  needs  of  his  little  flock,  which 
soon  gave  place  to  one  suited  to  their  improving  cir- 
cumstances. All  the  prairie  farm  was  put  under  im- 
provements and  remained  the  home  of  the  owner  as 
long  as  he  lived.  His  death  transpired  Feb.  13, 
1871. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  to  whom 
he  was  married  June  20,  1833,  was  named  Bathsheba 
Tyler  before  her  union  with  him.     She  died  June  20, 

1834,  and  left  one  child,  Ezra  D.,  who  is  at  present 
a  resident  of  Adeline,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  and  is  in  the 
ministry  of   the  United  Brethren   Church.     Nov.  8, 

1835,  Mr.  Palmer  was  married  to  Clarissa  Smith. 
She  was  born  in  Coshocton,  N.  Y.,  June  24,  181 8. 
From  the  second  marriage  there  were  12  children. 
Five  only  survive.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Johnson  and  they  reside  111  Black  Hawk  Co.,  Iowa. 
Burtsha  married  D.  C.  Stout.  They  live  at  Cordova. 
James  F.  and  David  are  citizens  of  Whiteside  Co., 
III.  Charles  remains  on  the  homestead.  The 
mother  is  a  member  of  the  household  of  her  son 
James. 

Mr.  Palmer,  of  this  sketch,  was  between  three  and 
four  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Rock  Island 
County  to  live.  His  childhood  and  youth  were  spent 
on  the  homestead  and  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
township.  He  was  brought  up  to  follow  the  voca- 
tion of  his  father  and  ancestors  and  was  thoroughly 
instructed  in  farming.  He  was  married  in  1872  to 
Edith  Amelia  Price,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Anna  (Benja- 
min) Price.  They  have  two  children — Alice  and 
Ray.  The  family  are  settled  on  a  part  of  the  old 
homestead  of  the  father  of  Mr.  Palmer.  In  1882  he 
erected  a  large  frame  barn,  and  in    1883  he  built  a 


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.ffCCX  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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commodious  frame  house,  which  the  family  are  at 
present  occupying,  and  a  correct  view  of  which  is 
pictorially  represented  in  this  Album.  Mr.  Palmer 
is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren, 
to  which  his  father  and  mother  both  belonged.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Poltically, 
he  is  a  Republican. 


artin  Schillinger,  Mayor  of  Moline,  111., 
and  senior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Schil- 
N  linger  &  Trumble,  boiler  manufacturers, 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  June  3,  1834, 
and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Rosa  (Kienly) 
Schillinger.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents  to 
America  in  1846,  and  made  his  home  in  the  State  of 
New  York  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  Rock  Island, 
there  learning  the  boiler-making  trade. 

In  1857  he  went  to  New  Orleans  and  engaged  in 
railroading  for  the  New  Orleans  &  Jackson  Railway 
Company,  and  continued  in  that  service  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  when.  May  2,  1861,  lie 
made  his  way  North  in  the  very  height  of  the  war  ex- 
citement, and  with  considerable  difficulty.  He  en- 
listed for  three  years,  and  mustered  into  the  service 
Aug.  2,  i86r,  as  a  privjfte  of  Co.  I,  Third  111.  Cav. 
He  participated  in  the  various  skirmishes  and  battles 
in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Chick- 
asaw Bayou,  in  the  attack  on  Vicksburg,  Arkansas 
Post,  etc.  He  served  three  years  and  received  an 
honorable  discharge  with  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  On 
his  return  from  the  war,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  Thomas  Trumble  in  the  manufacture  of  boilers 
at  Rock  Island.  They  continued  business  at  that 
city  till  1868,  when  they  returned  to  Moline  and 
erected  extensive  shops  at  the  corner  of  Railroad 
Avenue  and  Ninth  Street,  where  they  have  been  in 
business  continuously  since.  These  shops,  when 
working  a  full  force,  employ  15  men  and  have  a  ca- 
pacity to  construct  four  large  boilers  at  once. 

Mr.  Schillinger  was  married  at  Rock  Island,  July 
26,  1866,  to  Miss  Caroline  M.  Watrous,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Jerome  T.  Watrous.  Mrs.  Schillinger  was  born 
at  Zanesville,  Ohio.     They  have    six  children,  one 


boy  and  five  girls,  namely :  Luella,  Albert  J.,  An- 
netta,  Josephine,  Anna  and  Mary  R.  Mr.  Schillinger 
has  served  one  term  as  Alderman  from  the  Second 
Ward,  and  was  elected  Mayor  in  the  spring  of  1S85. 
He  makes  an  efficient  executive  officer  and  looks 
carefully  to  the  best  interests  of  the  city.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  following  named  orders,  in  which  he 
has  held  the  important  offices  :  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen, 
and  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Mr.  Schillinger  has  always  voted  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont, but  is  disposed  to  be  independent  in  his  views. 


^«^ 


-«== — »- 


lvin  T.  Womaeks,   a   resident  of  Buffalo 
'    Prairie  Township,  and  the  second  son  in 

Iff®5  order  of  birth  of  W-  H'  and  Enzabeth 
%W  (Doty)  Womaeks,  was  born  near  Moscow, 
Muscatine  Co.,  Iowa,  Jan.  8,  1842.  His  par- 
ents were  pioneers  of  Rock  Island  County. 
Mr.  Womaeks  grew  to  manhood  in  this  county, de- 
voting the  intervals  between  his  labors  on  the  farm 
to  attendance  at  the  public  schools,  and  at  commer- 
cial schools  at  Davenport,  thereby  receiving  a  good 
English  education.  In  August,  1862,  soon  after  the 
news  had  flashed  across  the  continent  that  rebel 
guns  were  pouring  shot  and  shell  on  Sumter,  Mr. 
Womaeks  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  93d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in 
many  important  battles,  of  which  the  following  are 
among  the  most  prominent :  Jackson,  Miss.,  Cham- 
pion Hills,  in  which  engagement  he  was  wounded 
with  buck-shot  above  the  knee,  and  was  confined  at 
Milliken's  Bend  30  days  in  the  hospital,  after  which 
he  again  rejoined  his  regiment,  took  part  in  the  siege 
and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Mission  Ridge,  Term.,  and 
Altcona,  Ga.  He  was  with  Sherman  in  his  memor- 
able march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  and  then  on 
through  the  Carolinas  to  Washington,  where  he 
participated  in  the  General  Review. 

After  his  discharge,  and  the  cause  for  which  he 
fought  became  victorious,  he  returned  home  to  this 
county,  broken  down  in  health.  As  soon  as  he  had 
sufficiently  recuperated,  he  again  resumed  the  occu- 
pation of  farming.     He  remained  at  home  with  his 


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i?6>CA'  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


father  four  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  his 
father  then  gave  him  80  acres  of  land,  adjoining  the 
old  homestead  farm  in  Drury  Township.  He  lived 
on  that  place,  and  was  engaged  in  its  cultivation 
until  1 88 1,  when  he  exchanged  it  for  the  farm  he 
now  owns,  being  255  acres,  a  part  of  section  7,  Buf- 
falo Prairie  Township,  on  which  he  moved  and  en- 
tered vigorously  and  energetically  upon  its  cultivation 
and  improvement,  and  on  which  he  has  since  re- 
sided. 

Mr.  Womacks  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
September,  1869,  with  Miss  Josephine  Berkshire. 
She  was  born  in  Muscatine,  Iowa.  Their  children 
are  ten  in  number,  namely  :  William  H.,  born  May 
30,  1870;  Elizabeth  Z.,born  March  12,  1872;  Mont- 
gomery M.,  born  Sept.  23,  1873,  died  Aug.  30,  1881; 
Amanda  J.,  born  April  18,  1875;  Albert  M.,  Dec. 
16,  1S76;  John  B.,  Sept.  2,  1878,  died  Sept.  6,  1881; 
Thomas  O.,  Oct.  26,  1880;  Elmer  E.,  Aug.  15,  rS82; 
and  Mary  E.  and  Cora  E.  (twins),  May  31,  1885- 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  religiously  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Womacks  has 
erected  a  good  residence  on  his  farm,  together  with 
a  barn  and  other  substantial  out-buildings,  and  has 
his  land  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a 
gentleman  whose  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his 
bond,  and  whose  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods 
is  attributable  to  his  own  indomitable  energy,  perse- 
verance and  good  judgment,  combined  with  the  act- 
ive co-operation  of  his  good  helpmeet.  In  politics 
he  is  a  staunch  Republican. 


J  ussell  Farnam,  for  whom  Farnamsburg 
was  named,  had  quite  a  history.  In  the 
spring  of  1810,  John  Jacob  Astor,  desirous 
(  of  founding  a  trading  post  at  Astoria,  Washing- 
ton Territory,  sent  three  ships  around  by  ("ape 
Horn  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River, 
and  at  the  same  time  started  a  company  of  100  men 
overland,  in  charge  of  Mr.  Farnam,  for  the  same 
destination.  This  company  followed  up  the  Mis- 
souri River  to  its  head  waters,  taking  the  same  route 
traveled  by  Lewis  and  Clark  a  few  years  previous 
while  exploring  the  country. 

They  started  from  St.   Louis   in  small   keel-boats, 


m 


loaded  with  goods  for  the  Indian  trade.  After  tak- 
ing their  merchandise  as  far  as  they  could,  on  ac- 
count of  low  water  they  exchanged  their  boats  for 
smaller  ones.  Ascending  the  river  thus  until  it  had 
lessened  to  a  stream  so  small  that  a  man  could  jump 
across,  they  packed  their  goods  on  ponies  obtained 
from  the  Indians  and  crossed  over  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia  River,  where  the  ships  were  already 
anchored.  They  remained  there  some  time,  traffick- 
ing with  the  Indians  and  establishing  trading  posts 
in  the  interior.  On  returning  from  one  of  these  ex- 
peditions after  an  absence  of  two  weeks,  Mr.  Farnam 
and  two  other  men  who  accompanied  him  found  the 
ships  surrounded  by  a  large  number  of  Indians  in 
their  canoes,  ready  for  an  attack.  Not  daring  to  go 
on  board  while  the  ships  were  thus  besieged,  they 
concealed  themselves  in  the  bushes  near  by  and 
watched  the  proceedings.  In  a  short  time  the  In- 
dians were  seen  to  go  on  board  one  of  the  vessels 
and  the  next  minute  there  came  a  stunning  sound 
which  shook  the  earth,  and  the  vessel  was  blown  to 
fragments.  The  magazine  had  been  fired  by  the 
crew  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
savages  and  suffering  a  cruel  death.  The  other  two 
vessels  immediately  hoisted  sail  and  stood  out  to  sea, 
leaving  Mr.  Farnam  and  his  two  companions  to  their 
fate.  They  immediately  left  their  place  of  conceal- 
ment and  cautiously  started  for  the  interior,  but  were 
soon  discovered  by  the  savages  and  taken  prisoners. 
Their  lives  were  spared  them  to  suffer  a  captivity  of 
nearly  seven  years. 

Mr.  Farnam  was  then  taken  northward  and  passed 
from  one  tribe  to  another,  until  at  last  he  was  found 
and  ransomed  by  a  trader  in  Russian  America,  who, 
at  the  first  opportunity,  sent  word  to  St.  Petersburg 
of  the  fact.  Through  the  English  minister,  informa- 
tion concerning  him  was  sent  to  our  Government, 
which  immediately  took  steps  to  secure  his  return 
home.  All  communication  to  that  far-off,  wild  coun- 
try, had  to  be  sent  through  Russia  by  way  of  Siberia, 
and  communicated  from  one  trading  post  to  another, 
requiring  nearly  two  years'  time  to  accomplish  it. 
Over  this  frozen  and  desolate  country,  Mr.  Farnam 
traveled  on  his  journey  home.  He  crossed  Behring's 
Straits  on  the  ice,  and  through  Siberia  his  steed  was 
a  reindeer.  He  is  the  only  man,  probably,  who  ever 
traveled  from  New  York  to  London  overland. 

In  1826  Mr.  Farnam  formed  a  partnership  with 
Col.  Davenport  in  the  fur  trade,  and  with   him   built 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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the  first  house  ever  erected  on  the  main  land  in  Rock 
Island  County.  It  was  at  this  house,  then  occupied 
by  John  Barrel,  the  County  Commissioners  held  their 
sessions  until  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  to  a 
lower  point  down  the  river,  of  which  mention  is  made 
in  the  history  following.  Mr.  Farnam,  while  on  a 
visit  to  St.  Louis,  in  1832,  died  of  cholera. 


5=— »- 


ilr  eremiah  LeQuatte,  engaged  in  the  grocery 
gji;-  business  at  Illinois  City,  this  county,  was 
^T  born  in  Dairy  Township,  Rock  Island  Co., 

Jan.  s,  1843.      His  father,  Matthew  LeQuatte, 
jt      was  a  native  of  Indiana,  in  which  State  he  was 

also  reared,  within  three  miles  of  the  city  of 
Indianapolis,  where  his  parents  were  among  the 
early  settlers,  and  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
was  united  to  the  lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Sarah  M. 
Morrow.  She  was  born  near  Cynthiana,  Harrison 
Co.,  Ky.  Tliey  lived  in  Marion  Co.,  Ky.,  until  1S36, 
when  they  started  with  a  team  of  horses  and  a 
wagon  overland  to  Indiana,  her  parents  accompany- 
ing her.  Her  grandfather,  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
was  Shadrach  LeQuatte.  He  purchased  land  on 
section  17,  township  16,  range  5,  now  Drury.  He 
had  brought  apple-tree5  with  him  and  planted  an 
orchard,  a  portion  of  which  are  living  and  bearing 
fruit  at  the  present  time.  He  at  once  located  upon 
his  land,  entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon 
its  cultivation  and  improvement,  and  resided  on  the 
same  until  his  death,  and  was  interred  on  the  farm 
that  he  originally  purchased.  Matthew  LeQuatte, 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  purchased  land 
on  section  28,  Drury  Township,  which  he  improved, 
and  on  which  he  resided  for  a  time,  and  then  moved 
to  Belle  Plaine,  Benton  Co.,  Iowa. 

There  were  four  children  in  the  parental  family  : 
James  died  June  27,  1S57  ;  William  enlisted  in  Co. 
I,  28th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  died  in  the  service,  at 
Mobile,  Ala.,  in  July,  1865;  Jeremiah  is  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  and  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  David  L. 
Ripley,  a  resident  of  Drury  Township. 

Jeremiah  LeQuatte  grew  to  manhood  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  alternating  his  labors  there  with  attend- 


ance  at  the  common  schools.  He  enlisted  March 
27,  1863,  in  Co.  A,  7th  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  went  South, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  with 
Gen.  Logan,  and  also  with  Gen.  Sherman,  the  latter 
of  whom  he  accompanied  in  his  famous  march  from 
Atlanta  to  the  sea,  and  through  the  Carolinas,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  that  campaign.  He 
also  witnessed  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  and 
returned  home  in  July,  1865.  In  1868  he  moved  to 
Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1876, 
when  he  sold  out  and  rented  a  coal  mine,  and  was 
engaged  in  that  occupation  five  years.  In  1883  he 
opened  a  grocery  store  at  Rayville,  111.,  in  which 
occupation  he  was  engaged  until  the  fall  of  1884- 
He  then  came  to  Illinois  City  and  engaged  in  the 
same  business,  and  has  continued  until  the  present 
time.  While  at  Rayville,  111.,  Mr.  LeQuatte  held 
the  position  of  Postmaster. 

Mr.  LeQuatte  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Aug. 
12,  1 86  c,  with  Miss  Roxie  R.  Ripley.  She  was  born 
in  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio,  The  issue  of  their  union  was 
six  children:  James  H.,  born  Sept.  23,  1862;  Jerre 
William,  born  Dec.  13,  1864;  Sadie  M.,  born  Aug. 
27,  1867;  Phoebe  J.,  born  Jan.  28,  1873;  Frank  S., 
born  May  13;  1878,  and  Mary  Mabel,  born  March 
19.  1883. 

Mr.  LeQuatte,  by  honest  and  straightforward  deal- 
ings and  fair  prices,  has  built  up  a  good  trade  in 
Illinois  City.  He  is  a  gentleman  whose  word  is 
considered  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
energetic  and  respected  citizens  of  that  village.  He 
is  identified  wilh  the  Republican  party,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Constable  for  the  term  of  eight  years. 
Mrs.  LeQuatte  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


3>oooe^ 


ames  W.  Smith,  of  the  firm  of  Smith  Bros., 
proprietors  of  the  Illinois  Pottery,  located 
at  Illinois  City,  was  born  at  Akron,  Ohio, 
July  28,  1853.      His  father,  William   E.  Smith, 
was  born  in  Winchester,  Va.,  while  his  mother, 
Hannah  P.  Smith,  was  a  native  of  Springfield, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio. 

James  W.  grew  up  at  Akron,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  17  years 

M^rB — ^€^ "*»<*»* 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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he  engaged  as  an  apprentice  to  learn  the  potter's 
trade,  and  served  for  three  years,  after  which  time  he 
worked  for  a  while  at  Akron.  He  then  left  his  na- 
tive place,  and  started  out  to  seek  employment 
wherever  he  could  secure  it.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  in  various  places — in  Michigan,  Wisconsin, 
Illinois  and  Iowa.  In  1876,  however,  he  came  to 
Illinois  City,  and,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
bought  the  pottery  there  of  A.  C.  Butman.  Since 
that  time  they  have  conducted  it,  manufacturing 
stoneware  and  tile  of  the  high  grade.  The  pottery 
is  one  of  the  permanent  and  important  institutions  of 
Illinois  City,  and  turns  out  some  very  fine  work. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  1S78  to  Nellie  M. 
Thompson,  a  native  of  Vermont.  She,  however, 
lived  but  a  brief  period  after  her  marriage,  as  she 
died  March  17,  1882,  at  the  age  of  22  years.  She 
left  one  child,  Park  C,  with  her  husband  to  mourn 
her  loss. 


^S«-£- 


rrF^p]  on  Bailey  Davenport,  President  of  the 
r'"£,P/p  People's  National  Bank,  and  President  and 
•'  '.""oi  Superintendent  of  the  Rock  Island  &  Milan 
A  Street  Railway  Company,  is  the  only  living  son 
T  of  Col.  George  Davenport,  deceased  (see  biog- 
raphy of  Col.  George  Davenport),  and  was  born 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Sept.  15,  1823,  and  was  brought 
the  same  year  to  Rock  Island  County,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  is  therefore  "a  first  set- 
tler "  in  fact.  As  a  boy  he  attended  school  in  the 
first  building  erected  for  educational  purposes  in 
what  is  now  Rock  Island  County.  It  was  a  one-story 
log  cabin  without  windows,  the  only  openings  being  a 
door  and  a  fire-place ;  but  that  humble  little  school 
was  presided  over  by  one  of  the  most  talented  men 
of  his  day.  He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  at 
which  institution  he  was  for  many  years  afterward 
Professor  of  Mathematics,  and  later  in  life  he  was 
Assistant  Postmaster-General  of  the  United  States. 
He  was  known  here  as  "Capt.  Stubbs."  During  the 
latter  years  of  his  life  he  became  a  recluse,  and  lived 
and  died  in  a  cave  in  what  is  now  East  Davenport. 
From  the  brilliant  Prof.  Stubbs,  of  West  Point,  the 
talented  Assistant  Postmaster-General  of  the  United 
States,  he  became  the  "Hermit  of  Iowa,"  and  the 
only  history  of  his  life  is  what  is  known  by  tradition. 


±&, 


In  1837  Mr.  Davenport  was  sent  by  his  father  to 
the  St.  Louis  (Mo.)  University,  and  afterwards  to  pri- 
vate schools  in  the  town  of  Davenport,  so  that  by  the 
time  he  was  out  of  his  youth  his  education  was  quite 
thorough  for  that  day.  His  first  business  enterprise 
was  that  of  gardener  on  his  father's  island  farm,  and 
was  undertaken  when  but  12  years  of  age.  This, 
however,  was  probably  a  mere  incident,  as  most  of 
his  time  about  that  age  and  for  a  few  years  after- 
wards was  devoted  to  study.  During  the  Back  Hawk 
war,  a  Sergeant  Haskins,  of  the  United  States  Army, 
inspired  him  to  become  a  horse-trader,  and,  like  his 
primitive  horticultural  effort,  it  appears  to  have  met 
his  fancy  and  fastened  itself  upon  him;  for  during 
all  the  subsequent  years  of  his  life  he  has  been  iden- 
tified with  farming,  gardening  and  horse-breeding 
and  trading.  In  1841  his  father  deeded  him  59 
quarter  sections  of  land  in  Adams,  Hancock,  Mc- 
Donough,  Fulton  and  Henderson  Counties,  111.,  and 
from  that  time  he  became  a  prominent  dealer  in  real 
estate.  He  sold  those  lands  for  whatever  they  would 
bring,  and  that  was  not  much.  He  took  in  ex- 
change for  them  anything  the  people  had  to  give,  and 
a  sample  is  found  in  one  transaction:  he  exchanged 
one  quarter  for  a  horse  even,  and  sold  the  horse  for 

His  father  owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  Iowa,  Illi- 
nois and  Missouri,  and  Bailey  became  his  agent,  his 
principal  duty  being  the  payment  of  taxes.  In  pay- 
ing taxes  in  Hancock  County  he  found  two  quarters 
assessed  as  "  improved  land,"  and  upon  inquiry  found 
that  the  prophet,  Joe  Smith,  had  fenced  them  into 
his  Nauvoo  domain.  Mr.  Davenport  called  upon  the 
"  Prophet  "  for  an  explanation,  and  heard  from  that 
worthy  that  "the  Lord  had  commanded  him  in  a 
revelation  to  build  a  temple  at  that  point  and  to  oc- 
cupy and  possess  the  lands  round  about!"  Mr. 
Davenport  knew  of  no  remedy  in  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois whereby  he  might  sue  the  Lord's  prophet  in 
ejectment,  nor  did  he  feel  disposed  to  question  such 
a  title,  as  the  prophet  was  a  dangerous  man,  and  the 
Danites  had  a  way  of  quieting  titles  by  quieting 
claimant;  he  therefore  left  Joseph  alone  in  his  pos- 
session ! 

In  1842  Mr.  Davenport  was  in  the  Prophet's  city, 
and  was  given  a  pretty  close  call  for  his  life.  Old 
man  Redden  and  his  sons  occupied  the  stone  build- 
ing at  the  boat  landing.  Upon  inquiring  for  a  couple 
of  friends   who  had  accompanied  him,  he  was    in- 


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344 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


formed  that  they  were  in  the  boat-house.  It  was 
near  dark,  and  upon  entering,  the  door  was  instantly 
closed  behind  him,  and  he  heard  the  grating  of  heavy 
iron  bolts.  The  situation  flashed  across  his  mind, 
and  he  made  a  bound  for  the  rear  door.  Tiger-like, 
from  the  dark  corner  in  which  they  had  been  crouch- 
ing, the  assassins  sprang  to  intercept  him.  He  saw 
the  gleam  of  their  daggers,  he  heard  their  heavy  but 
suppressed  breathing  and  felt  it  as  they  clutched  for 
him.  Their  negligence  saved  him.  The  door  was 
ajar ;  he  sprang  through  it,  across  the  porch,  leaped 
to  the  ground  and  sped  away  to  liberty.  After  the 
departure  of  the  Mormons  it  was  estimated  that  fully 
150  men  had  been  murdered  in  the  old  stone  boat- 
house,  long  since  torn  down,  but  remembered  by 
many  persons  now  living,  and  by  none  more  vividly 
than  by  Bailey  Davenport.  In  r&45  old  Redden 
and  his  sons  were  tried  and  found  guilty  as  access- 
ories to  the  fact  in  the  murder  of  Col.  George  Dav- 
enport. 

Mr.  Davenport's  only  brother,  George  L.,  was  the 
first  white  settler  in  what  is  now  the  State  of  Io.va, 
and  upon  his  claim  Mr.  Bailey  Davenport  held  the 
plow,  Sept.  17,  1832,  to  open  the  first  furrow  ever 
turned  to  the  sun  in  that  now  vast  agricultural  em- 
pire. Mr.  Davenport  inherited  a  great  number  of 
acres  of  land  from  his  father,  and  afterwards  pur- 
chased from  the  estate  many  more.  He  now  owns 
2,200  acres  in  and  around  Rock  Island.  His  mag- 
nificent residence  in  17th  Avenue  stands  upon  a  500- 
acre  tract,  a  part  of  which  only  was  deeded  him  by 
his  father.  He  farms  and  has  farmed  about  1,000 
acres  annually,  and  grazes  hundreds  of  fine  cattle. 
His  stud  of  horses  comprises  some  of  the  finest 
Logans,  McGregors,  Wheelocks,  etc.,  in  the  State  of 
Illinois.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mer- 
chants' State  Bank  of  Davenport,  in  1858,  afterwards 
merged  into  the  Davenport  National  Bank,  in  which 
he  is  still  a  large  stockholder.  At  the  organization 
of  the  People's  National  Bank,  of  Rock  Island,  in 
1876,  he  became  its  President,  a  position  he  has 
since  continuously  held.  He  was  the  projector  of 
the  Rock  Island  &  Milan  Street  Railway,  and  now 
owns  i3-2oths  of  its  capital  stock.  He  owns  the  Black 
Hawk  Watch-Tower,  the  most  popular  resort  in  the 
county.  He  has  laid  out  four  additions  to  Rock 
Island  City,  and  three  to  the  city  of  Moline.  He 
owns  and  works  large  stone  quarries  and  sand-banks, 
and  to  all  this  multiplicity  of  gigantic  financial  inter- 


ests he  gives  his  personal  attention,  and  yet  has 
plenty  of  time  to  be  a  gentleman,  to  meet  people,  to 
invite  them  to  his  house,  to  talk  to  them  of  the  past 
and  the  present,  to  impress  them  with  admiration 
for  one  of  the  most  whole-souled,  congenial  men  in 
the  world,  and  cause  them  to  regret  that  in  all  Rock 
Island  there  is  but  one  Bailey  Davenport. 

Mr.  Davenport  has  served  the  city  one  term  as 
Mayor.  He  was  Mayor  through  all  the  trying  times 
of  the  war,  and  though  a  stanch  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics there  was  no  division  in  sentiment  among  the 
best  people  when  the  best  man  was  wanted  for  the 
chief  officer  of  the  city.  It  was  due  to  his  instru- 
mentality more  than  to  that  of  any  other  man,  that 
the  United  States  Arsenal  was  located  at  Rick 
Island;  and  it  is  probably  due  to  him  and  Judge 
Grant  that  what  is  now  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific  Railroad  touched  this  city  at  all  on  its  line 
west  from  Chicago.  From  the  abundance  of  his 
wealth  he  gives  liberally,  but  without  ostentation  or 
display,  to  all  worthy  objects  of  charity.  The  poor 
and  the  needy  are  never  turned  from  him  with  empty 
hands,  and  his  home,  though  a  castle,  is  always  open, 
and  the  humblest  may  enter  and  be  welcome.  No 
liveried  outsider  attends  his  carriage;  no  fawning 
lackey  holds  the  door  of  his  library  and  informs  call- 
ers that  strangers  are  not  to  be  seen,  or  that  the  great 
man  sleepeth  upon  his  downy  couch,  and  to  disturb 
him  is  forbidden,  or  that  this  not  his  day  for  talking. 
No;  Bailey  Davenport  is  always  accessible;  he  is  al- 
ways democratic. 

The  publishers  of  this  volume,  therefore,  take  the 
utmost  pleasure  in  placing  a  lithographic  likeness 
of  Mr.  Davenport  in  connection  with  the  foregoing 
biographical  outline. 


8 


3000«s 


'.  'i.'fj  ndrew    Donaldson,   a   reliable  citizen  and 
1[   progressive  farmer,  residing  on   section    14, 
Rural  Township,  is  one  of  seven  children, 


m 
■ 

.jjito     born  to  Richard  and  Catherine  (Ritchie)  Don- 
kr      aldson,     natives    of    Pennsylvania      and     of 
I         Scotch-Irish    ancestry.     The    names  of  their 
children  are  Anna  E.,   James,    Jane,  Andrew,    Rich- 
ard, Mary  and  Catherine  H. 

Andrew  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  March 


g§Aj£C 


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HOCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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2,  1S31.  He  remained  on  the  parental  homestead 
until  22  years  of  age,  receiving  a  good  common- 
school  education,  and  in  the  spring  of  1853  came 
to  this  county,  when,  in  company  with  his  brother 
James,  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  farming,  in 
Rural  Township,  which  vocation  he  continued,  in 
the  partnership  mentioned,  for  about  seven  years. 
He  then  settled  on  480  acres  of  land  in  Rural 
Township,  which  had  been  purchased  by  his  father 
several  years  previous,  and  he  entered  vigorously 
and  energetically  upon  the  task  of  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation.  He  is  at  present  the  owner 
of  510  acres  of  land,  480  of  which  is  in  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  cultivation.  He  has  erected  fine 
buildings  on  his  farm,  consisting  of  a  residence  and 
all  necessary  out-buildings,  and  is  meeting  with  suc- 
cess in  his  chosen  vocation.  He  is  a  gentleman, 
whose  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  whose  pros- 
perity, in  a  financial  point  of  view,  is  attributable  to 
his  own  indomitable  energy,  perseverance  and  pluck. 
Mr.  Donaldson  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Rock  Isl- 
and, July  4,  1865,  to  Ellen  M.  Titterington,  who  was 
born  in  this  State. 

They  have  become  the  parents  of  seven  children  : 
Mary  E.,  Clara  B.,  Anna  E.,  Richard,  Susan,  An- 
drew and  P.  Maud. 

Mr.  Donaldson  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  of 
his  township  for  five  years,  Assessor  three  years  and 
also  Road  Commissioner  and  other  minor  offices. 
Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
Democratic  party.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


^ 


'.v%-wf% 


Q.  Anderson,  of  the  firm  of  Anderson 
&  Hanson,  successors  to  Eklund  &  An- 
s^sou  Person,  dealers  in  stoves,  tinware,  gas  pipes 
and  steam  fitting,  in  Moline.  They  estab- 
lished their  business  in  May,  1882,  and  carry 
an  average  stock  of  $2,500.  Mr.  Anderson 
was  born  in  Sweden,  April  26,  1850,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  with  his  father,  Nels  Anderson,  in 
1S54.  They  came  directly  to  Moline,  this  county, 
where  Mr.  Anderson  learned  the  paper-making  bus- 
iness with  Mr.  S.  W.  Wheelock.     He   was   an   em- 


ployee of  the  Moline  Paper  Company  for  21  years, 
and  continued  in  the  same  until  the  time  of  com- 
mencing his  present  business.  In  1882  he  entered 
into  a  partnership  with  O.  F.  Eklund  iin  the  hard- 
ware business,  the  firm  name  being  Eklund  &  An- 
derson. This  connection  continued  until  Sept.  i, 
1S84,  when  Mr.  Eklund  sold  out  to  Albert  Hanson, 
and  the  firm  name  became  Anderson  &  Hanson, 
which  partnership  exists  until-  the  present  time. 
They  are  conducting  a  good  and  constantly  increas- 
ing business,  and  are  regarded  by  the  citizens  of  the 
county  as  strictly  honest  and  straightforward  in  all 
their  dealings,  which  accounts  for  the  increase  in 
their  trade. 

Mr.  Anderson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Mercer  County,  111.,  on  the  8th  day  of  October,  187  1, 
with  Miss  Matilda  Rostett,  daughter  of  Peter  Ros- 
tett.  Mrs.  Anderson  was  born  in  Sweden  and  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1857.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  all  boys :  Frank  M.  W.,  Almund 
G.,  Joseph  E.  and  Robert  N.  P. 

Politically,  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  believer  in  and  an 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  socially  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


/: . Tfel  '),urtis    M.    Rice,   one   of  the    pioneers   of 
e   '\ljM\     Whiteside  and  Rock   Island  Counties,  re- 

4iP^ 


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T 


siding  in  Cordova  Township,  was  born  in 
K)  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  17,  18 17.  His  father, 
^  Jeremiah,  Rice,  was  born  in  the  same  county 
m  1788,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Abigail  Mitchell,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  York  State.  After  marriage,  the  parents  re- 
sided in  Oneida  County  until  1835.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year  they  started  West,  with  a  team  of  horses 
and  a  covered  wagon,  containing  the  family  and 
household  goods.  They  drove  through  to  Cuyahoga 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  through  the  summer, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  started  on  an  over- 
land journey  for  this  State,  arriving  at  Ottawa,  La 
Salle  County,  where  they  spent  the  winter  of  that 
year.  In  the  spring  of  1836,  they  again  started  out 
and  came  to  this  county  and  located  on  the  present 
site  of  Albany,  where  the  father  was  one  of  the  very 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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earliest  pioneers.  He  assisted  in  platting  the  village, 
built  a  frame  house  there  from  hewn  timbers,  and 
made  all  the  boards,  laths  and  shingles  from  oak 
timber.  In  1837  he  rented  his  property  in  Albany, 
and  removed  to  Rock  Island  County,  where  he  made 
a  claim  on  section  33,  Cordova  Township,  and  when 
the  land  came  into  market,  entered  it.  Immedi- 
ately after  making  his  claim,  he  located  upon  it  and 
entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation,  and  on  it  he  resided 
until  the  date  of  his  death  in  1842,  his  wife  following 
him  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter  ten  years  later. 
The  issue  of  their  union  was  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  survive:  Curtis  M.,  subject  of  this  biographi- 
cal notice,  resides  in  Cordova  Township;  Amelia  is 
the  wife  of  Captain  A.  M.  George,  residing  in  Garden 
Plain;  De  Witt,  lives  in  Clinton  Co.,  Iowa;  Warren 
and  Consider  reside  in  Audubon  Co.,  Iowa. 

Curtis  M.  Rice,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  in  his  18th  year,  when  he  came  to  this  county, 
in  company  with  his  parents,  and  the  events  of  in- 
terests that  happened  in  an  early  day  in  the  history 
of  the  county  are  fresh  in  his  memory.  On  attain- 
ing the  age  of  22  years,  he  went  to  Galena,  where  he 
remained  for  a  period,  and  for  three  years  following 
he  was  engaged  in  the  lead  mines  in  that  vicinity, 
with  the  exception  of  the  winter  seasons,  which  he 
spent  at  home.  He  earned  his  money  in  the  mines, 
with  which  he  entered  land  in  company  with  his 
father,  and,  retiring  from  the  labors  of  the  mines,  en- 
tered upon  the  task  of  cultivating  and  improving  his 
land. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  March,  1844, 
in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa,  with  Eliza  Earl,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  which  State  she  was  born  Nov.  15, 1822. 
They  commenced  housekeeping  in  the  log-cabin 
which  he  had  previously  built.  In  1848  he  sold  the 
land  he  had  entered  to  J.  B.  Crosby,  and  moved  to 
the  village  of  Cordova,  where  he  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  "mine  host"  for  three  years.  He  then 
bought  land  on  section  34,  township  21,  range  2.  In 
1856  he  moved  to  Port  Byron,  where  he  resided  for 
three  years,  and  then  returned  to  his  farm.  In  1877 
he  sold  his  farm,  and  purchased  the  farm  which  he 
otcupies,  located  on  section  4,  Cordova  Township, 
and  on  which  he  located.  The  farm  is  well  improved 
and  furnished  with  a  good  substantial  residence, 
barn  and  outbuildings,  and  is  pleasantly  located  on 
the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  River. 


^V^-^v 


^BBSBIl^ 


Mrs.  Rice  died  Jan.  4,  1861.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  five  children,  three  of  whom  survive. 
Martha  was  born  Nov.  6,  1845,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  George :  Mary  J.,  born  May  19,  1851;  wife 
of  King  George,  residing  in  Cordova;  Maud,  born 
Jan.  2,  1854;  wife  of  Charles  Kitchen,  resident  of 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Rice  was  again  married  in  1862,  to  Victoria 
T.  Brown,  daughter  of  Charles  T.  and  Sarah  (Axe) 
Brown.  Of  the  latter  union,  five  children  have  been 
born,  two  of  whom  survive,  namely:  Verna,  born 
Sept.  27,  1866,  and  Ruby,  March  24,  1872. 


"  ■■'■■'■"&*>. 

-  ;,  %  fj  mos  Altimus,  a  mechanic, .working  in  the 
'tjUt^r.  employ  of  Deere  &  Co.,  in  their  Plow 
'■'  '  Works,  at  Moline,  was  born  in  Indiana  Co., 
~«jtak  Pa.,  Feb.  15,  1828,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Gets)  Altimus.  He  learned  the 
carpenter  and  wagon-maker's  trade,  at  which 
he  was  employed  in  his  native  State  until  1856, 
when  he  removed  to  Moline,  this  county,  arriving  at 
that  place  on  the  nth  day  of  March,  that  year.  On 
the  4th  day  of  December,  1856,  he  began  working 
with  Deere  &  Co.,  and  continued  in  their  employ 
until  Feb.  20,  1865,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  War  for 
the  Union,  joining  Co.  G,  47th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  Ser- 
geant, and  served  until  January,  1866,  at  which  time 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge. 

Mr.  Altimus  enlisted  soon  after  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  in  June,  1861,  but  was  rejected  at  Chicago 
for  physical  disability.  He  nevertheless  could  not 
rest  content  without  participating  in  the  fracas,  and 
did  not  propose  to  have  his  record  go  down  to  pos- 
terity as  one  who  had  not  lifted  his  hand  in  defense 
of  the  Union  in  the  most  trying  hour  of  her  extremi- 
ty. He  consequently  made  another  effort  to  enlist 
in  February,  1865,  and  was  successful.  He  was  in 
the  16th  Army  Corps,  and  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Mobile,  being  under  fire  ten  days  continuously. 

On  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Altimus  resumed 
work  with  Deere  &  Co.,  and  remained  with  them 
until  1870,  when  he  went  to  Rock  Island,  as  foreman 
of  the  wood  department  of  the  B.  D.  Buford  &  Co. 
Plow  Works,  and  held  that  position  seven  years.  He 
then  returned  to  Deere  &  Co.'s  and  continued  with 
them  until  June,  1882. 


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During  the  Centennial  year  Mr.  Altimus  made  the 
wood  work  for  Deere  &  Co.'s  exhibit  at  the  Centen- 
nial Exposition  at  Philadelphia.  In  July,  1882,  he 
took  charge  of  the  wood  department  of  the  Moline 
Plow  Co.'s  works,  and  held  that  position  one  year, 
after  which  he  again  returned  to  Deere  &  Co.,  where 
he  has  since  been  continuously  employed. 

Mr.  Altimus  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  In- 
diana Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  28,  1850,  with  Miss  Hannah 
M.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Curts.  She  was  born  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  near  Danville,  April  S,  1829. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely  :  Delia, 
the  eldest,  was  born  Jan.  14,  1852,  and  is  the  wife  of 
C.  M.  Waters,  of  Denver,  Col. ;  Sanford  Y.  was  born 
Oct.  27,  1853,  and  died  in  infancy;  Lizzie,  born 
April  21,  1855,  died  in  infancy;  Ada,  the  youngest, 
was  born. at  Moline,  June  2,  1857,  and  is  the  wife  of 
E.  D.  Siekmnn,  and  now  resides  in  Chicago,  111. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  an  earnest  Republican. 
Socially,  he  is  identified  with  various  societies  ;  is 
Past  Vice-Commander  of  Graham  Post,  No.  312,  G. 
A.  R.,  a  member  of  the  Order  of  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  Degree  of  Honor. 


■0—0- 


-''•■  Hf  t';< "ames  Shaw,  merchant,  one  of  the  pioneers 


and  successful  business  men  of  this  county, 
■  -  came  to  Moline  with  his  parents  in  1848; 
he  was  born  at  Bristol,  England,  Dec.  15, 
1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  S.  and  Sarah 
'j""  (Milnes)  Shaw.  James  Shaw  received  a  good 
education  in  his  native  country,  attending  an  acad- 
emy. After  leaving  school  he  entered  a  wholesale 
dry-goods  establishment,  where  he  remained  a  year 
and  a  half,  after  which  he  went  into  his  father's 
counting-room,  Mr.  Shaw,  the  elder,  at  that  time  be- 
ing extensively  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits. 

In  1848,  Thomas  S.  Shaw,  with  his  family,  em- 
barked for  America,  landing  at  New  Orleans  and 
expecting  to  locate  in  Texas.  Before  his  departure 
from  London,  he  had  purchased  scrip  for  land  in 
that  State.  The  unsettled  condition  of  the  country 
and  the  advice  of  an  acquaintance  determined  him 
to  locate  elsewhere.  He  accordingly  came  up  the 
river  and  stopped  at  Rock  Island,  where  the  family 


remained  two  months,  moving  from  there  to  Gen- 
eseo,  and  subsequently,  in  T849,  to  Andover,  and  to 
Moline  in  1850.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Illinois 
for  four  years,  when  he  removed  to  Wisconsin,  where 
he  lived  for  18  years,  removing  thence  to  Coburg, 
Ontario,  Canada,  where  he  spent  the  last  six  months 
of  his  life,  and  where  he  died,  in  July,  1870. 

James  Shaw's  first  employment  in  Moline  was 
that  of  clerk  in  a  store,  where  he  continued  until 
1S53,  when  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  as  a 
general  merchant.  He  began  with  limited  means, 
but  by  close  application,  good  management  and  fair 
and  honest  dealing,  he  was  soon  enabled  to  extend 
his  business  until  at  present  he  has  one  of  the  largest 
general  stores  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Shaw  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at  Mo- 
line, Dec.  20,  1 85 4,  with  Miss  Eliza  Fairclough,  a 
daughter  of  William  Fairclough,  an  English  mer- 
chant. Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Catharine 
Boothroyd.  Mrs.  Shaw  was  born  in  Liverpool,  Eng- 
land, and  emigrated  with  her  parents  to  the  United 
States,  coming  directly  to  Moline  in  the  winter  ot 
1850.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaw  has  been 
blessed  with  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living, 
namely  :  Ida  Howard,  Alfred  Fairclough  and  Charles 
Edward.  Alfred  F.  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Dresser, 
an  American  lady,  and  is  associated  with  his  father 
in  business  at  Moline. 

Mr.  Shaw  is  one  of  those  who  believe  in  making 
such  use  of  money  that,  while  not  prodigal,  they 
and  their  families  may  obtain  the  greatest  amount  of 
enjoyment,  and  have  the  best  possible  advantages 
for  improvement  and  culture.  With  this  end  in 
view,  his  wife  and  children  have  spent  several  years 
in  Europe,  where  his  children  have  pursued  their 
studies  under  the  best  instructors  of  the  Old  World. 
While  Mr.  Shaw  has  a  pleasant  and  commodious 
residence  at  Moline,  a  view  of  which  is  shown  op- 
posite the  portrait  of  Mr.  Shaw,  given  in  connection 
with  this  work,  he  keeps  another  home  in  Canada, 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Huron,  where  his  family  spend 
a  portion  of  each  year. 

The  firm  of  James  Shaw  &  Son,  of  1,529  Second 
Avenue,  carry  an  average  stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise;  and,  being  one  of  the  oldest  established  houses 
in  the  city  and  widely  known  for  a  careful  selection 
of  goods  and  fair  prices,  together  with  honest  deal- 
ing, they  have  secured  an  extensive  trade  among  the 
better  class  of  customers  of  Rock  Island  County. 


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Religiously,  Mr.  Shaw  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  politically,  Mr.  Shaw  has 
been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  all  his 
life. 

As  the  subject  of  the  foregoing  sketch  is  a  repre- 
sentative man  and  a  prominent  and  exemplary  citi- 
zen of  this  county,  a  good  lithographic  likeness  of 
him  is  inserted  herewith. 


of  the    firm     of  Hess  & 


]ffj||illiam  B.  Hess, 

5:iyy!p '^  Owen,  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  Port 
Ci  ~"  Byron  Globe,  was  born  at  Comanche, 
Clinton  Co.,  Iowa,  Sept.  10.  1S5S,  and  is 
the  second  son  of  Isaac  and  Hannah 
(Burchard)  Hess.  His  father  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware. Both  were  of  German  nationality.  They 
went  to  Princeton,  Iowa,  when  the  son  was  a  lad  of 
seven  years.  His  father  died  there  in  1872.  His 
mother  was  a  resident  there  until  1881.  She  makes 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Culbertson, 
at  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

With  the  exception  of  a  space  of  18  months,  Mr. 
Hess  lived  with  his  mother  until  he  was  19  years  of 
age.  The  interim  he  passed  in  the  vicinity  of  Dav- 
enport. He  was  a  pupil  in  the  schools  at  Princeton, 
where  he  obtained  his  education.  At  the  age  men- 
tioned he  went  to  Carroll  Co.,  Iowa,  and  the  winter 
after  his  arrival  there  he  taught  a  term  of  school. 
He  spent  the  ensuing  summer  at  the  Iowa  Agricul- 
tural College  at  Ames.  He  returned  to  Carroll 
County,  where  he  again  engaged  in  teaching  one 
winter.  In  the  spring  he  went  to  Valparaiso,  Ind., 
and  attended  the  Normal  School  of  Northern  Indi- 
ana, and  while  there  he  completed  a  course  of  busi- 
ness study,  being  graduated  in  the  fall  of  1879.  He 
then  engaged  in  teaching  at  Cordova  Township,  111., 
following  that  vocation  two  winters  successively  in 
in  the  same  place.  The  intervening  summers  he  was 
a  clerk  on  the  river  steamer  Menominee,  which  plied 
between  St.  Louis  and  Stillwater.  In  the  winter  of 
1881  and  1882  he  attended  an  institute  at  Delaware, 
Ohio,  called  the  "  Pen  Art  Hall,"  where  he  was 
graduated  in  the    spring  of  18S2.     In  the  same  year 


he  taught  penmanship  in  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Iowa. 
He  spent  the  winter  in  teaching  at  Cordova.  In  the 
spring  of  1883,  he  entered  the  employ  of  G.  A. 
Metzgar,  and  passed  a  season  in  the  capacity  of  Sec- 
retary of  the  Port  Byron  Lime  Association.  The 
next  winter  he  taught  school  in  the  township  of  Coe, 
at  a  point  one  mile  from  Port  Byron. 

In  February,  1884,  he  bought  a  two-thirds  inter- 
est in  the  Port  Byron  Globe,  and  was  connected  with 
that  journal  until  July,  1SS5.  In  August  following 
he  purchased  a  general  stock  of  goods  in  the  village 
of  Port  Byron,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business. 

He  is  a  member  of  Port  Byron  Lodge,  No.  624, 1. 
O.  O.  F.,  and  Sycamore  Camp,  No.  33,  M.  VV.  A. 

Mr.  Hess  was  married  Oct.  6,  1884,  to  Elizabeth 
C.  Strickland,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,  Feb.  23, 
rS66.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hess  are  now  the  parents  of  one 
child,  a  son,  born  July  rS,  1S85. 


^ 


-o-S- 


-3— 


rthur  S.  Wright  was  born  at  St.  Johnsbury, 
Vt.,  Oct.  17,  1832,  of  genuine  New  England 
;  .<"  '"  Yankee  stock,  his  father  being  Calvin,  his 
,  mother  being  Hannah  (Moore)  Wright.  A.  S. 
Wright  attended  school  most  of  the  time  until 
he  was  17  years  old.  Up  to  this  age  he 
learned  the  carpenter  and  joiner  trade,  and  worked  at 
it  for  some  four  years,  and  then  was  in  that  line  of 
business  for  himself  for  about  two  years.  He  first 
came  to  Moline,  Iil.,  May  17,  1856.  Here  he  re- 
mained for  about  one  year,  and  the  first  work  he  ever 
did  in  the  West  was  one-half  hour's  labor  in  the  shop 
of  John  Deere;  but,  nearly  every  one  of  the  workmen 
being  a  Swede,  whose  language  he  could  not  under- 
stand, he  left,  and  soon  went  to  the  bench,  and  made 
100  plain  hard-wood  bureaus,  by  piece-work,  which 
he  turned  out  in  the  upper  part  of  the  old  building 
which  he  afterward  owned,  and  which  is  now  one  of 
the  warehouses  of  the  Moline  Pump  Company,  of 
which  he  is  President.  Having  completed  the  bu- 
reaus, he  turned  again  to  his  trade,  and  assisted  in 
erecting  the  first  high-school  building,  and  the  resi- 
dence of  Judge  Gould,  in  Moline. 

He  then  went  West,  and  arrived  in  Omaha,  Neb., 


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i?(9CX  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


April  17,  1857,  after  having  been  14  days  going'up 
the  river  from  St.  Louis.  At  Omaha  he  worked  for 
a  while  at  his  trade,  as  a  carpenter,  and  also  labored 
as  such  for  a  few  months  at  Florence,  Neb.,  when 
he  drifted  back  to  Omaha,  and  soon  after  went  to 
Dennison,  Iowa,  at  work  with  Ezra  Smith,  for  the 
Providence  Western  Land  Company,  assisting  in 
building  the  first  houses  in  that  town,  putting  up  the 
Court-House,  and  constructing  bridges  about  the 
country  for  the  company.  After  three  years'  labor 
there  he  returned  to  Moline,  and  went  into  partner- 
ship with  Ezra  Smith  for  the  making  of  fanning- 
mills,  dissolving  partnership  in  January,  1864,  he 
himself  continuing  to  make  fanning-mills  and  horse- 
rakes  until  March  1,  1866,  when  he  bought  out  H. 
E.  Barber's  interest  in  the  pump  factory.  The  old 
partnership  consisted  of  A.  S.  Wright,  W.  Hillhouse 
and  Ezra  Smith,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wright, 
Hillhouse  &  Co.  It  was  organized  as  a  stock  con- 
cern, and  named  the  Moline  Pump  Company,  March 

1-  1873- 

On  Feb.  9,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  A. 
Brett,  at  Rockville,  Conn.,  and  they  have  had  two 
children,  namely,  Eluvia  E.,  born  Feb.  4,  1865  ; 
Edith  W.,  Jan.  17,  1872,  and  the  latter  died  eight 
months  later.  Mrs.  Wright  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  but  he  is  disposed  to  be  rather  "  liberal ' 
in  his  religious  views.  In  politics  he  is  most  em- 
phatically a  Democrat.  He  held  the  office  of  Trus- 
tee, in  the  early  days  of  Moline,  was  Supervisor  for 
one  year,  and  for  several  years  has  been  one  of  the 
Directors  of  the  Moline  Public  Library;  is  a  Free- 
mason, but  connected  with  none  of  the  other  secret 
societies.  The  pump  company,  in  which  he  is  the 
principal  and  leading  character,  is  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  institutions  in  Moline. 


*— ^- ^ 

'-■  :!\:  "? 

^ifi.  avid  Warnock,  farmer  on   section  13,  Ru- 
ral Township,  is  a  son  of  John   and  Mary 
(Campbell)    Warnock.       (See    sketch    of 
John  Warnock.)     Mr.  W.,  of  this  sketch,  was 
born     in    County     Down,     Ireland,      Aug.     6, 
'      1847,  and  was  only  a  year  old  when  his  parents 
emigrated  to    America.     He  remained  a  member  of 


the  household  until  25  years  of  age,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  He  has  until  the 
present  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  now- 
being  the  owner  of  i6oacresof  land  in  Rural  Town- 
ship, and  T47  acres  in  Henry  County,  most  of  which 
is  under  cultivation. 

He  was  married  in  Henry  County,  111.,  March  19, 
1873,  to  Miss  Jennie,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane 
(Grant)  Ferguson,  her  parents  being  natives  respect- 
ively of  Ireland  and  Scotland,  and  have  a  family  of 
eight  children, — James,  Annie,  Jennie,  William,  Ella, 
Sarah,  Hattie  and  Carrie.  Mrs.  Warnock  was  born 
near  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  April  12,  1855,  and  she  has 
had  six  children,  viz. :  Mary  N.,  Eva  L.,  Annie  B., 
Sadie,  Zella  J.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warnock  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a  believer  in  and  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


« 


< 


r  p|l :£  ester  D.  Mudge,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
:  of  Mudge  Bros.,  general  merchants  at  Tay 
lor  Ridge,  was  born  in  Chenango  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  April  28,  1S45.  His  father,  Edson  Mudge, 
was  a  prominent  farmer  of  that  State,  and  was 
married  in  his  native  county,  to  Miss  Angelina 
Burroughs,  a  native  of  the  same  State.  He  died  in 
New  York,  in  the  fall  of  1874,  and  she  afterwards 
came  West,  and  died  at  the  residence  of  her  son  in 
Edgington,  this  county,  Nov.  14,  1875,  at  the  age  of  ' 
66  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  children,  3 
namely:  Emeline,  who  married  Dr.  Ardo  Walker, 
and  now  resides  in  Morris  Co.,  Kan.;  Lester  D.;  and 
Clarke  E.,  who  married  Miss  Asenath  Gibson,  and 
now  has  one  child,  Vera  by  name  ;  he  is  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Mudge  Bros. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  was 
1 1  years  old  when  his  parents  came  West  and  settled 
in  Edgington  Township,  this  county.  Here  he  com- 
pleted his  education,  in  the  public  schools.  At  the 
age  of  15  he  left  home  and  began  in  life  as  a  clerk  in 
a  mercantile  establishment.  After  his  marriage  he 
made  his  residence  in  the  village  of  Edgington,  fol- 
lowed farming  for  a  time,  then  was  a  clerk  again,  at 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Reynolds,  the  same  township.  In  July,  1S68,  he 
purchased  the  store  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Walker,  and 
has  since  been  with  his  brother,  as  above  mentioned. 
To  their  stock  of  general  merchandise  they  have 
also  added  a  department  of  agricultural  implements. 
Mr.  M.  is  also  station  agent  at  Taylor  Ridge.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  he 
has  held  a  number  of  the  offices  of  Edgington  Town- 
ship.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Sept.  17,  1868,  is  the  date  of  his  marriage  to  Elite 
Johnson,  daughter  of  Storer  Johnson.  She  was  born 
in  Edgington  Township,  Jan.  29,  1829,  and  educated 
principally  at  Rock  Island.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mudge 
have  one  child,  named  John,  who  was  born  Feb.  28, 
1885. 


«-£-*^ 


"(jTgfj  nthony  Ricketts,  farmer,  residing  on  sec 
tion 


ro,  Drury  Township,  was  born  in 
rea  Montgomery  Co.,  Va  ,  Feb.  3,  1S14.  His 
parents,  John  B.  and  Sarah  Ricketts,  were 
natives  of  that  State,  where  the  mother  died- 
the  father  died  of  cholera  in  Paducah,  Mc- 
Cracken  Co.,  Ky.  Anthony  Ricketts,  mentioned  at 
the  beginning  of  this  sketch,  spent  his  early  years  at 
home,  assisting  on  the  farm  and  attending  the  public 
schools,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  14,  at  which 
time  he  was  employed  by  farmers  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  his  nativity  by  the  month.  He  resided  with 
his  grandfather  in  Virginia  from  the  time  he  was 
about  six  years  old,  the  date  of  the  death  of  his 
mother,  until  14  years  of  age.  When  iS  years  of 
age  he  left  Shenandoah  Co.,  Va.,  and  went  to  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.  Not  finding  employment  at  that  place, 
he  went  on  a  steamboat  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  At  the 
latter  city  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  when  he 
went  to  Lawrence  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  about 
two  years,  and  then  went  to  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
remained  for  about  one  year.  At  this  date,  in  com- 
pany with  another  gentleman,  he  purchased  a  Hat- 
boat  and  went  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  engaged 
in  trading  on  the  river  for  a  short  time,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Ohio.  He  made  three  trips  down  the 
Mississippi  to  New  Orleans  on  a  flat-boat,  meeting 
with  success  in  that  line  of  business. 

In    1844    Mr.  Ricketts   came  to   this  county  and 


settled  in  Drury  Township,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  280  acres 
of  land  in  that  township,  and  has  the  same  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation,  with  good  residence,  barn 
and  outbuildings. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ricketts  to  Miss  Diana  Simp- 
son occurred  in  Lawrence  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  13,  1839. 
She  was  a  native  of  that  county,  where  she  was  born 
April  5,  1825.  Five  children  have  been  born  of 
their  union,  namely:  John  B.,  March  7,  1841;  Ari- 
anna  C,  Dec.  1,  1842;  Solomon  S.,  Sept.  14,  1844; 
Susan  E.,  May  22,  1847,  and  Diana  C,  April  3,  1849. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  in  Drury  Township,  Aug. 
17,  1849,  and  Mr.  Ricketts  was  again  married,  in 
the  same  township,  May  8,  1853,  to  Amanda  Doty, 
a  native  of  Ohio,  in  which  State  she  was  born  March 
27,  1834.  By  the  latter  union  eight  children  have 
been  born:  Anthony  G.,  Feb.  18,  1S55  ;  Newton  B., 
March  9,  1857  ;  Gordon  W.,  Feb.  6,  i860  ;  Mary  E., 
Aug.  12,  1862;  Sarah  E.,  Dec.  23,  1864;  Charles  A., 
June  6,  1861,  died  Dec.  25,  1872;  Rufus  E.,  Nov. 
10,  1869,  and  Fred  O.,  Sept  6,  1872. 

Mr.  Ricketts  has  held  the  office  of  School  Trustee, 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  Township  Assessor,  Township 
Collector  and  Overseer  of  Highways.  Politically 
he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  re- 
ligiously he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church. 


-*3 


Sh- 


ames Tew,  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury engaged  in  the  market  business  at 
Cordova,  this  county,  was  born  in  Buck- 
inghamshire, England,  July  29,  1829.  He  is 
the  son  of  George  and  Ann  Tew,  both  natives 
k"  of  the  same  shire ;  he  was  reared  upon  the 
farm  in  his  native  land;  and  in  1850  came  to  Ameri- 
ca, and  located  in  Brantfort,  Canada,  where  he  ap- 
prenticed himself  to  a  baker  and  confectioner,  with 
whom  he  served  four  years  and  15  days,  when  he  en- 
gaged, as  a  traveling  salesman  to  a  brewer,  and  trav- 
eled three  and  a  half  years;  and  in  1858  came  to 
Cordova,  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  making  pop  beer, 
during  the  proper  season  of  the  year,  and  during  the 
remainder  of  the  time  in  farming.     This  kind  of  life 


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he  followed  until  1861,  when  he  embarked  in  the 
butchering  business,  and  the  following  year  opened  a 
market,  which  he  has  untiringly  conducted  since  that 
time. 

In  1856,  January  31,  Mr.  Tew  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Deborah  Foulds,  who  was  born  in  Lanca- 
shire, England,  Oct.  23,  1838;  and  came  to  America 
in  1841  with  her  parents.  She  is  the  mother  of  five 
children, — William  F.,  George  W.,  Anna  E.,  Jennie 
G.  and  James  Norman. 

Since  1873,  in  addition  to  conducting  his  market, 
Mr.  Tew  has  been  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
stock  to  Chicago.  His  wife  and  family  are  connected 
with  the  Baptist  Church. 


evi  McCain,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Moline, 
was  born  in  Henderson  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  n, 
1812,  and  was  the  youngest,  and  is  now  the 
^JJ  only  one  living,  of  six  sons  of  James  and 
'■*)  Eleanor  (Boyd)  McCain.  The  other  sons  were 
[  John,  Alexander,  Hance,  James  and  Eli  W. 
The  parents  were  of  Scotch  descent,  and  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania  and  North  Carolina  respect- 
ively. Levi  McCain  managed  to  pick  up  a  little 
learning  by  a  few  weeks'  irregular  attendance  at  the 
subscription  schools  of  his  neighborhood;  but  his 
education,  consisting  not  in  a  knowledge  of  men  and 
the  ways  of  the  world,  was  acquired  of  such  experi- 
ence as  a  friendless,  penniless  man  has  when  thrown 
out  upon  the  rude  waves  of  the  great  ocean  of  life 
without  craft  or  compass,  and  is  forced  to  struggle 
for  an  invisible  shore. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  McCain  worked  some  at  gun- 
smithing  and  more  at  farming,  but  his  principal  em- 
ployment from  early  manhood  until  about  32  years 
of  age  was  that  cf  following  the  rivers.  From  16  to 
18  years  of  age,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  United 
States  Government  in  its  first  efforts  to  improve  the 
Ohio  River.  Later  on,  he  navigated  the  Ohio,  from 
Pittsburg  to  its  mouth,  the  Mississippi  from  Rock 
Island  to  New  Orleans,  and  the  Missouri  from  St. 
Louis  to  Independence,  as  Mate  of  the  steamer 
"  Otto."  He  was  in  1834  Mate  on  the  steamer  "Wis- 


consin," which  plied  between  St.  Louis  and  Dubuque. 
It  was  on  one  of  his  "  up-river  "  trips  that  he  learned 
somethingof  Moline,  and  decided  to  make  it  his  future 
home.  Acting  upon  this  decision,  he  accordingly 
landed  at  Moline,  on  the  15th  day  of  April,  1845,  and 
here  he  has  since  lived,  and  since  1866  has  led  a  life 
of  comparative  ease  and  comfort.  He  no  longer  asks 
favors  from  the  world,  but  his  well-timed  efforts  and 
ceaseless  industry  have  long  since  brought  their  re- 
ward, and  Mr.  McCain  is  rounding  up  an  honorable 
and  virtuous  life  in  the  peaceful  enjoyment  of  the  ac- 
cumulation of  many  years  of  toil. 

He  left  Kentucky  on  account  of  his  Free-Soil  prin- 
ciples, and  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  became  identified  with  it;  and  during  the 
war  he  was  a  staunch  Union  man. 

After  coming  to  Moline  he  engaged  in  boat- 
building and  millwrighting,  and  was  successful  in 
accumulating  a  competency;  and  investment  in  real 
estate  added  to  his  other  acquired  wealth. 

He  has  been  thrice  married,  first,  in  1832,  in 
Henderson  Co.,  Ky.,  to  Elizabeth  Johnson,  who 
died  in  Southern  Indiana  in  1844.  Of  the  six  chil- 
dren she  bore,  four  lived  to  survive  for  a  time, 
but  at  this  writing  (June,  1885)  they  have  all  joined 
her  in  the  spirit  land.  Secondly,  in  Posey  Co.,  Ir.d., 
in  1844,  to  Elizabeth  Williams,  who  died  in  Moline 
in  1866;  and  thirdly,  at  the  last  named  place,  Dec. 
10,  1869,  to  Mrs.  Harriet  Foster,  a  lady  who  had 
been  twice  a  widow.  Her  maiden  name  was  Stroud, 
and  her  first  husband's  name  was  John  Duncan.  To 
him  she  bore  four  children  :  Joseph  A.,  of  Hender- 
son, Ky.;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Robert  Shaw,  of  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  and  Sarah  E.  and  Amanda  E.,  deceased. 
Mrs.  McCain  has  six  grandchildren,  namely,  Hattie 
and  John,  who  are  the  children  of  Joseph  A.  Duncan 
and  reside  with  their  parents  in  Henderson,  Ky., 
and  four  children  of  Mrs.  Mary  Shaw,— Eva,  Joseph, 
Robert  and  Mary  J.  Mrs.  McC.  in  her  young  days 
was  a  pioneer  teacher  in  Southern  Illinois.  In  her 
religion  she  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

IVfr.  McCain's  only  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth,  be- 
came the  wife  of  George  W.  Heck,  of  Moline,  and 
died  March  28,  1865.  They  had  three  children,  all 
of  whom  are  living,  namely  :  Sarah,  who  married  Reu- 
ben Norton,  and  has  had  three  sons, — Fra  k,  George 
W.    and    Levi;  the   family  reside  in  Moline;  Erne 


t 


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1  358 


^HU»> 


°|^X- 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


1 


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who  married  Elmer  Agnew  and  has  a  daughter 
named  Harriet;  and  John,  a  resident  of  Moline. 

The  last  child  and  son  of  Mr.  McCain,  John,  be- 
came a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  joining  Co.  H,  37th 
Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  the  three-months  call,  and 
participated  in  many  hard-fought  battles.  On  the 
expiration  of  his  first  term  of  service  he  re-enlisted 
for  three  years,  then  veteranized  and  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war.  During  the  last  part  of  his  service 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Mo.  Battery.  In  1866 
he  married,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Kan.,  Miss  Mary  Eliza- 
beth Little,  and  they  had  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  viz.,  Matilda,  Jennetta,  James  and  Ella 
May,  in  Ottawa,  that  county.  The  deceased  were 
named  Levi  and  John. 

A  correct  lithographic  likeness  of  Mr.  McCain  is 
given  on  a  preceding  page;  and  it  is  one  that  will 
not  only  be  admired  by  all  his  friends,  but  also  be 
a  source  of  satisfaction  to  all  who  may  look  into  this 
work  or  read  the  outline  of  his  life's  career.  The 
portrait  of  his  wife  is  also  given. 


»@§^OT?»v.  -wv*. 


■~/v\,  -\«j2£i2/!<M€r 


H°„  eter  Odendahl,  farmer,  residing  on  sections 
Ls^f       5  aniJ  s-  Hampton  Township,  was  born  in 
j  EpsS   Germany,  March   10,1817.     He  attended 
ifu   school,  receiving  the  advantages   afforded  by 
■']  ^      the  common  schools  of  that  early  day  until  he 
attained  the   age  of  15   years,  when    he  was 
made  to  earn  his  own  livelihood.     He  began  at  the 
occupation    of   a    farmer,    which    he    has    continued 
through  life,  and  followed  the  same  in  Germany  until 
1853,  when  he  emigrated   to  America.     Arriving  in 
Rock  Island  County  in    1853,  the   following  year  he 
purchased  65  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  improved 
and  at  the  present  time  has  under  excellent  cultiva- 
tion. 

In  1853,  before  taking  his  departure  to  the  New 
World,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cecilia 
Wirtz,  a  German  lady,  and  the  issue  of  their  union 
has  been  two  children,  both  sons,  namely :  William 
P.  and  Henry.  William  P.  married  Josephine  Ott, 
and  their  home  circle  is  blessed  with  two  children, 
Lutwig  and  Gertrude.  Henry  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Laura  Godderg,  and  they  have  one  boy,  Otto  H. 


Politically,  Mr.  Odendahl  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  belongs  with  his  wife  to  the 
Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Odendahl  has  been  quite 
successful  since  his  emigration  to  the  United  States, 
and  is  a  well-known  and  enterprising  fanner  ot 
Hampton  Township. 


&H— 


ames  Reynolds,  one  of  the  energetic  and 
progressive  farmers  of  Rock  Island  County, 
residing  on  section  1  a,  Drury  Township,  is 
a  native  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
%F    born  Oct.  26,  i8co.     His  father  was  a   fanner 

P  by  occupation,  and  James  passed  his  early  life 
on  the  old  homestead,  engaged  in  assisting  his 
father  in  the  maintenance  of  the  family.  The  county 
in  which  he  was  born  being  newly  settled,  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  common  schools  were  scarce  and  the 
education  of  James  was  consequently  somewhat 
limited. 

When  four  years  of  age,  the  parents  of  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds removed  to  Pickaway  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they 
resided  for  about  six  years,  when  they  removed  to 
what  was  then  the  Territory  of  Indiana,  where  the 
senior  Reynolds  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He 
located  in  what  is  now  Wayne  County,  that  State. 
The  War  of  1812,  soon  after  his  location  in  that  Ter- 
ritory, broke  out,  and  for  three  years  he  with  others 
were  engaged  in  fighting  the  Indians.  It  was  there 
that  James  was  reared,  and  in  such  times  there  were 
no  schools.  He  lived  in  what  is  now  Wayne  and 
and  Morgan  Counties,  Indiana,  for  a  period  of  26 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1836  he  came' to  Rock  Isl- 
and County,  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  and  was 
consequently  one  of  the  early  pioneers  to  settle  here. 
He  located  in  Drury  Township,-  section  18,  and  has 
lived  in  this  vicinity  until  the  present  time.  He  is 
at  present  the  proprietor  of  323  acres  of  land,  all  lo- 
cated in  Drury  Township. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Reynolds  occurred  in  Hen- 
dricks, Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  obtained  the  first  license 
ever  issued  at  Danville,  which  is  the  county  seat  of 
that  county,  Nov.  17,  1824,  and  the  lady  of  his 
choice  was  Miss  Rachel  Demorss,  a  native  of  Ham- 
ilton Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  resided  until  her  marriage. 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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The  issue  of  their  union  was  12  children,  namely 
Charles,  Nancy  C,  Jane,  Ursula,  Elizabeth,  William, 
James  D.,  Anna,  Eli,  John,  Eliza  and  Milton.  Mrs. 
R.  died  in  Drury  Township,  May  6,  1864,  and  Mr. 
Reynolds  was  again  married,  in  that  township,  in 
July,  1866,  to  Jane  Harper  Getchell,  widow  of  Lor- 
enzo Getchell,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Cor- 
inth, Miss.  She  died  in  Drury  Township,  in  June, 
1879. 

Mr.  R.,  although  a  gentleman  never  seeking  an 
office,  has  held  some  of  the  minor  offices  of  the 
township.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 

His  parents,  William  and  Nancy  (Griffith)  Rey- 
nolds, were  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Chesapeake  Bay. 
They  afterwards  married  and  settled  in  Maryland, 
from  whence  they  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  then  to 
Ohio,  and  finally  to  Indiana,  where  they  died.  Their 
family  consisted  of  eight  children,  Larkin,  William, 
Priseilla,  Caleb,  Anna,  Eli,  Charles  and  James.  The 
father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
is  reported  to  have  been  well  acquainted  with  George 
Washington. 


^jmnaX&^^—^M 


•^gf^rerzra* 


^J|jji  ;  illiam  Josephson,  of  the  Moline  Cabinet 
Organ  Company,  was  born  in  Sweden, 
Sept.  3,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
>  and  Mary  (Handberg)  Molander.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  was  born  Aug. 
10,  17 97,  and  his  mother  Dec.  3,  1803.  Wil- 
liam learned  the  organ-making  trade  in  his  native 
country,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1864.  He 
came  directly  to  Princeton,  111.,  where  he  worked  at 
cabinet-making  as  a  journeyman  seven  years.  He 
then  went  to  Mendota,  111.,  where  he  was  employed 
in  the  shops  of  the  Western  Cottage  Organ  Company 
for  nine  years.  He  then  came  to  Moline  and  bought 
an  interest  in  the  Moline  Cabinet  Organ  Company  of 
this  place,  and  was  elected  the  first  Secretary  of  the 
company. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  at  Princeton,  111.,  June 
27,  JS69,  to  Miss  Matilda,  daughter  of  Jonas  Samuel- 
son,  of  Princeton.  Mrs.  Josephson  was  born  in 
Sweden,  and  came   to  America  with  her  parents  in 


1852.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  name- 
ly: Jennie,  born  at  Mendota,  Oct.  22,  1872;  Con- 
rad, bom  at  Mendota,  Feb.  4,  1874;  Telma,  born  at 
Mendota,  July  25,  1878;  Effie,  at  Moline,  July  25, 
1881,  and  Leonard,  at  Moline,  Aug.  2r,  1883.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Josephson  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  J.  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. 


^# 


s   H.  Womacks,  one  of  the  progressive  farm- 
S$f.  ers  of  Drury  Township,  was  born  in  Frank- 

vsjfc.  *   lin  Township,  Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  July   20, 
18T7.     His    parents,   Terry   and    Roxanna 
(Reynolds)  Womacks,  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia  and   New  York  respectively,  and  settled 
in  Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  died. 

William  H.  Lomacks  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  of  a  family  of  1 1  children,  and  his  early  years 
were  spent  in  attending  the  common  schools  and  in 
assisting  in  the  labors  of  the  farm  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  20  years.  At  this  age  in  life  he  emigrated 
to  Muscatine,  Iowa,  and  located  in  Muscatine 
County,  that  State,  where  he  resided  for  six  years, 
when  he  came  to  Rock  Island  County,  in  r845,  pur-, 
chased  120  acres  of  land  located  in  Drury  Township, 
on  which  he  settled  and  entered  vigorously  and  en- 
ergetically upon  the  task  of  its  improvement,  and  on 
which  he  has  constantly  resided  until  the  present 
time.  Mr.  Womacks  owned  at  one  time  600  acres 
of  land,  but  at  the  present  time  he  is  only  the  pro- 
prietor of  t8o  acres. 

Mr.  Womacks  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Brown 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  T5,  ^38,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Doty, 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
(Washburne)Doty,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ken- 
tucky respectively.  She  was  the  eldest  of  a  family 
of  nine  children,  and  was  born  in  Brown  Co.,  Ohio, 
Oct.  12,  1817.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Womacks  are  the 
parents  of  one  child,  Alvin  T.,  born  Jan.  8,  r842, 
and  resides  in  Buffalo  Prairie  Township.  They 
have  buried  ten  children,  all  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy but  two.  Albert  M.  enlisted  in  the  93d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  died  in  the 
prison  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  as  he  has  never  been 
heard  from.     He  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of 


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Mission  Ridge,  and  after  being  confined  in  different 
prisons,  he  was  sent  to  that  worst  of  all  rebel  prisons, 
Andersonville.  Thomas  P.  was  a  member  of  the 
same  company  and  regiment,  and  was  mortally 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Champion  Hill,  in  the  rear 
of  Vicksburg,  and  died  on  the  fourth  day  after  re- 
ceiving his  wound. 

Mr.  W.  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  three 
years,  and  of  School  Treasurer,  21  years.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  denomination  he  is  a  prominent 
member,  having  held  a  license  to  exhort  and  been 
Recording  Steward  20  years. 

Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of 
the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republian  party. 


lit6" 

%  jsj rederick  Osborn,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 

fllip.   tion  28,  Zunia  Township,  and  the  son  of 


George  and  Sarah  E.  (Morehouse)  Osborn, 
natives  of  Connecticut,  was  born  in  the  State 
last  named  March  2,  1826.  His  parents  moved 
from  the  State  of  their  nativity  to  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1831.  His  father  was  a  coasting  Captain, 
and  followed  that  occupation  from  181 2  to  1831. 
He  then  sold  his  vessel  and  bought  a  small  farm  in 
Oneida  County  and  lived  there  until  the  year  1861. 
During  that  year  he  came  to  Zuma  Township,  this 
county,  where  he  is  yet  living,  with  his  son  John, 
aged  87  years.  Mrs.  Osborn  died  in  Oneida  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  in  1859. 

Frederick  Osborn,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, remained  on  the  old  homestead,  assisting  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family  and  attending  the  common 
schools,  in  which  he  received  a  good  English  educa- 
tion until  he  attained  the  age  of  23  years.  He  then 
left  home,  and  realizing  that  better  inducements  were 
offered' in  the  West  for  an  accumulation  of  a  com- 
petency, came  to  Zuma  Township,  this  county,  in 
1849,  and  purchased  40  acres  of  land.  He  at  once 
entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  and  erected  thereon  a 
house  8x12  feet  wide  and  20  feet  in  length,  costing 
him  just  $50,  dohig  the  entire  work  of  constructing 
the  same  himself.   He  lived  in  this  house  for  a  period 


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of  ten  years,  and  added  to  his  original  purchase  440 
acres,  making  his  landed  interests  in  the  county  480 
acres.  The  old  house  has  been  torn  away  and  in  its 
place  a  beautiful  and  commodious  residence,  to- 
gether with  fine  barns  and  good  outbuildings,  erected. 
These,  with  the  pleasant  surroundings,  are  repre- 
sented by  a  full-page  view  in  connection  with  this 
sketch. 

Mr.  Osborn  formed  a   matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss   Keziah  S.  Joslyn,  a   native  of   New  London, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1847.     She  was  born  Feb.  28, 
1828.     The  issue  of  their   union  was   six  children. 
The  record  is  as  follows  :     George  H.,  born  April  4, 
185  r ;   Benjamin  B.,  born  Oct.  9,  i860  ;   Ulysses  G., 
born  June  24,  1864;  Minnie  M.,  born  Feb.  28, 1866; 
Robert   R.   H.,  born  June   9,   1S68;   and  Sarah   E., 
born  Nov.  24, 1871.     George  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Sarah  Brown,  and   they  are  the   parents  of 
two  children, — Fred  and   Harry.     Ulysses  G.  mar- 
ried Rose  Erwin,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Jessie    ( 
K.  The  wife  and  mother  died  Nov.  19, 1874,  mourned  s 
by  a  host  of  relatives  and  friends,  as  a  kind  mother,  Q 
a  loving  wife  and  a  generous  neighbor. 

George  Osborn,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  ^ 
having  been  a  sea  Captain  and  followed  the  sea  * 
more  or  less  all  his  life  up  to  the  time  he  sold  his 
vessel  (in  1831)  and  moved  to  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
never  saw  a  cow  milked,  a  horse  harnessed,  or  seed 
planted  in  the  ground  until  he  had  attained  the 
age  of  33  years.  An  anecdote  is  told  of  him,  which 
is  too  good  to  leave  out  of  this  biography: 

"  At  the  age  of  33  years  he  purchased  a  team  al- 
ready harnessed,  and  on  going  home  succeeded  in 
taking  off  the  harness  ;  but  the  next  morning  he  was 
nonplused,  not  knowing  how  to  put  them  on  again, 
and  was  really  compelled  to  go  to  a  neighbor's  to  pro- 
cure assistance  to  harness  the  team.  On  another 
occasion  he  went  into  the  garden  and  there  discov- 
ered some  beans  hanging  to  a  stalk.  He  supposed 
the  chickens  had  scratched  them  up,  and  pulled  one 
out  of  the  ground  and  took  it  in  and  showed  it  to  his 
wife,  saying  that  he  supposed  the  chickens  had  been 
spoiling  their  garden.  He  was  of  the  impression 
that  the  bean  should  be  at  the  other  end  of  the 
stalk,  like  the  peanut  or  potato."  He  is  nevertheless 
a  great  reader  at  this  time,  and  although  an  old  man 
and  well-nigh  the  "  borders  of  the  river"  he  reads 
without  glasses.  George  H.  Osborn  lives  in  Bethany,  (j 
Harrison  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  culti-    V 

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vation  of  a  140-acre  farm.  Ulysses  G.  is  also  a 
resident  of  Bethany,  and  is  engaged  in  the  agricul- 
tural implement  business,  having  a  half  interest 
in  an  establishment  at  that  place  carrying  a  capital 
stock  of  $  r  0,000. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.     He  was  formerly 
an  old-line  Whig. 


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ifsgk^dmond  Cropper,  until  recently  a  general 
|it)  farmer  and  raiser  of  live  stock,  on  section  1, 
Bowling  Township,  was  born  in  Worcester 
j^Sjji-  Co.,  Md.,  June  23,  i8rr.  His  father,  a  New 
England  farmer  of  English  descent,  married 
Miss  Amelia  Bowen,  also  of  Worcester  County 
and  of  New  England  parentage,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  that  county.  She  died  about  1816,  and  he 
afterward  again  married.  Being  engaged  in  running 
ocean  vessels  to  some  extent,  he  finally  lost  his  ves- 
sel off  the  New  England  coast,  and  then  returned  to 
his  farm,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  July  26, 
r834,  when  he  was  66  years  old  to  a  day. 

Edmond,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  fifth 
in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  t6  children,  his  father 
having  a  total  of  2r,  by  both  his  wives.  He  and  a 
sister  are  the  only  members  of  the  family  now  sur- 
viving. He  resided  at  home  during  most  of  his 
younger  days,  attending  to  his  father's  farm  and  go- 
ing to  the  district  school.  The  first  two  years  after 
his  father's  death  he  passed  as  a  sailor  on  the  Atlan- 
tic Ocean,  being  first  mate,  and  a  short  time  with  his 
Captain  as  ship-mate.  Subsequently  he  came  West 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Bowling  Township,  this 
county. 

Nov.  4,  1846,  in  the  above  township,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Peckenpaugh,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and 
finally  died,  at  her  home  in  this  county,  Oct.  13,  1859. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  an  Ohio  farmer,  located  in 
Southern  Illinois  in  1834,  and  afterward  in  Swedona, 
Mercer  County.  She  became  the  mother  of  nine 
children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  living 
are:  Martha  E.,  who  is  now  residing  at  home  with 
her  father;  Julia  married  Stephen  Bowen,  and  is  liv- 
ing in  Waterbury,  Conn. ;  Emily  married  Thomas 
Laflin,  resides  on  a  farm  in  Black  Hawk  Township, 


this  county;  Hettie  A.  married  David  Hoover,  re- 
siding in  Nebraska;  William  married  Anna  Cook,  ul 
Rock  Island,  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead; 
George  married  Julia  Zahn,  and  is  a  resident  of  Edg- 
ington  Township. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Cropper  has  always  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  His  first  purchase 
of  land  was  40  acres  from  the  Government ;  and 
since  then  he  has  bought  a  considerable  area;  he 
now  has  213  acres,  most  of  which  is  cultivated,  and 
is  rendered  highly  valuable  by  its  superior  condition; 
his  farm  buildings  are  first-class.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  strong  Republican;  has  held  the  office 
of  School  Director  17  years,  Road  Commissioner,  etc., 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  as  was  also  his  wife.  He  has  recently 
moved  to  Milan,  where,  at  this  writing,  he  resides. 


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■Mfcenry  J.  Hull,  a  merchant  of  Moline,  was 
J^  born  July  23,  1843,  at  Kendall,  Orleans 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents,  John  and  Eunice 
(Jennings)  Hull,  had  four  children,  Henry  be- 
ing the  third  in  order  of  birth.  When  he  was 
seven  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to  North- 
ern Indiana,  where  he  remained  until  rS64.  He  at- 
tended school  until  he  was  about  iy  years  of  age, 
and  then  began  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store.  In 
the  fall  of  r864  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Gov- 
ernment on  the  island  of  Rock  Island,  then  a  prison 
for  rebels,  as  clerk  in  the  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ment, remaining  there  until  July,  T865,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Lima,  Ind.,  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  brother,  George  B.,  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness until  the  summer  of  r867_  He  then  came  again 
to  Moline,  and  opened  a  dry-goods  store,  his  brother, 
just  mentioned,  coming  here  and  joining  him  in  the 
business  in  rS76;  and  at  this  date,  r885,  are  still  to- 
gether, enjoying  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  r87  2,  at  Montrose,  Pa., 
Mr.  Hull  was  married  to  Ella  Kress,  who  was  born 
in  Troy,  that  State,  in  1848,  her  parents  being  Ben- 
jamin and  Margaret  (Wilcox)  Kress.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hull  have  two  children  :  George  H.,  born  June  T7, 
1873;  and  John  K.,  born  March  9,  1875.     Mrs.  H. 


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is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  but  Mr.  Hull  is 
connected  with  no  congregation.  He  is  Republi- 
can as  to  political  issues,  and  locally  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  three  years. 


alvin   R.    Ellsworth,   residing  at    Illinois 
City,  was  born  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan. 

Mh  "*"  22,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Calvin  L.  and 
Jfe)  Ann  Maria  (Stanley)  Ellsworth.  His  father 
yp?      was  born  in  Ohio  in  1S09,  and  his  mother  in 

<  New  Jersey  in  181 1.  The  mother  settled  in 
Ohio  with  her  parents  while  young,  and  they  were 
married  in  that  State.  They  located  near  Rootstown, 
Portage  County,  where  the  father  followed  the  voca- 
tion of  a  farmer  until  1840.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
he  started  with  a  team  overland  for  Illinois,  and 
came  to  this  county,  where  he  made  a  claim  on  sec- 
tion 31,  Buffalo  Prairie  Township.  He  erected  a 
good  frame  house,  the  lumber  being  all  oak.  He 
entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon  the  culti- 
vation and  improvement  of  his  land  and  succeeded 
in  placing  120  acres  under  good  tillable  condition, 
on  which  he  resided  until  1858,  when  he  sold  the 
same  and  bought  land  in  Drury  Township,  on  which 
he  has  resided  until  the  present  time.  There  were 
six  children  born  of  their  union,  only  three  of  whom 
survive,  namely :  Margaret,  at  present  the  wife  of 
George  E.  French,  residing  in  Drury  Township ; 
Calvin  R.,  the  subject  of  this  notice;  and  Dolly  A., 
wife  of  John  Shutes,  a  resident  of  Mercer  County, 
this  State. 

Calvin  R.  Ellsworth,  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice  was  not  a  year  old  when  he  came  to  this 
State,  and  consequently  knew  no  other  than  Illinois 
as  a  home.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county.  He 
made  his  home  under  the  parental  roof-tree  until 
1859,  when  he  went  to  Missouri  and  engaged  to  learn 
the  blacksmith  trade  near  Sedalia.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  at  that  place  for  three  years,  then  returned 
to  Rock  Island  County  and  engaged  at  his  trade  in 
Drury  Township,  where  he  remained  for  one  year, 
when  he  went  to  Illinois  City  and  followed  his  trade 
there  for  one  year.     He  then  went   to  Muscatine, 


Iowa,  and  carried  on  the  same  business  for  one  and 
a  half  years,  when  he  again  returned  to  Illinois  City 
and  prosecuted  his  business  continuously  until  1881. 
During  this  year  he  rented  his  shop  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  trade.  He  had  previously  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  brother,  Bartley  Ellsworth,  and 
opened  a  store,  where  they  carried  on  a  grocery 
business,  which  partnership  continued  until  1876, 
when  he  purchased  his  brother's  interest  and  con- 
tinued in  the  business  alone  for  about  two  years. 

Mr.  Ellsworth  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance, 
June  13,  i86i,with  Miss  Mary  J.  McMullen.  She 
was  born  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  five  children,  of  whom  two  survive. 
Laura  A.  was  born  Oct.  9,  1863,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Gideon  Reed,  a  resident  of  Drury  Township;  Dora 
Belle,  born  April  17,  1873,  and  resides  at  home  ;  the 
first  child,  a  son,  named  Joseph  L.,  died  when  9 
months  and  14  days  old  ;  the  third  child,  May,  died 
in  her  nth  year;  Maggie  Lee,  the  fourth  child,  died 
at  1 6  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Ellsworth  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Illi- 
nois City,  April  1,  1874,  and  has  held  the  office  con- 
tinuously up  to  this  time.  Religiously,  he  and  his 
wife  are  both  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican 
party.  Mr.  Ellsworth  is  also  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Ellsworth  &  Crabtree,  general  merchants,  at 
Illinois  City. 


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harles   C.  Crabtree,  of  the   firm  of  Ells- 
f"  worth  &  Crabtree,  general  merchants  of 


l-ET^    Buffalo  Prairie,  is  a  native  of  Union    Co., 

$;§     Ind.,  where     he   was    born    March    2,   1842. 

W      William  and  Elizabeth  (Swingle)Crabtree,  his 

parents,    were    natives   of  Western    Virginia. 

When  Charles  was  about  ten  years  of  age  they  moved 

to  Illinois,  the  journey  being  made  with   a  wagon,   ' 

carriage   and  three   horses,  the   family  cooking   and 

camping   on   the  way.     His  father    rented   land   in 

different  places  in  Mercer  and  Rock  Island  Counties 

until  iS6i,when  he  bought  two   blocks   in    Illinois 

City,  upon  which  he  built  a  log  house,  where  and  his 

wife  lived  until  the  date  of  their  deaths. 


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^OC^  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Our  subject  was  the  second  son  of  the  family,  and 
he  made  his  home  with  his  parents  until  the  time  of 
his  enlistment  in  defense  of  his  country's  honor, 
which  occurred  Aug.  5,  1862.  He  enlisted  in  Co. 
E,  1 8th  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  with  valor  and 
devotion  to  his  country  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
serving  mostly  in  Missouri,  Arkansas  and  the  Indian 
Territory.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Spring- 
field, Prairie  De  Ann,  Poison  Springs,  Ark.,  Saline 
River,  besides  numerous  skirmishes.  He  was  dis- 
<  harged  in  August,  1865,  with  his  regiment,  when  he 
immediately  returned  to  Illinois  City.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  interested  himself  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  1878,  when  he  embarked  in  the 
mercantile  business,  and  is  now  with  his  partner 
carrying  on  a  general  store.  The  postoffice  is  also 
located  at  his  store. 

Our  subject  was  married  July  16,  1866,  to  Susan 
E.  Peppers,  who  was  born  in  Rock  Island  County, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Dungan) 
Peppers.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch 
Republican,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  po- 
litical honors. 


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|ii|  K>U;.-,an  McNeal,  a  farmer,  residing  on  sections 

y'b.Wlj,     19  and  30,  Hampton  Township,  was  born 

3  (jk    "     in  Rock  Island  Co.,  Dec.  5,  1839,  his  par- 

TJ*      ents  being  Henry  and  Louisa  E.  (Wells)  Mc- 

■fc         Neal,    natives    of    New    York    and    Illinois 

\  respectively.     They  came  to  Rock  Island  in 

182S,  and  the   father  erected  the  first  frame  barn 

built  in  the  county;  also  raised  the  first  fruit  in  the 

county. 

Mr.  McNeal,  subject  of  this  notice,  remained  at 
home,  assisting  his  father  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
family,  and  attending  the  common  schools  (at  which 
he  received  a  good  English  education),  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  15  years.  He  then  went  forth  to 
fight  the  battles  of  life  alone,  and  engaged  to  learn 
the  tinner's  trade,  and  after  completing  his  appren- 
ticeship at  the  same  he  worked  at  it  nine  years.  In 
1864  he  commenced  farming  in  Hampton  Township 
on  160  acres  of  land,  located  on  sections  19  and  30, 


which  he  had  purchased,  and  where  he  at  present 
resides.  He  entered  vigorously  and  energetically 
upon  the  improvement  of  his  place,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent writing  has  an  excellent  farm,  consisting  of  160 
acres,  with  good  residence,  barn  and  outbuildings. 

Mr.  McNeal  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna 
Crawford,  Sept.  2,  1863.  She  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  where  she  was  born  April  24,  1S44.  The  issue 
of  their  union  has  been  four  children  :  Nelly,  born 
May  5,  1865  ;  Hattre,  born  Sept.  27,  1867;  Gussie, 
born  Jan.  25,  1872,  and  Henry,  born  Dec.  28,  1875. 
Politically,  Mr.  McNeal  is  a  believer  in  and  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  held  the  position  of  Postmaster  at 
Watertown  for  a  period  of  30  years,  and  is  the  owner 
of  two-thirds  of  the  village  plat. 


I 


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amuel  Bryan,  a  retired  farmer,  residing  on 
section  8,  Zuma  Township,  was    born  in 
Chester  Co.,   Pa.,   March    22,    1805.     His 
parents    were   Thomas    and    Nancy  (McCoy) 
Bryan,  the  former  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State  and   the  latter  of  Ireland.     They  both 
died  in  Pennsylvania. 

Samuel  Bryan  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  21  years  of  age.  During  his  boyhood 
and  youth  he  attended  the  common  schools  and 
worked  on  the  farm.  After  he  quitted  the  parental 
home  he  worked  for  some  time  on  a  farm  by  the 
month,  and  in  1837  came  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
until  1841.  During  that  year  he  came  to  Rock 
Island  County  and  stopped  for  two  years  at  Moline, 
when,  in  1843,  he  purchased  140  acres  of  land  where 
he  now  resides  and  began  active  operations  as  a 
farmer.  It  will  be  seen  by  the  date  of  his  arrival 
here  that  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  who  lo- 
cated and  improved  land  in  this  section  of  the 
county.  Long  since  he  has  arisen  to  that  honorable 
position  of  being  one  of  the  leading  and  most  re- 
spected farmers  in  this  township. 

Mr.  Bryan  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1831,  to 
Miss  Mary  Garner,  a  native  of  England.  They  reared 
a  large  family  of  children,  who  have  taken  promi- 
nent and  respected  positions  in  society.     Mis.  Bryan 


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died  in  1876.  The  following  is  the  record  of  their 
eight  children :  Alice,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of 
Simon  Michaels,  and  they  have  one  child,— William  ; 
Isabella  married  James  Dark,  and  Ambrose  and 
John  are  the  names  of  their  two  children  ;  Thomas 
married  Jane  Sturtevant,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
eight  children, — John,  Mary,  David,  Hannah,  Sam- 
uel, Allie,  Sarah  and  Lula ;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  John 
Moore,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children, — Nettie 
and  Sarah  ;  Hannah  married  William  Moore  :  Edna 
is  their  adopted  daughter ;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  George 
Wainwnght,  and  the  mother  of  two  children, — Mar- 
cellus  and  Isabella ;  Alvina  is  now  Mrs.  Edward 
Housapel,  and  the  mother  of  the  following  five  chil- 
dren,— Piudence,  Lula,  Samuel,  Edith  and  Marcel- 
lus;  Samuel  married  Luella  Bowles,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  one  child, — Samuel  M. 


ueius  P.    Wheelock,   a  superintendent    in 
the  works  of  the   Moline    Plow    Company^ 
fourth  son  of  a  family  of  five  sons  and  one 
daughter,  was   born   in    Holland,  Erie  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  June   10,    1844.     His  father's    name    was 
William,    his     mother's     Catharine      (Morey) 
Wheelock,  Yankee  people  from  Massachusetts. 

He  attended  the  district  school  during  boyhood 
and  one  term  at  the  Aurora  Academy,  and  then 
taught  school  five  terms,  three  of  which  were  in  his 
old  home  district.  The  intervals  he  devoted  to 
agricultural  labors  on  the  farm  of  his  father.  He  re- 
mained in  and  about  Holland  until  1869,  in  May  of 
which  year  his  father  died,  at  60  years  of  age.  Lu- 
cius was  appointed  administrator,  and  after  settling 
the  affairs  of  the  estate  sold  the  farm,  and,  with  his 
mother  and  sister,  came  to  Moline,  111.  Remain- 
ing here  a  month  or  two  only,  he  went  to  Madison, 
Wis.,  on  a  visit  to  his  uncle,  Daniel  Larkin.  In 
Feb.,  1870,  he  and  his  younger  brother,  Jerome  B. 
Wheelock,  went  to  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  rented  and 
carried  on  a  farm  of  40  acres  for  two  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Madison,  Wis.,  on  a  visit 
to  his  mother,  who  had  bought  a  farm  near  that 
city.  Going  back  to  Holland,  he  was  a  clerk  for  a 
year  thtre  in  a  general  store  ;  then  he  worked  for 


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awhile  as  a  hand  in  a  blacksmith-shop,  in  which  he 
subsequently  became  a  partner.  After  toiling  at 
that  laborious  work  for  about  two  years  he  returned 
to  Madison,  and  managed  the  farm  for  his  mother 
for  something  over  a  year,  during  which  time  he  com- 
pleted a  thorough  course  of  commercial  studies  at 
the  Northwestern  Business  College  in  the  city,  grad- 
uating thereat  in  Dec,  1876. 

He  came  to  Moline  again  about  May  1,  1877,  at 
which  time  we  find  him  with  the  Victor  Scale  Com- 
pany (now  the  Moline  Scale  Company),  as  traveling 
builder,  which  occupation  he  followed,  also  working 
in  the  shops  some,  until  July  1,  1881,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  shops  of  the  Moline  Scale  Company  as 
superintendent,  which  position  he  held  until  Jan.  1, 
1885.  He  then  entered  the  shops  of  the  Moline 
Plow  Company,  where  he  is  now  superintendent  of 
the  department  for  turning  out  the  famous  sulky 
plow,  "  Flying  Dutchman." 

In  his  political  principles,  Mr.  Wheelock  has  al- 
ways been  a  Republican,  and  in  his  religious  senti- 
ment is  most  emphatically  a  staunch  Spiritualist. 
He  is  unmarried,  but  makes  a  comfortable  home  for 
his  invalid  mother,  now  71  years  of  age,  with  whom 


he  resides  at  1,307    Fifteenth  Street.     To   her  wants 
he  devotes  kind  and  helpful  attention. 


f-Hef-^i^-i 

.#»»  eorge    MeNeal    was    born    in    Hampton 
:ii||||J    Township,  this  county,  Nov.  27,  1833,  his 
":'.'fi"     "    parents   being    Henry   and   Eliza   (Wells) 
'  MeNeal,  natives  of  New  York  and  Illinois  re- 
spectively.    The  parents  came  to  Rock  Island 
i       in  1828,  and  were  truly  representative  pioneers 
of  this  county.     They  experienced  all  the  trials  inci- 
dent to  a   new  and   undeveloped  country,  and  the 
father  built  the  first  barn  and  raised  the  first  fruit  in 
the  county. 

Mr.  MeNeal,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
remained  on  the  parental  homestead,  receiving  the 
advantages  afforded  by  the  common  school,  and  per- 
forming such  labor  as  was  common  to  farmer's  sons 
of  the  time  and  locality'in  which  he  resided,  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  iq  years.  On  arriving  at  this  age 
in  life  he  engaged  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade 


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4  with  C.  B.  Marshall,  of  Port  Byron.  He  served  an 
?  apprenticeship  of  two  years,  then  engaged  in  bnsi- 
6  ness  himself  at  Port  Byron,  and  followed  his  trade 
almost  constantly  for  a  period  of  24  years.  Soon  after 
the  wires  had  flashed  across  the  country  the  news 
■f  that  Rebel  guns  were  thundering  forth  their  shot  and 
shell  on  Sumter,  and  our  martyred  President  had 
called  for  brave  hearts  and  strong  arms  to  suppress 
the  rebellion,  Mr.  McNeal  concluded  to  respond. 
Consequently,  in  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G, 
126th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  for  three  years  served  in  bat- 
tling for  the  cause  of  right,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  was  honorably  discharged.  Return- 
ing home,  he  again  engaged  in  the  blncksmith  busi- 
ness, together  with  that  of  the  livery  business,  which 
he  followed  until  1S77.  He  then  purchased  40  acres 
of  land  located  on  section  30,  Hampton  Township, 
upon  which  he  moved  and  on  which  he  has  since  re- 
1    sided  and  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer. 

Mr.  McNeal  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  May 
-  1,  1856,  with  Miss  Caroline  Addison,  a  native  of 
\  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  she  was  born  Aug.  3, 
i  1836.  Politically,  Mr.  McNeal  is  a  believer  in  the 
'  tenets  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  the 
offices  of  Road  Commissioner,  Collector  and  Con- 
jj  stable,  and  socially  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
■  and  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  is  one  of  the  representative 
,  -\  and  energetic  citizens  of  Hampton  Township. 


4 


'"■'     £i4:'asPer  Maurer,  a    cooper    by 
s  LJiil;,    siding      at     Rapids     City, 


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vocation,  re- 
picts     City,    Rock    Island 
?   V^      County,    was    born    in    Switzerland,   Ger- 
$K>     many.       His    younger    days    were    spent     at 
M      school   in   acquiring  an  education,  but    when 
'        he  attained  the  age  of  14  years  he  engaged  to 
learn  the  cooper's  trade  and  served  three  years.     He 
afterward  worked  at    his    trade  for   five   years   in  his 
native  land,  when  he  emigrated  to  the  United  Slates 
and  located   in   Hampton  Township,   where  he  en- 
gaged in  work  at  coopering  until  the  year  186 1 .     In 
that  year  he  enlisted   in  Co.  G,  47th  Reg.  111.  State 
Volunteers,  where  he  served   until    the   close  of  the 
war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.     Returning 
to  his  home,  he  worked  as  a   teamster  for  a   number 


of  years,  and  by  his  careful  management  and  good 
judgment  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  11  lots  and  five 
houses. 

In  1855  Mr.  Maurer  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Miss  Ustenia  Smidt,  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
they  have  had  six  children,  namely  :  Bertha, 
Fid  ward,  William,  John,  Martin  and  Mary.  Politic- 
ally Mr.  Maurer  affiliates  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  has  held  various  local  positions,  such  as 
Town  Trustee  and  School  Trustee.  Religiously,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Maurer  belong  to  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
the  former  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  Odd 
Fellows  and  Woodmen,  besides  belonging  to  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


••<-HHHN->" 


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1  I  .harles  W.  Heald,  Vice-President  of  the 
■- mf  Union  Malleable  Iron  Company,  at  Mo- 
*»  line,  and  one  of  the  pioneer  manufac- 
turers of  that  city,  where  he  resides,  was  born 
at  Barre,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  March  12, 
1829,  and  is  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Mary 
(Newton)  Heald. 

Mr.  Heald  received  a  good  common -school  edu- 
cation in  his  native  county,  and  served  a  regular  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  trade  of  machinist  in  his  father's 
shop  at  Barre,  in  which  he  subsequently  became 
foreman  and  which  position  he  held  for  a  number  of 
years. 

In  the  spring  of  1854,  Mr.  Heald  came  to  Moline, 
this  county,  in  accordance  with  the  pre-arranged  plan 
to  establish  a  foundry  or  machine  shop  in  company 
with  Messrs.  Williams  and  White.  The  partnership 
was  formed,  building  erected  and  a  business  estab- 
lished, under  the  firm  name  of  Williams,  Heald  & 
Co.,  of  which  the  present  extensive  house  of  Wil- 
liams, White  &  Co.  is  the  successor.  Mr.  Heald  had 
charge  of  the  mechanical  department  of  the  works, 
and  continued  his  connection  with  the  firm  until 
1869,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  Messrs.  Williams 
&  White.  After  selling  out,  as  stated,  Mr.  Heald 
and  others  established  the  Moline  Malleable  Iron 
Works,  which  he  conducted  until  1S72,  when  lie  sold 
the  same  and  was  joined  by  Messrs.  Eells  &  Mitchel 
in  organizing  the  Union  Malleable  Iron  Company, 
of  which  he  was  elected  Vice-President,  and  which 


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office  he  has  held  continuously  since.  Mr.  Heald 
has  had  the  general  management  of  the  mechanical 
department  of  the  works  since  their  construction.  He 
is  skilled  and  experienced  in  his  business,  indefatig- 
able in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  has  contrib- 
uted largely  to  the  success  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Heald  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Aug.  2, 
1859,  at  Moline,  this  county,  with  Miss  Daphne  Levia 
Churchill,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Cullen  Dyer 
Churchill.  She  was  born  at  Ellington,  Chautauqua 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  23,  1838,  and  came  to  Moline  in  her 
20th  year  (July,  185S).  The  issue  of  their  union 
was  two  children :  Mary  Lizzie,  born  at  Moline, 
July  20,  1864,  and  Charles  C,  born  in  the  same  city, 
June  6,  1867.  Mrs.  Heald  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Heald  is  a 
believer  in  and  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party. 

As  a  representative  business  man  of  this  county,  a 
pioneer  manufacturer,  and  a  gentleman  well  known 
and  highly  esteemed,  not  only  by  the  people  through- 
out Rock  Island  County,  but  even  Northern  Illinois, 
it  is  quite  fitting  that  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Heald  should 
appear  in  the  Album  of  this  county. 


p  Edmund  Hollister,  of  Port  Byron,  is  a  pio- 
neer of  Rock  Island  County  of  1837.     He 


was  born   Dec.  28,  1807,  in   Glastonbury, 
Conn.,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of  Isaac   and 
Abigail  (Savage)  Hollister.     Hi's  parents  set- 
tled at  Granville,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
his  father  purchased  a  farm.     After  residing  thereon 
several  years,  he  bought  a  residence  at  North  Gran- 
ville, where  he  died,  in  his  90th  year.     His  wife  died 
a  few  years  before,  aged  75. 

Mr.  Hollister  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  mar- 
ried Jan.  11,  1832,  to  Emma  Louisa,  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  Hall,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Whitehall,  N. 
Y.,  who  was  born  in  Lebanon  Co.,  N.  H.,  and  com- 
pleted his  education  at  Dartmouth  College,  in  Han- 
over, N.  H.  He  began  his  practice  as  an  attorney 
at  Whitehall,  where  he  was  the  first  representative  of 
his  profession,  and   in  which  he  attained  a  leading 


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position,  becoming  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of 
the  District  to  which  he  belonged.  He  died  in  his 
45th  year,  in  October,  1825.  Esther  (Parker)  Hall, 
his  wife,  was  born  in  Granville,  N.  Y. 

Edmund  Hollister  and  wife  settled,  after  their 
marriage,  on  a  farm  in  Granville,  which  he  bought  in 
company  with  his  brother  Jehiel,  and  on  which  he 
lived  until  1S37,  when  he  set  out  for  Illinois  with  his 
family.  They  traveled  by  the  Erie  Canal  and  the 
lakes  to  Chicago,  where  Mr.  Hollister  left  his  family 
and  started  on  foot  for  Rock  Island.  He  walked  the 
entire  distance  with  the  exception  of  one  half  day, 
when  he  obtained  a  ride  with  Bishop  Chase.  With 
his  brother's  team,  which  consisted  of  three  yokes  of 
oxen,  he  returned  to  Chicago  for  his  family,  then  in- 
cluding his  wife  and  three  children,  and  conveyed 
them  to  Rock  Island  County.  He  bought  a  claim  of 
land  in  what  is  now  Coe  Township,  on  which  was  a 
log  cabin,  and  in  this  the  family  lived  six  months. 
Then  Mr.  H.  sold  out  and  bought  a  half  interest  in 
the  saw-mill  situated  in  the  locality  then  designated 
town  18,  range  1  west.  He  there  built  a  house  for 
the  accommodation  of  his  household.  He  transacted 
business  there  16  years,  manufacturing  and  selling 
lumber.  In  1854  he  again  sold  out  and  removed  to 
Port  Byron  Township.  He  there  bought  212  acres  y 
of  land.  The  township  was  then  recorded  as  num-  «: 
ber  19,  range  1  east,  and  his  purchase  of  land  was  r  ) 
situated  on  section  13.  It  contained  a  small  farm- 
house, which  served  as  the  family  abode  for  some 
years.  Eventually,  Mr.  Hollister  built  a  more  com- 
modious frame-house  and  a  barn,  suited  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  place,  and  it  has  since  constituted  the 
homestead. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Hollister  was  in 
early  life  what  is  termed  an  old-line  Whig,  and  he 
gradually  became  imbued  with  strong  opinions  on 
the  slavery  question,  which  resulted  in  his  becoming 
an  inflexible  adherent  of  the  Republican  party  on  its 
organization.  True  to  the  influences  under  which 
he  grew  to  manhood,  he  has  always  been  deeply  in- 
terested in  educational  matters  and  has  served  a 
number  of  terms  as  School  Director. 

Of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hollister, 
four  are  still  living:  Albert  F.  is  a  citizen  of  Coe 
Township;  Edmund  N.  lives  at  Port  Byron;  Lucy 
C.  is  the  widow  of  Albert  S.  Coe  ;  Emma  lives  at 
home.  The  youngest  sou,  Frederick  I.,  was  born  in 
Rock  Island  County  Oct.  30,  1842.     In  1861  he  en- 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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tered  the  military  service  of  the  United  States,  en- 
listing in  Co.  E,  1 2th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  in  the  light  arm,  which  unfitted 
him  for  further  military  duty,  and  he  received  honor- 
able discharge  in  consequence  and  returned  to  his 
home.  The  following  year  he  became  a  student  at 
the  Chicago  Business  College.  He  obtained  a  posi- 
tion as  a  clerk  at  Port  Byron,  and  while  fulfilling  its 
duties  he  was  seized  by  fatal  illness  and  died  Feb. 
4,  1864. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hollister  are  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  at  Port  Byron. 


a* 


■  iehael  Hartzell,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Moline,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
''^  Pa.,  Aug.  21,  1 810,  his  parents  being 
^\  Adam  and  Catharine  (Bush)  Hartzell.  He 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  at  mechanical 
work  ;  came  to  Illinois  in  1S35,  landing  at  Rock 
Island  April  30.  The  place  was  not  yet  named,  there 
being  only  five  or  six  cabins  on  the  bottom  land. 
He  erected  a  hewed-log  house,  two  stories  high — the 
first  two-story  structure  in  the  place. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  he  returned  to  the  East, 
where  he  was  married  May  5,  that  year,  to  Miss 
Nancy  W.,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Wor- 
man)  Stopher,  who  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.  He  soon  afterward  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  for  the  first  five  years  resided  in  Rock  Island  ; 
then  moved  upon  a  claim  in  Iowa,  where  he  passed 
four  years;  then  was  one  year  in  this  county  on  a 
farm,  and  came  in  the  spring  of  1S43  to  Moline. 
That  village  was  laid  out  the  year  following. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartzell  became  the  parents  of  13 
children,  namely:  Margaret  S.,  who  was  born  in 
Rock  Island,  then  called  "Stephenson,"  May  22, 
1837  ;  Tohn  W.,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Wichita, 
Kan.;  Rev.  Joseph  C,  who  married  Jennie  Culver, 
and  is  now  residing  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  John  Rapp;  Asenath,  now  the  wife  of  William 
W.  Wallace,  and  residing  at  Little  Rock,  Ark. ;  Eva, 
the  wife  of  T.  J.  Hayes,  of  Louisville,  Kan.;  Alice, 
now  Mrs.  L.  L.  McCoy,  of  Moline;  Lizzie  P.,  who 
became  the  wife  of  T.  A.    Wallace,  of  Davenport, 


and  died  June  28,  1881;  Lillie  I).,  her  twin  sister; 
Esther,  the  wife  of  John  F.  Jaques,  and  resides  at 
Clinton,  Iowa;  and  Frank  H.,  who  married  Jennie 
Cooper,  and  resides  at  Wichita,  Kan. 

Mr.  Hartzell  was  formerly  in  the  undertaker's 
business,  being  the  first  in  that  line  in  Rock  Island. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  with  Prohi- 
bition sympathies.  He  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  1S32,  and  his  wife  united  with 
that  denomination  a  short  time  previously. 

Rev.  Joseph  C.  Hartzell,  D.  D.,  attended  the 
Northwestern  University  at  Evanston,  111.,  and  grad- 
uated in  i860,  at  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute  there. 
Thence  he  visited  Bloomington,  111,  and  graduated 
at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  there,  spending 
seven  years  in  those  two  institutions  of  learning; 
then  joined  the  Central  Illinois  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  first  appointment 
was  at  Pekin,  111., but  was  thence  transferred  to  New 
Orleans,  to  take  charge  of  Ames  Chapel,  when  its 
pastor,  Rev.  J.  P.  Newman,  was  appointed  Chaplain 
under  Gen.  Grant.  During  six  years  he  edited  the 
Southwestern  Christian  Advocate,  after  which  the 
paper  was  turned  over  to  the  Methodist  Book  Con- 
cern, and  Mr.  Hartzell  was  appointed  Presiding 
Elder  for  that  district,  which  position  he  held  until 
elected  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid 
Society,  with  headquarters  at  Cincinnati,  where  he 
still  remains,  an  able,  eloquent  and  energetic  worker 
in  the  cause. 

Mr.  J.  Wesley  Hartzell  was  born  Oct.  6,  1839,  in 
Iowa,  but  was  brought  up,  attended  school  and  grad- 
uated at  Moline,  111.  He  was  engaged  in  farming, 
teaching  school  and  in  the  livery  business  until  1877, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Kansas,  settling  at  Topeka, 
where  he  remained  until  1883,  during  which  time  he 
became  proprietor  of  the  Tefft  House  in  that  city, 
which  was  the  political  headquarters  of  the  State. 
Selling  out  to  the  veteran  landlord  of  Davenport) 
Iowa-Mr.  Burtis  —  Mr.  Hartzell  then  became  owner 
and  manager  of  the  Topeka  Freight,  Omnibus  and 
Baggage  Lines,  working  40  horses,  having  charge  of 
the  consignment  of  all  freight  of  the  Atchison,  To- 
peka &  Santa  Fe  Railroad  at  that  point,  and  sale  of 
the  dead  freight  of  that  railroad  between  Colorado, 
New  Mexico  and  the  Missouri  River.  He  then  or- 
ganized a  company,  and  projected  and  built  the 
street  horse  railroad  in  Topeka,  his  associates  in  that 
enterprise  being  S.  W.  Wheelock,  of  Moline,  111. ;  W. 


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B.  Strong,  President;  George  0.  Manchester,  Assis- 
tant General  Manager;  and  E.  Wilder,  Treasurer  of 
the  Santa  Fe  Railroad.  In  1SS2  Mr.  Hartzell  ob- 
tained the  franchise,  organized  a  company  and  built 
the  water  works  in  Topeka,  meantime  laying  off  and 
establishing  a  beautiful  park  (bearing  his  name)  in 
that  city. 

Within  the  space  of  r8  months  he  obtained  fran- 
chises, organized  companies,  built  and  had  in  suc- 
cessful operation  roads  in  Wichita,  Emporia,  Kan., 
and  Carthage,  Mo.  He  is  now  President  of  Wichita, 
McPherson  &  Denver  Railroad,  for  which  road 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $4,000  per  mile  is  voted  for 
100  miles,  from  Wichita  to  Elmore. 

Just  at  present  Mr.  Hartzell  is  in  Moline,  111., 
energetically  engaged  in  organizing  a  new  street  rail- 
road to  and  between  Moline  and  Rock  Island,  with 
excellent  chances  of  success. 

H.  Frank  Hartzell  is  a  graduate  of  the  Moline 
High  School,  learned  the  telegraph  business,  but 
when  16  years  old  migrated  to  Topeka,  Kan.,  and 
clerked  in  the  Tefft  House  until  his  brother  sold  out 
the  hotel,  whereupon  he  became  Secretary  of  the 
Topeka  Freight  and  Omnibus  Lines,  then  Secretary 
of  the  Wichita  Horse  Railroad  Co.  until  1883,  when 
he  obtained  the  mail  contract  for  delivery  of  mail  in 
Topeka,  which  position  he  held  until  March  1,  18S4, 
when  he  returned  to  Wichita  and  organized  the  Kan- 
sas Furniture  Company,  of  which  he  is  now  Secre- 
tary. The  firm  are  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in 
furniture,  and  are  doing  a  prosperous  business. 


« 


S,  m \  illiam  G.  Marshall  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Rock  Island  County,  and  one  of  the 
w^P  Prolrnnent  citizens  of  the  township  of  Cordo- 
va. He  was  the  possessor  of  little  but  health, 
strength  and  ambition  to  get  along  in  the 
world  when  he  arrived  in  the  county,  and  he 
is  now  in  circumstances  which  afford  ample  proof  of 
the  quality  of  his  good  senses  and  labors. 

He  was  born  in  the  township  of  Hopewell,  which 
was  then  in  Huntington  Co.,  X.  J.,  but  which  by  la- 
ter municipal  division  is  now  included  in  Mercer 
County.     His  birth  occurred  Aug.  4,  1S20,  and  he  is 


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the  second  son  of  John  and  Charity  (Golden)  Mar- 
shall. His  parents  were  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  ' 
respectivelv,  and  their  ancestors  were  Germans  and 
Hollanders.  John  Marshall  died  when  his  son  was 
12  years  old,  and  the  latter,  with  his  brothers,  re- 
mained on  the  homestead,  which  they  carried  on 
until  1839.  In  that  year  he  and  an  older  brother,  a 
sister  and  her  husband,  A.  S.  Ege,  set  out  to  come 
to  Illnois.  They  left  May  16,  1839,  and  traveled  in 
the  manner  common  in  those  days  when  '.here  were 
no  means  of  public  conveyance,  and  time  was  less  a 
consideration  than  money,  coming  all  the  way  with 
horses  and  wagons,  doing  their  cooking  and  camp- 
ing on  the  route.  They  arrived  in  Cordova  at  the 
end  of  six  weeks  of  travel,  landing  in  July,  1S39. 

Mr.  Marshall  passed  the  first  summer  as  a  farm 
assistant,  working  by  the  day.  In  the  fall  of  1839 
the  land  on  the  river  came  into  market,  and  Mr. 
Marshall  entered  land  on  section  3  of  township  r9, 
and  which  is  now  Coe  Township.  In  the  spring  of  C 
1840  he  erected  a  log  cabin  and  broke  a  piece  of*; 
prairie,  on  which  he  raised  a  crop  of  sod  corn.  At 
the  same  time  he  worked  a  tract  of  land  on  shares  ^ 
on  which  he  raised  wheat  and  oats.  The  grain  was  § 
stacked  on  the  land  where  the  home  was  placed,  ^ 
and  late  in  the  same  fall,  before  the  threshing  could  3, 
be  done,  the  prairie  fires  came  on,  and  the  grain  and  <! 
cabin  were  both  destroyed.  The  little  home  was  re-  (■ 
placed,  and  the  next  season  a  crop  of  corn  and  also 
of  wheat  was  raised.  The  latter  was  threshed  with 
flails  and  trampled  by  horses,  as  was  the  custom  to 
a  great  extent. 

In  the  fall  of  1S41  Mr.  Marshall  started  on  his  re- 
turn to  New  Jersey.  He  went  on  foot  to  Chicago,  v 
and  there  he  embarked  on  a  steamer  for  Buffalo  d 
whence  he  went  on  the  Erie  Canal,  traveling  on  a 
line  boat  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  on  the  river 
Hudson  to  Albany.  There  he  embarked  on  a  steam- 
er for  the  city  of  New  York,  and  traveled  thence  to 
Princeton  by  rail.  He  went  from  Princeton  to  the 
home  of  his  mother  on  foot,  and  spent  the  winter  at 
his  boyhood  home.  In  the  spring  of  1842  the  home-^- 
stead  was  sold,  and  again  Mr.  Marshall  journeyed  *. 
over  land  to  Illinois  from  New  Tersev.  He  was  ac-  i 
companied  by  his  mother  and  the  remaining  mem-  3 
bers  of  the  family,  and  the  party  required  two  pair  of 
horses  and  two  wagons  in  the  transportation  of<rv 
themselves  and  their  household  property.  They  lo-  I 
cated  on  the  land  which  the  brothers  had  entered,  «S 


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and  Mr.  Marshall  made  his  home  there  with  his 
mother  and  her  family  until  1845,  when  he  bought 
land  on  section  3,  adjoining  the  other  place,  of  which 
he  at  once  took  possession  and  commenced  to  im- 
prove. He  split  rails  and  fenced  about  100  acres  of 
land  during  the  first  year,  and  he  continued  the  work 
of  improvement  until  he  had  put  the  whole  quarter- 
section  in  advanced  cultivation.  Later  he  bought 
the  quarter-section  adjoining,  and  placed  that  too 
under  improvements. 

He  continued  the  prosecution  of  his  agricultural 
projects  until  1856,  when  he  moved  to  Cordova,  and 
afterward  operated  as  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  lumber 
until  1864.  In  that  year  he  commenced  buying 
grain,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  that  variety  of 
traffic  at  Cordova.  The  success  which  has  attend- 
ed his  efforts  is  defined  by  the  fact  that  he  is  the 
owner  of  nearly  2000  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  car- 
ries on  his  agricultural  operations  with  the  aid  of 
hired  help.  Accompanying  this  sketch,  we  give  a 
full  page- view  of  Mr.  Marshall's  residence,  showing 
the  splendid  view  of  the  Father  of  Waters  which  is 
to  be  had  from  it.  His  elevator  and  ware-room  is 
also  shown. 

Mr.  Marshall  has  been  twice  married.  May  3, 
1S47,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Cather- 
ine Phillips.  She  was  born  in  the  same  township  as 
her  husband,  Feb.  28,  1S24,  and  died  May  8,  1S56, 
after  having  become  the  mother  of  three  children. 
They  are  all  deceased.  Mr.  Marshall  was  a  second 
time  married  Feb.  15,  1S57,  to  Elizabeth  Phillips, 
who  is  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  She  was  born  Aug. 
25,  1815,  and  was  the  widow  of  Stephen  Humphrey. 
Edgar  Humphrey,  the  only  child  of  her  first  mar- 
riage, lives  at  Cordova.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  are 
childless.  They  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Cordova.  He  was  originally  an  old-line  Whig, 
but  is  now  a  Republican. 


V 


■ 


artin   A.  Barns,  dealer  in  groceries,  pro- 

,    visions,  902  Third  Avenue,  Rock  Island, 

fllpir       came  to  this  city  in   1849.     He  was  born 

1  -^  \  in  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  March  1 1,  1842,  and  re- 

'  '*     ceived  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 

schools  of  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  and   has 

supported  himself  since  he  attained  the  age  of  12 


years.  He  worked  first  in  a  store  for  Buford  & 
Clark,  with  which  firm  he  remained  for  six  years. 
After  leaving  the  latter  firm,  he  engaged  with  a  Mr. 
Benedict  in  a  leather  and  saddlery  hardware  store 
and  remained  with  him  three  years.  His  next  ser- 
vice was  that  of  a  detective  in  the  Navy  Department, 
which  position  he  held  for  three  months.  He  then 
came  to  Rock  Island  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
a  Mr.  Stratton,in  the  grocery  and  provision  business, 
which  co-partnership  existed  for  a  period  of  eight 
months,  when  it  was  mutually  dissolved,  and  Mr. 
Barns  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  establishment, 
which  vocation  he  followed  for  seven  years.  For 
the  last  ten  years  he  has  been  conducting  the  grocery 
and  provision  business  for  his  own  benefit,  and  by 
honest  dealing  and  fair  representation  has  built  up  a 
good  paying  trade.  He  attends  the  city  scales  on 
Third  Avenue  and  Ninth  Street.  Politically,  he  is 
a  Democrat,  and  socially  is  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Masonry. 

In  1865, occurred  the  event  of  Mr.  Barn's  marriage 
to  Miss  Annie  Cooper,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
two  children,  namely:  Edgar,  born  May  1^,  187 1; 
and  Linnie,  born  April  8,  1873 


III  eorge  Evener.     One  of  the  active,  promi- 
nent and  enterprising  citizens  of  Coal  Val- 


si 

i 


ley  Township  is  George  Evener,  who  at 
?*  present  is  engaged  in  farming  upon  section  22. 
His    parents,    George    and    Rachel    (Coffey) 
Evener,  were   natives  of  Germany  and  New  3 
York   State   respectivelv.      Boih  died   in   the   latter  ' 
place.     They    reared    a    family  of   four  children, —  ' 
Sally,  Elizabeth,  Frederick  and  George. 

The  latter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
New  York  city,  Oct.  6,  1812.     He  lived  at  home  un- 
til ten  years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  "  work  out," 
which  he  did  for  six  years,  when  he  engaged  in  team-  j 
ing.     This  business  he  followed  for  about  four  years, 
when  he  was  engaged  for  a  time  in  running  a  dray  in    i 
New  York  city.  After  one  year  he  returned  to  Orange  9 
County,  where  he  had  previously  lived,  and  bought 
a  farm.     Three  years  later  he  sold  this  and  went  to 
Yorkville,  and   was  engaged  on   the  tunnel  at  that  (| 
place;  and  a  year  later  was  employed  doing  jobbing 


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work  on  railroads,  which  business  he  followed  until 
1852.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  came  to  Rock 
Island  for  the  purpose  of  working  on  the  bridge, 
which  was  being  built  over  the  Mississippi  between 
that  city  and  Davenport.  Here  he  was  engaged  for 
three  years,  after  which  time  he  began  to  take  con- 
tracts himself  for  building  bridges  in  different  sec- 
tions of  country.  During  this  time  he  built  the  bridge 
over  Rock  River  between  South  Moline  Township 
and  Coal  Valley,  in  company  with  Elisha  P.  Rey- 
nolds, who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  He 
was  in  company  with  Mr.  R.  for  about  two  years. 
About  1858  he  settled  in  Coal  Valley  Township, 
where  he  purchased  240  acres  of  land,  and  where  he 
now  resides.  He  also  owns,  in  company  with  E.  P. 
Reynolds,  a  large  tract  of  land  elsewhere  located. 
The  aggregate  number  of  acres  which  Mr.  Evener 
now  owns  in  Coal  Valley  and  Black  Hawk  Townships 
is  400. 

July  18,  1833,  in  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Evener 
was  married  to  Rachel  Weigant,  who  was  a  native  of 
that  county.  By  this  marriage  there  have  been  ten 
children, — Rachel,  George,  Sarah,  Charles  and  Alice, 
and  five  who  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Evener  has  held  the  office  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner, both  in  New  York  State  and  in  this 
county.     In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat. 


eter  King,  a  reliable  citizen  and  energetic 
farmer  of  South  Moline  Township,  residing 
|S3F"5?  on  section  2,  is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  in 
wo  which  country  he  was  born  Oct.  iS,  1S15.  He 
•fj\-  lived  in  his  native  country  until  he  had  at- 
'  tained  the  age  of  34  years,  when,  in  1S49,  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  resided  for  some  three  months. 
Realizing  that  he  could  better  his  condition  in  the 
undeveloped  regions  of  the  West,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  settled  in  South  Moline  Township,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  is  the  owner  of  195  acres 
of  land  in  that  township,  the  major  portion  of  which 
is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He  has 
a  good  residence  and  substantial  outbuildings,  and  is 
meeting  with  success  in  his  chosen  vocation. 

Mr.  King  formed  a   matrimonial    alliance  in  his 


native  country,  Bavaria,  June  16,  1846,  with  Miss 
Margaret  Zentgraf,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  in  which 
country  she  was  born,  May  9,  1823.  They  have 
been  the  parents  of  n  children:  John,  Joseph, 
Leonard,  Mary,  Theresa,  Amanda,  Clara,  Charles, 
Christian,  Annie  and  William. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  King,  religiously,  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  King  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  School  Director  in  his  township,  and  is  a  respect- 
ed and  energetic  citizen  of  the  same. 


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v(2«^laniuel  S.  Forster,  general  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 29,  Black  Hawk  Township,  was  born 
in  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  May  4,  1S13.  His 
father,  Thomas,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  of 
County  Fermanagh.  He  was  a  weaver,  teach- 
er and  clerk  by  occupations,  and  came  to 
America  in  1806.  After  residing  in  New  Jersey 
some  years,  he  went  to  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1824, 
where  he  died  in  1833.  The  mother  of  Samuel  S. 
was  Margaret,  nee  Smith,  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia, 
and  moved  thence  in  1800  to  New  Jersey,  where  she 
was  married.  She  had  three  children,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  being  the  eldest ;  the  other  two  were 
John  S.  and  Mary  J.,  both  of  whom  now  reside  in 
Polk  Co  ,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Samuel  S.  Forster  was  in  his  12th  year  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  marriage,  which  event  occurred  in  the 
same  county  May  8,  1839,  to  Miss  Olive  E.,  daughter 
of  Israel  and  Parthena  (Pettibone)  Chapman,  natives 
respectively  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  Her 
parents  were  married  in  Manchester,  that  State,  and 
afterward  moved  to  Andes,  Delaware  Co.,N.  Y.,  and 
after  some  years  to  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Chapman 
was  a  lumberman  and  farmer  most  of  his  life;  was 
also  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  had  been  a  Captain  of  a  militia  company  during 
the  War  of  1812.  Mrs.  Forster  was  the  fifth  in  or- 
der of  birth  of  a  family  of  12  children,  and  was  born 
in  Andes,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.July  22,  181 1,  received 
a  good  education,  and  for  some  time  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  a  teacher  in   the  public  schools  of  her 


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native  Stale.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forster  have  had  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Thomas,  who 
married  Miss  Cordelia  Sherman,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  now  lives  on  a  farm  in  Jasper  Co., 
Iowa;  and  Mary  J.,  who  married  William  Joyce  and 
now  resides  in  Polk  Co.,  Iowa,  on  a  farm.  The  de- 
ceased were  Emery  and  an  unnamed  infant. 

Immediately  after  marriage  Mr.  Forster  left  Penn- 
sylvania and  settled  in  Allen  Co.,  Ind  ,  where  he  re- 
mained a  resident  13  years;  then,  in  1854,  he  came 
to  this  county,  settling  where  Reynolds  now  is,  en- 
tering the  land  in  1851  and  residing  there  until  1871, 
when  he  moved  to  Black  Hawk  Township.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  188  acres  of  good  land,  most  of  it 
under  creditable  improvement. 

He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church ;  he  has  been  Supervisor  of  Bowl- 
ing Township,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  etc.,  and  in  his 
views  of  political  affairs  he  is  a  zealous  National 
Greenbacker. 


-.«*- 


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j  ev.  Charles  Lincoln  Morgan  has  been 
Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
of  Moline  since  Nov.  1,  1881.  He  was 
y\%r  born  in  East  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  31,1849, 
the  youngest  of  the  three  children  of  David 
and  Marianne  L.  (Peirce)  Morgan.  The  eld- 
est, Mrs.  Lucy  M.  Godley,  died  in  Minneapolis 
Minn.,  in  1880.  The  second,  David  L.  Morgan,  is 
a  prominent  business  man  of  Rutland,  Vt.  His 
father  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1835, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Boston,  where  he 
practiced  law  till  1856.  For  two  years,  1854-6,  the 
family  resided  at  Waltham,  Mass.  In  May,  1856, 
when  Charles  L.  was  seven  years  of  age,  his  father 
removed  with  his  family  to  Minnesota  and  settled  in 
Minneapolis,  then  a  town  of  about  400  inhabitants. 
Here  he  practiced  his  profession  and  was  prominent 
in  all  the  political  and  educational  interests  of  the 
place  until  his  death  in  1871.  Charles  L.  left  the 
High  School  at  the  age  of  14  nearly  prepared  for 
college.  In  1864  he  united  on  profession  with  the 
Plymouth  Congregational  Church.  The  same  year 
he  entered  the    postoffice,  of  which  his   father  was 


Postmaster  during  Lincoln's  Administration,  where 
he  remained  till  the  fall  of  1865,  when  he  became  a 
clerk  in  the  just  opening  dry-goods  house  of  Wake- 
field &  Plant.  During  the  spring  of  1867  a  decision 
was  reached  to  devote  his  life  to  the  ministry,  in  ac- 
cordance with  which  he  left  the  dry-goods  store  and, 
having  completed  his  preparations  for  college,  en- 
tered Beloit  College  in  Sept.,  1867.  Graduating  from 
Beloit  in  187  r,  he  received  the  appointment  as  Princi- 
pal of  the  public  schools  at  Cheyenne,  Wyo.  Ter.,for 
one  year.  He  entered  the  Theological  Department 
of  Yale  University  in  September,  1872,  graduating 
from  the  same  in  May,  1875. 

Invited  by  the  South  Church  of  Springfield,  Mass., 
to  take  charge  of  their  mission  work  in  connection 
with  Hope  Chapel  for  one  year,  he  accepted  and  be- 
gan his  ministry  there  in  June,  1875.  During  the 
fall  and  winter  there  ensued  a  growing  spiritual  in- 
terest, which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  Hope 
Congregational  Church,  with  a  membership  of  Sr,  on 
March  15,  1876.  Mr.  Morgan  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  and  to  the  pastorate  of  Hope  Church  on  the 
same  day  and  by  the  same  Council.  In  November 
of  1880,  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Green  Bay,  Wis.,  was  accepted.  A 
year  later  a  call  was  accepted  to  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Moline,  111.,  and  removing  thither 
the  pastorate  was  begun  which  still  continues.  Dur- 
ing the  four  years  of  this  pastorate  113  have  been 
received  into  the  membership  of  the  Church,  68  on 
confession  of  faith  and  45  by  letter.  Repairs  on  the 
Church  property  have  been  made  to  the  amount  of 
$3,500.  Two  branch  Sunday-schools  have  been 
conducted  on  the  Bluff,  for  which  a  tasteful  chapel  is 
just  completed  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  Aside  from  his 
Church  work  in  Moline  Mr.  Morgan  has  been  a 
leader  in  the  organization  of  the  Society  of  Associ- 
ated Charities,  the  Citizens'  League  for  the  Promo- 
motion  of  Law  and  Order  and  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association. 

In  politics  Mr.  Morgan  is  first  of  all  a  Prohibition- 
ist, believing  that  the  destruction  of  the  liquor  traffic 
is  the  pre-eminent  duty  of  this  generation  ;  and  sec- 
ond, a  Republican  in  the  belief  that  through  the 
constituency  of  that  party  the  end  of  prohibition  can 
soonest  be  attained. 

On  Sept.  14,  1876,  Mr.  Morgan  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Belle  W.  Merrill,  born  in  Hins- 
dale, N.  H.,  Oct.  31,  1849,  the  daughter  of  John  B. 


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and  Caroline  (Walker)  Merrill,  of  Beloit,  Wis.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  them, — Carl  Merrill,  who 
died  April  11,  1883,  at  the  age  of  three  years,  and 
Gertrude  Lincoln,  born  Feb.  19,  1S44. 


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:>ufus  Walker,  dealer  in  all  kinds  of  heavy 
lumber  at  Reynolds,  Edgington  Town- 
ship, is    a    native    of  the  Green  Mountain 

State,  and  was  born  in  Orange  County,   Dec. 

10,  1839.   His  father,  Rufus,  was  also  a  native 

of  Vermont,  of  New  England  ancestry,  and 
a  shoemaker  by  occupation.  Rufus,  Sr.,  was  mar- 
ried in  his  native  State,  to  Miss  Susanna  Smith,  a 
native  of  New  England.  They  were  both  of  Eng- 
lish extraction,  and  after  marriage  the  elder  Rufus 
followed  his  trade,  until  the  date  of  his  death. 

Rufus  Walker,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was 
the  youngest  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  1 1  chil- 
dren,— seven  sons  and  four  daughters,— and  vvasbut 
12  days  old  when  his  father  died.  He  continued  to 
reside  with  his  mother,  receiving  the  advantages  af- 
forded by  the  common  schools  until  her  death,  which 
event  occurred  when  he  was  in  his  16th  year. 
Prior  to  that  event,  Mr.  Walker  had  engaged  to  learn 
the  trade  of  shoemaker,  and  after  the  death  of  his 
mother  he  worked  at  the  same,  in  his  native  State, 
until  he  was  20  years  old.  At  this  age  in  life,  he  con- 
cluded to  better  his  condition  financially  by  coming 
West,  and  came  to  Edgington  village,  this  county 
He  afterwards  engaged  to  act  as  clerk  in  the  mer- 
cantile establishment  of  C.  R.  Ainsworth  at  Moline, 
and  remained  with  that  gentleman  three  and  a  half 
years.  He  then  became  the  successor  in  the  busi- 
ness, and  conducted  the  store  at  that  place  for  eight 
and  a  half  years,  meeting  with  moderate  success. 
Selling  out  his  store  there,  he  went  to  Rock  Island 
city,  and,  in  company  with  C.  E.  Dodge,  opened  a 
merchant-tailoring  and  gents'  furnishing  establish- 
ment, under  the  firm  name  of  Walker  &  Dodge, 
which  copartnership  existed  for  three  years.  On  dis- 
solution, Mr.  Dodge  became  sole  proprietor,  and  Mr. 
Walker,  in  company  with  a  Mr.  M.  Wait,  engaged  in 
the  construction  of  a  portion  of  the  Rock    Island  & 


for  the  road  while  in  process  of  construction,  which 
was  for  some  six  months.  During  the  time  he  and 
Mr.  Wait  were  operating  for  the  road,  they  pur- 
chased 160  acres  of  land  on  section  36,  Edgington 
Township,  and  80  acres  adjoining  the  same,  located 
in  Mercer  County.  On  the  160-acre  purchase  they 
platted  the  present  village  of  Reynolds,  the  original 
plat  and  subsequent  additions  comprising  the  entire 
original  purchase,  and  established  a  grain  and  hay 
market  at  that  place.  Mr.  Walker  started  the  first 
store  at  Reynolds,  which  he  kept  in  the  depot.  He 
and  Mr.  Wait  continued  to  purchase  grain  at  that 
point  for  two  years.  It  was  about  this  time  that  Mr. 
Walker  became  connected  with  Weyerhaeuser  & 
Denkmann,  in  the  lumber  business  at  Reynolds. 
After  about  three  years  Mr.  W.  bought  out  the  other 
two  parties  and  became  the  sole  proprietor  of  the 
business,  which  he  has  conducted  with  no  small  de- 
gree of  success  until  the  present  time.  Besides  his 
various  operations  at  Reynolds,  Mr.  Walker  was  for 
a  time  engaged  with  Mr.  Wait  in  the  live-stock  busi- 
ness at  Edgington,  and  has  done  considerable  work 
in  a  commercial  way,  in  different  parts  of  the  county. 
In  1879  Mr.  Walker  went  to  Iowa  and  Nebraska, 
and  was  engaged  in  furnishing  supplies  of  food  on  a 
branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  and  the 
Burlington  &  Missouri  River  Railroads,  and  lately 
for  the  railroad  located  in  the  central  and  southern 
part  of  the  State  of  Nebraska.  The  business  lasted 
for  nine  mo  iths,  during  which  time  he  had  a  store 
located  on  the  railroad,  which  was  burned,  entailing 
a  small  loss.  Mr.  Walker  has  ten  acres  of  village 
lots  at  Reynolds,  on  one  of  which  stands  his  resi- 
dence, a  .two-story  frame  building.  He  and  Mr. 
Wait  started  the  Reynolds  Cemetery,  which  is  located 
in  proximity  to  the  village,  on  a  gentle  elevation 
overlooking  the  same,  and  is  one  among  the  beauti- 
ful burying-grounds  in  Rock  Island  County. 

Mr.  Walker  was  united  in  marriage  Aug.  19,  1862, 
to  Miss  Jane  Edgington,  the  accomplished  daughter 
of  John  and  Susannah  (Crabs)  Edgington,  natives  of 
Steubenville,  Ohio.  Her  parents  were  married  and 
came  West  about  1834,  locating  in  Buffalo  Prairie 
Township,  this  county,  where  they  yet  reside,  and 
are  classed  as  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county. 
Mis.  Walker  was  born  in  that  township,  Sept.  8, 
1842,  and  she  was  reared  on  the  parental  homestead, 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  residing  with  her 
parents  until  her  marriage. 


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Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren :  John  E.,  bom  June  15,  1863,  was  educated  at 
the  schools  of  Rock  Island  city  and  at  Morgan 
Park,  near  Chicago ;  he  is  at  present  the  railroad 
agent  at  Reynolds,  which  position  he  has  held  since 
August,  1883.  Frank  B.,  born  Nov.  26,  1865,  re- 
ceived his  education  at  Rock  Island  and  Racine,  and 
resides  at  home;  Rufus,  Jr.,  born  Feb.  27,  1875, and 
Susan  E.,  April  13,  1S80,  likewise  resided  at 
home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  are  both  active  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  W.  having  been 
Church  Trustee  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  that  de- 
nomination at  Reynolds. 

He  takes  great  interest  in  educational  matters,  and 
politically  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


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adison  Bowles,  a  retired  farmer,  residing 
on  section  17,  Zuma  Township,  was  born 
l'M>  in  Rockbridge  Co.,  Va.,  March  28,  1814, 
\ "  \  his  parents  being  Isaac  and  Mary  (Bagford) 
Vt  Bowles.  They  were  married  April  16,  1798,  and 
were  the  parents  of  10  children — William  A., 
Harriet,  Constance  C,  James  H., Thomas  C,  Matil- 
da, Samuel,  John  W.,  Madison  and  Caroline,  all  born 
before  1817,  and  four  of  whom  are  still  living — Sam- 
uel, John  W.,  Madison  and  Caroline. 

The  father,  Isaac  Bowles,  moved  from  Virginia,  in 
1 81 6,  to  Eaton,  Ohio,  and  there  he  worked  as  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith  for  one  year.  He  then,  in 
1818,  moved  to  Indiana,  bought  a  farm,  and  followed 
that  vocation  until  1831  on  that  place,  and  continued 
to  farm  in  that  county  until  1837.  He  died  in 
Louisiana,  where  he  was  stopping  with  his  son  in 
1847.  The  mother  died  in  Hampton  Township, 
Rockland  Co.,  at  the  residence  of  her  son  Samuel, 
in  1842. 

The  •subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  Madison 
Bowles  remained  on  the  parental  homestead  until  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  20  years.  The  school  facil- 
ities in  his  county  at  that  date  were  very  limited, 
and  together,  with  the  labor  that  he  was  required  to 
perform  on  the  farm  to  assist  in  the  maintenance  of 
the    family,  kept    him    from   receiving  an  education 


until  after  his  20th  year,  and  in  fact  he  never  at- 
tended school  but  four  days  prior  to  that  age.  On 
arriving  at  the  age  named,  he  had  saved  sufficient 
means  to  pay  for  20  days  schooling,  which  he  did 
and  improved  each  shining  moment  of  that  precious 
time.  This,  together  with  the  practical  knowledge 
that  he  had  obtained  by  his  reading,  constitute  the 
education  that  he  possesses.  Soon  after  leaving 
home  he  engaged  on  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  Riv- 
ers as  a  fireman  on  a  steamboat,  and  followed  that 
occupation  for  one  year. 

In  1836  he  went  South,  and  took  charge  of  a 
sugar  plantation,  and  had  fifty  slaves  under  his 
authority  to  run  the  place.  He  afterward  came 
North  to  Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Rebecca  Bates,  a  native  of  Baltimore, 
Md.,  Nov.  16,  1837.  In  1839  he  engaged  there  in 
mercantile  trade,  and  followed  the  same  until  1853. 
He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Zuma  Township,  this 
county,  and  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  has  resided  until  the  present  time.  He  has  sub- 
sequently added  to  his  original  purchase,  until  he  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  370  acres  of  land.  We  give  a 
full  view  of  Mr.  Bowles'  farm,  showing  his  son's  resi- 
dence, as  well  as  much  of  the  charming  scenery  as 
beheld  from  his  home. 

In  1S60  Mr.  B.  engaged  in  steamboating,  and  ran 
on  the  river  for  nine  months,  but  it  proving  unprofit- 
able he  sold  out  at  New  Albany,  and  abandoned  the 
river. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowles  are  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren. Their  record  is  as  follows  :  Donaldson  C,  born 
Nov.  12,  1838;  Emmer  E.,  Nov.  23,  1S40;  Samuel 
M.,  Sept.  8,  1841  ;  George  W.,  July  4,  1845  ;  Luella 
F„  Feb.  8,  1854  ;  and  William  H.,  born  April  1,  1858. 
George  Bowles  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia 
A.  Warren,  and  the  issue  of  their  union  is  three 
children— Nellie,  Albert  and  Hattie  R. ;  Luella  F. 
married  Samuel  R.  Bryan,  of  Zuma  Township,  and 
they  have  one  child  living,  Frank  M.  S. 

The  family  of  sons  are  fine  specimens  of  men  phys- 
ically, all  being  over  six  feet  in  height.  Mr.  Bowles 
is  six  feet,  four  inches  in  height.  He  has  been  very 
successful  through  life,  and  his  accumulation  of  this 
world's  goods  is  undoubtedly  due  to  his  own  good 
judgment  and  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance. 
Starting  in  the  world  without  anything,  and  being 
compelled  to  labor  for  $3  per  month,  he  has  suc- 
ceeded  by    hard  work  and  economy  in  procuring  a 


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'  competency.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor 
two  years,  in  1872-3.  Politically,  he  is  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Bowles  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rock  Island 
County,  and  as  such,  as  well  as  a  highly  respectable 
and  honorable  citizen,  we  give  his  portrait  in  this 
Album.  As  a  fitting  companion  picture  we  also 
give  that  of  his  estimable  wife. 


esse  Maxwell,  proprietor  of  the   Maxwell 
House,    at    Port    Byron,   is    a    pioneer   of 
Rock  Island  County,  and  has  been  iden- 
tified   with   its    business    interests    in    various 
ways  since  1844.     He  was  born  Aug.  8,  18 17, 
in   Greensburg,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.     His 
father,    David    Maxwell,   was   of   Irish  origin,    and 
fa  probably  descended  from  progenitors  who  were  born 
in  Scotland  and  located  in  Ireland,  as  the  name  is 
essentially  Scotch. 

Mr.  Maxwell  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  to 
the  age  of  13,  when  he  was  placed  under  indentures 
to  learn  the  trade  of  making  boots  and  shoes.  He 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  six  years,  and  passed 
four  years  subsequent  as  a  journeyman,  according  to 
the  custom  in  those  days,  operating  at  various  places. 
In  1840  he  returned  to  his  father's  homestead,  and 
established  a  line  of  business  there,  in  which  he  was 
employed  one  and  a  half  years.  He  went  next  to 
the  seat  of  Westmoreland  County,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  there  until  his  removal  to  Illinois.  In  1844  he 
located  at  Rock  Island,  and  established  a  shoe  fac- 
tory, which  he  conducted  three  years,  his  business  in 
that  line  gradually  increasing,  until  he  employed  an 
average  of  ten  assistants.  He  closed  his  manufac- 
turing in  1847,  and  bought  200  acres  of  land  in  Zuma 
Township,  built  a  house  of  logs,  of  which  he  took 
possession,  and  entered  upon  the  career  of  a  pioneer 
agriculturist.  His  family  were  the  occupants  of  the 
log  cabin  until  1857,  when  Mr.  Maxwell  built  a  com- 
modious brick  house.  He  continued  the  manage- 
ment of  his  farm  until  1862,  when  he  engaged  in 
»  buying  grain  and  stock  at  Port  Byron  for  shipment 
to  Chicago.  In  1866  he  bought  a  stock  of  general 
v»,  merchandise,  and   passed   five  years  in  trade.     In 


187 1  he  bought  the  hotel  property  known  as  the 
Port  Byron  House,  which  he  managed  personally 
until  1 88 1.  In  that  year  he  rented  the  hotel,  and  on 
the  2d  day  of  September,  1882,  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  He  then  made  an  addition  to  the  house,  which 
he  opened  for  a  hotel,  calling  the  establishment  by 
his  name.  He  has  since  conducted  its  affairs  with- 
out intermission. 

Mr.  Maxwell  was  married  Feb.  1, 1842,  to  Miss  A. 
M.  McCall.  She  was  born  Jan.  4,  1820,  in  West- 
moreland Co.,  Pa.  Their  surviving  children  are 
named  as  follows  :  Mary  J.,  Joseph  A.,  Agnes  B., 
Lizzie  A.,  Thomas,  Jesse  Newton  and  Ida.  John  C. 
was  born  Nov.  4,  1842,  in  Greensburg,  Pa.,  and  he 
grew  to  manhood  in  Rock  Island  County.  He  en- 
listed in  1 86 1  in  Co.  E,  126th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was 
in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States  three 
years  and  two  months.  After  his  return  to  his  home 
he  became  interested  with  his  father  in  mercantile 
business.  He  was  married  Sept.  19,  1870,  to  Emily 
Littlefield,  and  they  have  had  one  child,  named 
Orissa.      His  death  occurred  March  9,  1872. 

Mr.  Maxwell  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  con- 
nected themselves  with  the  Congregational  Church 
in  Rock  Island  in  1844. 


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illiam  Adams,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
English  birth,  residing  on  section  26,  Coal 
Valley  Township,  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Eliza  (Tonkin)  Adams,  who  were  natives  of 
England.  They  came  to  America  in  1S54, 
located  in  Tennessee,  where  they  lived 
until  1862,  when  they  came  to  Galena,  111.  They 
lived  at  that  place  only  one  year,  when  they  came  to 
Rock  Island  County,  locating  in  Coal  Valley  Town- 
ship. In  1866  they  returned  to  Joe  Daviess  County, 
where  both  parents  died — the  mother  Oct.  14,  1867, 
and  the  father  in  September,  1869.  They  had  a 
family  of  six  children,  bearing  the  following  names: 
John,  William,  James,  Henry,  Joseph  and  Eliza. 

William,  the  second  member  of  the  family,  was 
born  in  Cornwall,  England,  Feb.  2,  1838.  His 
school  privileges  were  very  limited,  never  being  able 
to  attend  any  public  or  private  school  ;  but  on  the 
other  hand,  when  most  children  were  ready  and  priv- 


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ileged  to  enter  school,  he  was  at  an  early  age — six 
years  old — employed  in  the  mine  at  Cornwall.  He 
came  to  America  with  his  parents,  and  lived  under 
their  charge  until  his  marriage.  He  came  to  Rock 
Island  County  in  the  autumn  of  1863,  locating  in 
Coal  Valley  Township,  where  he  has  since  resided, 

He  was  married  in  Tennessee,  Dec.  3r,  1857,  to 
Catherine,  daughter  of  John  and  Kittie  (Ferris)  Ton- 
kin, who  were  also  natives  of  England,  and  the  pa- 
rents of  a  family  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Those  living  are  John,  Susan, 
Catherine,  Mary  J.  and  Elizabeth  A.  Catherine  was 
born  in  Cornwall,  Nov.  12,  1839.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Adams  have  been  born  a  family  of  12  children,  only 
five  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  John  H.,  Mary 
C,  Eliza,  Elizabeth  A.  and  Ola  M.  Those  they 
have  laid  away  in  the  cold,  mother  earth  are  Susan, 
Margaret  J.,  May  B.,  Mary  B.,  Edna,  William  and 
William  J. 

Mr.  Adams  has  served  as  School  Director  for  15 
years,  and  as  Assessor  for  about  three  years.  In 
politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
Socially,  Mr.  A.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, and  his  son  John  H.  is  a  member  of  the  same 
order. 


eorge  E.  Barth,  M.  D.,  residing  at  409 
ilifijH  Twenty-third  Street,  and  one  of  the  lead- 
ing  physicians  of  Rock  Island,  was  born 
^  in  Chicago,  111.,  May  18,  1848.  He  was  taken 
by  his  parents  when  six  years  of  age  to  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  attended  the  common  schools 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861,  when  the 
family  moved  to  St.  Louis,  where  they  continued  to 
reside  until  1S67.  It  was  in  that  city  that  the  Doc- 
tor began  the  study  of  medicine,  reading  only  one 
year,  however,  before  the  family  moved  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  he  accompanying  them.  He  renewed  his 
studies  in  that  city,  in  1869,  graduated  from  the 
Kentucky  School  of  Medicine,  when  he  hung  out  his 
shingle  in  Louisville,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession.  After  a  short  time  he  removed 
to  New  Albany,  Ind.,  where  he  remained  for  five 
years,  engaged  in   his  professional  duties.     He  then 


went  to  Iowa  City  and  attended  a  course  of  lectures^! 
at  the  Iowa  State  University. 

After   completing    the   course  of  lectures    at    the-,'. 
University,  he  practiced  for  a  short  time  at  Monte-   T 
zuma  when,  in    the  winter  of  1876-7,  he  came  tOig 
Rock  Island,  where  he  has  engaged  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his   professional  calling  ever  since,  having  a 
large    and    lucrative    practice.     He    belongs   to   the 
regular  school  of  physicians,  is  a  hard  student  and 
takes  great  pride    in   the   successful  practice  of  the 
profession  he  has  chosen  for  his  life  work. 

Dr.  Barth  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lillie 
Murphy,  a  native  of  Rock  Island,  June  r3,  1882. 
They  have  one  daughter — Bessie  May  Barth. 

Politically,  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican.  His  wife 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


homas  Corns,  engaged  in  agricultural  pur-/ 


jjjpj    suits  on  section  21,  Coal  Valley  Township, 


jircyi  ^  is  a  native  of  Albion's  Isle.  His  parents,! 
|is(a^  Andrew  and  Sarah  (James)  Corns,  were  also  ; 
natives  of  England.  They  had  a  family  of^ 
three  children,  only  one  of  whom,  the  subject  ^ 
of  this  sketch,  lived  to  manhood.  He  was  born  in  /■ 
Croxton,  England,  Nov.  29,  1821,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  He  lived  in  his 
native  country  till  in  the  summer  of  1851,  when  he 
emigrated  to  America.  He  soon  afterward  located 
in  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  where  he  carried  on  the  butcher- 
ing business  for  four  years.  He  then  moved  to  \ 
Camden  Mills  (Milan),  where  he  continued  in  the  ( 
same  business,  and  kept  a  hotel,  known  as  "Corns 
Hotel."  In  1859  he  removed  to  Coal  Valley,  en- 
gaging as  a  butcher  until  1868,  when  he  settled  on 
his  farm  in  Coal  Valley  Township.  He  then  owned 
r, 000  acres  of  land  in  that  township;  he  now  owns 
but  250  acres  in  this  county,  5 1  acres  in  Henry 
County,  and  160  in  Iowa.  All  his  land  in  this 
county,  except  about  10  acres,  is  in  a  good  state  of 
cultivation. 

Mr.  Corns  was  married  in  England,  April  14,  185  1, 
to  Harriet  E.,  daughter  of  James  and  Ann  (Myatt)  ^. 
Hall.  She  was  born  in  England,  May  12,  1830.  j\ 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  (&\ 
viz.:  Sarah  E.,  Thomas  M.,  John  S.,  Harriet  A.  M.^ 


%&&- 


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386 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


i 


and  George  H.  A.  ;  the  latter  died  when  17  months 
old.  Mr.  Corns  has  held  the  offices  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Notary  Public,  Assessor,  School  Trustee  and 
Director.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
being  a  Knight  Templar.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  identified  with  the  Democracy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
C.  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr. 
Corn's  house  and  everything  it  contained  was  burned 
sicen  writing  this  sketch. 


^ 


-~D- 


-e~- 


»l  illiam  S.  Parks,  Jr.,  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Parks  Bros.,  extensive  farmers  and 
stock-raisers,  of  Edgington  Township,  and 
who  resides  on  section  15,  was  born  in 
Edgington,  May  20,  1S44.  His  father, 
Henry  H.  Parks,  a  fanner,  formerly  of  Franklin 
Co.,  Ohio,  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Edgington. 
Sketches  of  both  Henry  H.,  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  and  John  Parks,  his  brother  and  part- 
ner, are  given  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
township,  and  lived  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage. This  important  event  in  his  life  look  place 
Oct.  7,  1S75,  in  Worthington,  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio. 
Miss  Ella  Fairchild,  a  daughter  of  an  Ohio  farmer, 
was  the  lad}'  who  joined  her  fortunes  with  his  to 
make  the  voyage  of  life  together.  She  was  born  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  Aug.  8,  rS40.  Her  parents  died  when 
she  was  but  a  mere  child,  and  shortly  afterwards  she 
was  taken  by  her  foster  parents,  O.  C.  and  Lucy  A. 
(Clarke)  Fairchild,  natives  of  New  York,  with  whom 
she  made  her  home  until  her  marriage.  Their  home 
was  brightened  for  a  short  time  by  a  son,  Harry,  who 
died  at  the  early  age  of  three  years. 

Desiring  to  locate  permanently  after  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Parks  joined  with  his  brother,  John  H.,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  640  acres  on  sections  15  and  27. 
William  S.  has  320  acres  on  section  15,  where  he  has 
a  palatial  residence  and  a  large  and  elegant  barn. 
These  are  shown  in  the  view  on  the  opposite  page. 
They  are  accompanied  by  a  view  of  his  brother  Tohn 
H.'s  residence  and  surroundings,  making  a  fine  page 


view.  He  and  his  brother  are  among  the  most  ex- 
tensive stock-raisers  of  the  county,  and  are  well 
known  in  this  respect  throughout  this  part  cf  the 
State.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parks  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Edgington.  Politically, 
Mr.  Parks  is  a  Republican. 


^ooo« 


V) 


}.  fW^r.  Farquhar    Stuart,  a   practicing  physi- 

j-  gyll    cian  and  surgeon,  and  also  engaged  in  the 

c'  '  v 

Castleton  of  Braemar,  Aberdeenshire,  Scot- 
land, May  5,  1845.  His  father,  Charles  Stuart; 
was  a  native  of  the  same  shire,  of  a  long  line  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  and  was  probably  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  the  Stuart  family  of  Scottish  note. 

He  was   married   in    his   native   country,  to   Miss 
Jane  Mcintosh,  a  native  of  the  same  country.     He 
was  a  carpenter  for  the  Earl  of  Fife  while  a  resident 
of  that  country.     The  family  emigrated  to  America 
about  1863,  settling  in   Huron   County,    Province    of   J 
Ontario.     At   that   date   the   family  comprised    nine    1 
children.     After   the  family   settled    in    Ontario,  the    • 
father  engaged  in   the  occupation   of  farming,  and 
afterward  came  to  Reynolds,  this  county,  about  1880,       \ 
and  lived  with  his  son,  subject  of  this  notice,  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in   1883,  he  then  being  in 
his  Soth  year.     The  mother  of  Dr.   F.  is  yet  living, 
and  resides  with  him,  aged  75  years. 

Dr.  Stuart  lived  with  his  parents  in  Ontario  two 
years  after  they  had  settled  there,  having  received  a 
good  education  in  the  old  city  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland. 
On  attaining  his  20th  year  he  engaged  in  the  study 
of  medicine,  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Elliott,  of 
Orilla,  Simcoe  Co.,  Ontario,  with  whom  he  remained 
one  year.  He  then  entered  the  medical  department 
of  the  university  of  Toronto,  Canada,  and  graduated 
at  the  same  in  1874.  He  afterward  went  to  Chicago 
and  "took  a  special  course  of  study  in  surgery  and 
physical  diagnosis.  Previous  to  this,  however,  he  '§/ 
had  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Michigan 
State  University  at  Ann  Arbor  in  1876,  and  com- 
pleted his  medical  studies  at  Rush  Medical  College 
at  Chicago  in  the  fall  of  1877.  Heat  once  located 
at  Reynolds,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  has  since  made  that  place  his  home  and 


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continued  his  practice  until  the  present  time.  By 
strict  attention  to  business  he  has  built  up  a  splendid 
practice,  the  same  extending  over  the  southern  part 
of  Rock  Island  County  and  the  northern  part  of 
Mercer.  He  has  been  a  very  successful  practitioner, 
and  has  won  the  respect  of  the  citizens  by  his  treat- 
ment of  intricate  cases  without  regard  to  remunera- 
tion. In  1882  he  purchased  the  drug-store  of  I.  H. 
Hazlett,  at  Reynolds,  and  has  since  conducted  the 
same.  Dr.  Stuart  is  the  proprietor  of  seven  lots  in 
the  village,  on  one  of  which  he  has  erected  a  beauti- 
ful residence. 

Dr.  Stuart  was  united  in  marriage,  Aug.  9,  187  1,  in 
Mercer  County,  this  State,  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Guthrie,  born  in  Hamilton,  Canada,  Jan.  3,  1851. 
She  was  reared  and  educated  in  her  native  city,  and 
came  with  her  parents,  Andrew  and  Susan  (Thomp- 
son) Guthrie,  to  Aledo,  Mercer  County,  this  State, 
where  her  parents  at  present  reside.  They  are  the 
parents  of  four  children,  one  of  whom,  Charles,  born 
July  22,  1872,  died  Dec.  26,  1S75.  Those  living  are 
Mary  E.,  born  Sept.  3,  1874;  S.  Anna,  born  Feb.  24, 
1878,  and  Jean  A.,  born  Nov.  4,  1882. 

Religiously,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stuart  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Reynolds.  So- 
cially, the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  and  in  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican 1  arty. 


...•,,..,.  „  ., 


Jfeon  J.  Webb,  Station  Agent  at  Rapids  City, 
fegMgl^,    to  which  place  he  came  in  1876,  was  born 
'(jjy  "     in  Rock  Co.,  Wis.,  Dec.  29,  1852,  his  pa- 
j/M<V      rents  being  William  J.  and  Eunice  W.  (Wat- 
*    son)  Webb,  natives  of  New  York.     The  parents 
*     moved  from  the  latter  State   to   Wisconsin    in 
1847,  where  the  father   purchased  a  farm  containing 
40  acres,  and  afterwards  increased  his  landed  inter- 
ests  until  he  was  the  proprietor  of  240  acres  in  that 
State,  and  on  which  he   resided  until  the  date  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  April,  1S76. 

Don  J.,  subject  of  this  sketch,  remained  under  pa- 
rental instruction  and  care  until  he  attained  the  age 
of  majority.  His  earlier  years  were  passed  on  the 
farm  and  in  the  acquisition  of  a  good  education,  hav- 


ing had  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  Evansville 
Seminary,  which  institution  he  attended  for  four 
years.  He  then  attended  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Busi- 
ness College  at  Janesville,  Wis.,  for  two  years,  where 
he  completed  a  thorough  business  course  of  study. 
Leaving  commercial  college,  he  came  to  Savanna, 
Carroll  Co.,  111.,  where,  for  two  years,  he  was  engaged 
in  learning  telegraphy  and  railroading.  He  then  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  station  agent  at  Rapids  City,  in 
1876,  where  he  has  since  continued  in  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad. 

Mr.  Webb  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clara 
E.  Mitchell,  a  native  of  Rapids  City,  Aug.  29,  1876. 
She  was  born  in  June,  1861,  and  has  borne  Mr. 
Webb  two  children, — Willie  M.,  born  Aug.  29,  1877  ; 
Dwight  J.,  born  Oct.  2,  1879.  Politically,  Mr.  Webb 
is  a  believer  in  the  principles  advocated  by  the 
Democratic  party.  Religiously,  he  attends  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Masonry,  belonging  to  the  Knights  Templars 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U. 
W.,and  is  a  representative  influential  citizen  of  Rapids 
City. 


hjh»£=: 


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i 

7 


ichard  S.  Silvis,  of  the  firm  of  Silvis  Bros., 
dealers  in  coal  at  Hampton,  came  to 
Hampton  Township  in  1854.  He  was 
born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  21,  1837.  His 
younger  days  were  passed  on  the  farm,  per- 
forming such  labor  as  was  common  to  farmer's 
sons  of  the  time  and  locality  in  which  he  resided,  and 
attending  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county, 
receiving  a  good  English  education. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Silvis  of  this  sketch  were  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Coon)  Silvis,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  father  came  to  Rock  Island  in  1854  with  his 
family,  and  settled  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Hampton 
Township.  Richard  S.  Silvis,  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  was  24  years  of  age  when  he  left  the 
parental  homestead.  At  that  age,  he  went  forth  to 
fight  the  battles  of  life  single-handed  and  alone,  and 
the  first  work  that  he  did  for  his  own  individual  bene- 
fit was  that  of  breaking  prairie.  He  continued  at 
that  vocation,  alternating  the  same  with  labor  on  the 
farm  for  eight  years,  after  which  he  purchased  a  farm 


•^^y    o/^n  vm  ii&,\g)    ^^- 


390 


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$, 


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f 


of  his  own,  containing  65  acres.  Subsequently  he 
added  to  his  original  purchase  until  at  present  he  is 
the  proprietor  of  340  acres.  He  also  owns,  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  300  acres  in  Hampton 
Township,  the  major  portion  of  it  being  coal  land. 
His  homestead  is  situated  on  sections  32  and  33. 

Mr.  Silvis  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss 
Louisa  Castell  in  1862.  She  is  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  James  Castell,  and  was  born  in  Rock 
Island  County,  Nov.  29,  1S40.  The  issue  of  their 
union  has  been  four  children, — Isabelle  C,  born  Aug. 
19,  1S63;  Thomas  S.,  bora  Aug.  29,  1865  ;  Charles 
L.,  born  Sept.  7,  1869,  and  Mary  E.,  born  May  13, 
1876.  Isabelle  C.  married  Charles  F.  Stephens,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  two  children, — Frank  and 
Louisa. 

Politically,  Mr.  Silvis  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party.  At  pres- 
ent he  is  Road  Commissioner,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  School  Director  for  1 2  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
progressive  farmers  of  Rock  Island  County,  and  his 
accumulation  of  this  world's  goods  is  attributable  to 
his  indomitable  energy,  perseverance,  and  good  judg- 
ment. Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


>i-~$ — »<s*MSBv^.o — .£— 5-s- — 


"ared  Marshall,  deceased,  formerly  a  farmer 
j|£  of  Cordova  Township,  is  the  youngest  son 
of  John  and  Charity  (Golden)  Marshall, 
and  was  born  in  Hopewell.  Hunterdon  Co.,  N. 
J.,  July  8,  1832.  He  was  ten  years  of  age 
when  his  mother  with  the  family  emigrated  to 
this  State,  locating  in  Coe  Township.  He  made  his 
home  with  his  mother  and  worked  upon  the  farm  un- 
til the  time  of  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Dec.  29, 
1852,  when  he  wedded  Miss  Amanda  Rockwell, 
daughter  of  Justus  and  Sally  (Perkins)  Rockwell. 
She  was  born  in  Chester,  Randolph  Co.,  111.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  both  her 
parents  were  early  settlers  in  that  county.  At  the 
time  of  his  marriage  he  purchased  land  on  section  2, 
Coe  Township,  and  upon  it  built  at  first  a  small 
frame  house,  but  four  years  afterward  a  larger  frame 
structure,  which  he  occupied.  He  improved  the 
farm  and  resided  there  until   1867,  when  he  sold  it 


and  went  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Cedar  County.  He* 
bought  there  a  farm  five  miles  from  Virgil  City,  and' 
after  residing  upon  it  two  years  he  sold  and  returned, 
to  Cordova,  where   he   bought  a    farm   adjoining  the 
village.  Soon  afterward,  in  company  with  his  brother,   £ 
William  G.,  he  engaged  in  buying  grain,  in  which  he 
continued  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  21, 
1876. 

Mr.  Marshall  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Anna,  the  wife  of  Walter  Pidcock, 
and  living  in  Cordova;  Emma,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  William  Cool  and  resides  in  Cordova ;  Albert  S., 
who  is  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  the  same 
village;  J.  Grant,  Lewis  D.  and  Grace  A. 


The  great-  ^ 


I C  ohn  Zollinger,  Postmaster  at  Port  Byron,  ^ 
is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  having  been  / 
born  in  Carlisle,  Cumberland  Co.,  that  * 
State,  April  29,  1847.  His  parents,  John  and  ,| 
Mary  A.  (Harman)  Zollinger,  were  also  natives  c 
of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  of  Lebanon,  Leba 
non  County,  and  of  German  descent 
grandparents  of  the  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice were  natives  of  Switzerland,  and  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  Pennsylvania ;  and  Jacob  Zollin- 
ger, the  grandfather,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  belonging  to  Wayne's  Light  Brigade. 

The  father  of  John  Zollinger,  our  subject,  was  a 
homeopathic  physician  and  practiced  considerably 
in  Carlisle,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  besides  being  en-  3 
gaged  in  farming,  at  which  our  subject  worked  to  a  *j 
considerable  extent,  alternating  his  labors  with  at- 
tendance at  the  public  schools  in  acquisition  of  an 
education. 

Our  subject  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  29th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  in  which  he  received  a  severe  scalp 
wound,  participating  in  the  siege  of  Petersburg  in 
July,  1864.  He  took  part  in  all  the  important  bat- 
tles from  the  time  of  his  enlistment  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  home  and 
engaged  at  house-painting  and  paper-hanging  as  an 
occupation,  in  which  he  continued  until  1870,  then 
came  to  Port  Byron,  arriving  on  the  iSth  of  March 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


JrL  of  the  same  year,  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  short 
%  time.  Then,  in  company  with  F.  S.  Gates,  he  en- 
s' gaged  in  the  lumber  trade,  and  continued  in  the 
\  same  for  five  years,  when  he  sold  out.  In  iSyShe 
I  was  commissioned  Postmaster,  which  position  he  has 
'-  held  since,  besides  running  a  grocery,  in  which  he 
has  been  engaged  for  years. 

June  4,  r87i,  Mr.  Zollinger  formed  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Miss  Mary  J.  Moore,  daughter  of  George 
and  Harriet  (Dodge)  Moore,  and  of  their  union  have 
been  born  four  children,  namely:     Gracie  L.,  Jennie 
4  H.,  Clara  J.  and  Nellie. 


«^ 


) I'Ej'fL  oster  Armstrong,  general  farmer,  section 
Ijjp  34,  Bowling  Township,  was  born  Feb.  26, 
^  1853.  His  parents  were  Christopher  and 
Margaret  A.  (Foster)  Armstrong.  (See  sketch 
of  Thomas  Armstrong.)  He  was  reared  at 
home  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  until 
3  his  marriage,  Dec.  7,  1876,  in  Pre-emption  Tovvn- 
r^  ship,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  to  Miss  Mary  Sweeney,  who 
'  was  born  in  Clinton,  Iowa,  Jan.  4,  1857.  Her  par- 
ents, Moses  and  Margaret  (Little)  Sweeney,  were 
natives  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Ireland 
respectively,  were  married  in  Rock  Island  and  set- 
tled in  Clinton  Co.,  Iowa.  She  was  very  young 
when  her  mother  died  ;  and  her  father  is  yet  living, 
at  Clinton,  where  he  is  following  his  trade  as  carpen- 
ter. After  the  death  of  her  mother  she  was  adopted 
i:  in  the  family  of  her  uncle,  David  Little,  was  reared 
p  by  them  and  educated  in  the  district  schools. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  have  four  children,  viz. : 
Robert  M.,  who  was  norn  Nov.  14,  1877  ;  Christopher 
L.,  June  30,  1879;  Thomas  P.,  Sept.  20,  18S1  ;  and 
Mary  F.,  May  20,  1884. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Armstrong  located  on   an 
80-acre  farm  on  section  34,  Bowling  Township,  and 
g>  has  since  made  this  his  permanent   home.     He  is 
now  the   proprietor  of  260  acres  of  land,  most   of 
A*  which  is  well   improved,  and  the  place  is  well  sup- 
plied with  good  farm  buildings.     Mr.  A.   is  a  pro- 
(  gressive  farmer  and  a  prominent   citizen.     He  has 
acceptably   filled   a  number  of  local   offices  in    his 
township,  among  them  that  of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


<I> 


In  his  political  sympathies  he  is  a  zealous  Republi- 
can. Both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


van  B.  Beers,  President  of  the  Moline 
Stove  Company,  was  born  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  July  18,  1842,  and  is  the  son  of  Jo- 
!§!£.  seph  and  Priscilla  (Bricker)  Beers.  When  14 
years  of  age  (December,  18 — -),  he  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia, where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  and 
other  business.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  spending 
the  dry  seasons  (when  mining  work  was  suspended 
in  California)  in  Virginia  City,  Nev.,  in  which  place 
he  learned  the  molder's  trade. 

He  continued  in  California  and  Nevada,  working 
a  part  of  the  time  in  one  State  and  again  in  the 
other. 

In  November,  18 — ■,  he  was  prevailed  upon  by  a 
party  of  some  14  of  his  friends  to  join  them  in  an 
expedition  to  the  southeastern  limits  of  the  United 
States,  and  with  them  he  went  down  to  Nicaragua, 
and  on  their  arrival  they  joined  and  formed  a  part  of 
the  filibustering  forces  under  Gen.  Walker,  for  the 
capture  of  that  country  He  remained  there  until 
March  of  the  following  year,  the  forces  moving  about 
to  San  George,  New  Granada,  Virgin  Bay,  etc.;  and 
he  took  part  in  various  irregular  conflicts,  during 
which  time  over  4,000  of  Walker's  men  were  killed 
or  died.  The  mob  (for  it  was  little  else)  lived  al- 
most entirely  by  raids  upon  the  surrounding  country 
subsisting  upon  bananas  and  other  fruits,  often  be- 
ing entirely  out  of  food  ;  and  as  they  had  no  camp 
equipage  of  any  kind,  they  were  compelled  to  camp 
out  under  the  stars,  and  in  all  kinds  of  weather. 
The  men  were  armed  with  all  kinds  of  weapons, 
the  best  they  could  capture  or  pick  up,  and  no 
special  discipline  was  maintained.  It  was  a  sort  of 
free-for-all  affair.  Finally,  the  men  began  to  melt 
away,  and  "Gen."  Walker  was  left  without  a  com- 
mand. He  left  that  section,  always  a  turbulent 
spirit,  and  was  finally  captured  and  shot,  while  fili- 
bustering in  Honduras. 

When  Walker's  forces  disbanded,  Mr.  Beers  went 
down  on    a   steamer  with  13  others   to   Panama  and 


lay  around  there  for  some  six  weeks,  out  of  funds 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


and  out  of  employment,  and  finally  they  all  stole  on 
board  the  steamer  "  Golden  Gate,"  and,  hiding  them- 
selves as  "  stow-aways,"  they  quietly  remained  out  of 
sight  on  board  until  the  vessel  reached  its  destina- 
tion, and  they  landed  in  California. 

In  November,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  volunteer  service  for  the  late  war,  as  a  private 
of  Co.  C,  7th  Cal.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  in  the  De- 
partment of  the  Pacific  till  April,  1866.  On  receiv- 
ing his  discharge,  Mr.  Beers  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  from  there  came  to  Moline,  111.,  in  the  fall  of 
1867,  and  engaged  as  molder  in  the  shops  of  Will- 
iams, White  &  Co.,  of  this  city,  until  1874,  when  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Joshua  Norrish  in 
the  manufacture  of  stoves,  under  the  firm  name  of 
E.  B.  Beers  &  Co.  They  continued  in  this  business 
under  the  above  name  until  July,  tSSi,  when  it  was 
regularly  incorporated  under  the  title  of  the  "  Moline 
Stove  Company."  Mr.  Beers  was  elected  President 
of  the  company  on  its  organization,  and  has  contin- 
ued to  fill  that  position  to  this  date.  (See  history  of 
this  enterprise  elsewhere  in  this  work.) 

Mr.  Beers  was  united  in  marriage  at  Le  Claire, 
Iowa,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Josephine  Bates.  Mrs.  Beers 
died  in  November,  1S70,  leaving  an  infant  daughter, 
Emma.  Mr.  Beers  was  married  the  second  time,  in 
December,  1873,  at  Cambridge,  111.,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Sims,  who  was  bom  in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Beers  entertains  liberal  views  in  matters  of 
religion  and  in  political  sentiment,  and  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 


a 


.r  ohn  W.  Stark,  D.  D.  S.,  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Iowa  City  University,  and  stands 
deservedly  high  in  the  profession  he  orna- 
ments. He  began  the  practice  of  dental  sur- 
jT  gery  at  Woodstock,  111.,  in  1864,  and  has  since 
\  devoted  his  time  to  it.  He  was  born  at  Flan- 
ders, New  Jersey,  Feb.  24,  183S,  and  was  brought  by 
his  parents,  Aaron  D.  and  Nancy  (Case)  Stark,  to 
Alden,  McHenry  Co.,  111.,  when  about  eleven  years 
of  age.  At  the  common  schools  and  Woodstock 
Academy,  lie  acquired  a  pretty  thorough  education, 
and  from  the  age  of  20  to  25  years  was  employed  as 
teacher  in  the  public  schools. 

From  Illinois    he   went  to  Waterloo,   Iowa,  where 


he  practiced  dentistry  several  years,  coming  to  Rock 
Island  in  1870.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  having  filled  suc- 
cessively the  official  chairs  in  both  organizations,  and 
is  at  present  Commander  of  the  Uniform  degree  in 
the  Camp  of  the  first  named  order,  and  of  the  Select 
Knights  of  the  "  Workmen."  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Represent- 
ative to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

His  wife,  Melcena  A.,  to  whom  he  was  married  at 
Marengo,  111.,  Sept.  4,  1861,  was  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Leander  S.  Walker  (deceased), 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  born  at 
Rockford,  111.  Their  only  two  children  were  buried 
in  infancy.  The  Doctor's  parents  died — his  father 
in  185S,  aged  about  45  years,  and  his  mother  in  1880, 
aged  about  65  years.  Both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Stark  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Politically,  Dr.  Stark  is  a  Democrat. 


fe-V>-~ 5- 


9 

S 
& 


j  ffijikharles  F.  Schafer,   a  farmer  residing  on 
L_3f   section   5,   Zuma  Township,  was  born  in 
p?*5      Wurtemberg,  Germany,  March  4,    i82r. 
:     '      He  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in    1847, 
*-"<'      and  for  three  years  was  engaged  in   the  voca- 
■*        tion  of  a  farmer  in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.     In 
1850   he  came  to  Zuma   Township   and   bought  40 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  located  and  where  he  has 
continued  to  reside  until  the  present  time.     He  sub- 
sequently added  to  his  original  purchase  46  acres  in 
Coe  Township,   and  by  still  later  purchases  added 
335   acres   more  in  the  same  township.     On  coming 
to  the  county  in  1850,  he  located  on   his  land  and 
entered   vigorously   and   energetically    upon  its    im- 
provement   and   cultivation,   and    by    economy   and 
good  judgment  has  secured  a  competency.     He  has 
a  line  residence,  good  barns   and  outbuildings,   and 
his  farm  is  under  a  good   state   of  cultivation.      Po- 
litically, he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and   religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Schafer  is  a  man  who  never  has  sought  office 
at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  citizens,  but  has  accepted 
that  of  Path  Master. 

Mr.  Schafer  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  in  his 


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j?OCf  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


mtry,  with  Miss  Barbara  Shock,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
—  Margaret,  born  Nov.  14,  1 S45 ;  Christina,  Dec, 
25,  1S46;  Luther,  Dec.  4,  184S;  Louisa,  Sept.  29, 
1850;  Man,  Feb.  3,1853;  Joseph,  ^M  ay,  26,  1861; 
Catherine,  April  22,  1863  ;  Charles,  Oct.  18,  1865: 
and  John,  Oct.  12,  1867.  Louisa  married  George 
Behlmeier,  and  they  have  five  children, — George, 
Charles,  Joseph,  Frank  and  Clara.  Mary  married 
John  Sehwegler,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three 
children, — Anna,  Louisa  and  Frederick.  Catherine 
married  Charles  Hafer,  and  one  child  has  been  bom 
of  their  marriage, — Bertha.  Christina  married  Ar- 
thur Mead,  and  they  have  two  children,—  Katie  and 
Alfred.     Luther  married  Nanny  Hinderer. 


lP3Uaellarias  Einfeldt,  a  farmer  of  South  Mo- 
'i||  "  line  Township,  where  he  owns  a  farm  of 
•jifS}1'  T7°  acres,  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Maria 

'ity<^  (Schlotfclt)  Einfeldt,  who  were  natives  of 
J  V  Germany.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third. 
He  was  born  in  Germany,  Nov.  8,  1845,  and  20  years 
later  came  to  America,  soon  finding  his  way  to  Mo- 
line.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  before  long 
had  purchased  the  present  farm,  on  section  25,  most 
of  which  is  under  excellent  cultivation.  We  take 
pleasure  in  presenting  a  view*  of  his  residence,  barns 
and  other  surroundings  in  connection  with  this 
sketch. 

Our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  in  South  Mo- 
line  Township,  April  14,  1SS1,  with  Miss  Nannie 
Henry,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Lee) 
Henry,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia respectively.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Einfeldt  is  the  second.  She  was 
born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  April  7,  1846,  and  is  the 
mother  of  two  children, — Zacharias  H.  and  Eliza- 
beth G. 

Politically,  Mr.  E.  is  a  believer  in  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party,  and,  though,  nevei  seeking  any 
public  station,  he  has  served  his  district  as  Road 
Commissioner  four  terms. 

Mr.  Einfeldt  is  an  excellent  type  of  that  thrifty 


class  of  German  people  we  find  scattered  over  the 
Northwest.  Coming  to  America  when  a  young  man, 
without  means,  social  influence  or  other  assistance, 
he  has,  almost  before  he  reaches  the  prime  of  his 
life,  become  a  well-to-do  and  influential  farmer.  This 
speaks  well  for  both  the  country  and  the  man;  for 
the  country  in  that  it  affords  such  splendid  oppor- 
tunities, and  for  Mr.  Einfeldt  that  he  possessed  the 
energy,  ability  and  will  to  improve  them.  As  a  rep- 
resentative of  this  commendable  class  of  people  we 
place  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Einfeldt  in  this  Album,  on 
the  page  facing  this  sketch. 


« 


: 


11  ames  Van  Horn,  residing  in  Cordova,  was 
jlllkr  born  in  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  June  29,  r S17, 
"  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  A. 
(Swagegear)  Van  Horn,  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  of  Holland  and  German  extraction. 
When  Mr.  Van  Horn  was  eight  years  of  age, 
his  father  moved  to  Columbia  County,  Ohio.  He 
was  a  millwright  by  trade,  and  worked  at  that  occu- 
pation, building  mills  in  that  section  of  the  county. 
He  bought  an  old  mill  there,  that  was  entirely  out  of 
gear  and  refitted  it,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
operated  the  same  for  a  time,  before  he  had  attained 
his  majority.  When  Mr.  Van  Horn  had  arrived  at 
the  age  of  majority,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr-  Fisher,  of  East  Fairfield,  Ohio. 
He  attended  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati 
and  followed  the  curriculum  of  that  institution,  at 
which  he  graduated.  He  first  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profes'sion  at  North  Liberty,  Mercer  Co., 
Pa.,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Kirkpatrick,  with  whom 
he  remained  one  and  a  half  years.  The  partnership 
was  then  dissolved  and  Dr.  Van  Horn  went  to  Cen- 
tervdle,  Butler  County,  and  hung  out  a  shingle,  where 
he  remained  several  years,  and  by  strict  attention  to 
his  business  built  up  a  good  and  well  paying  patron- 
age. From  the  latter  place  he  went  to  Tarentum, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  and  followed  the  practice  of  his 
profession  there,  until  failing  health  compelled  him 
to  retire.  In  the  spring  of  1S52,  he  emigrated  to 
Iowa,  and  settled  in  LeClaire,  Scott  County,  but  did 
not  resume  his  practice.     He  bought  property   there 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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and  erected  a  house,  where  he  resided  until  1876. 
During  that  year  he  came  to  this  county  and  located 
on  sections  29  and  30,  Cordova  Township,  where  he 
purchased  147  acres  of  land,  and  entered  vigorously 
and  energetically  on  the  task  of  its  improvement  and 
cultivation.  He  has  erected  on  his  farm  a  brick 
house,  together  with  a  frame  barn  and  other  neces- 
sary buildings,  and  has  his  land  under  an  advanced 
state  of  cultivation.  He  also  has  an  apple  orchard, 
together  with  other  small  fruit,  and  his  residence  may 
truly  be  said  to  be  one  of  the  pleasant  homes  so  nu- 
merous in  Rock  Island  County. 

Dr.  Van  Horn  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Centreville,  Pa.,  March  r6,  1842,  with  Miss  Ger- 
trude A.  Freeman.  She  was  born  in  Fayette  County, 
Pa.,  Dec.  11,  1825,  and  died  Oct.  12,  1880,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Elias  and  Deborah  (Crane)  Free- 
man. 


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a 


J'Ffjl'C  eorge  Hillier,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
^tliyfl    24>  Coal  Valley  Township,  is  the  second 
•^te*-"       child  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  born  to 
'  y^  >  George  and  Sarah  (Stevens)  Hillier.     His  par- 
natives  of  England,    but 


jl 


ents  were  natives  ot  England,  but  came  to 
America  and  located  at  Rock  Island  in  1851, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Gloucestershire,  England, 
Jan.  20,  1822.  He  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents in  1827.  At  that  time  they  located  in  Nova 
Scotia.  In  r852  he  came  to  Rock  Island  County 
and  located  in  Coal  Valley  Township.  Here  he  was 
employed  in  mining,  which  business  he  was  largely 
engaged  in  up  to  about  1882.  He  has  made  exten- 
sive shipments  of  coal  to  Davenport,  la.  At  present 
he  is  the  owner  of  89  acres  of  land  in  Rock  Island 
County,  besides  other  tracts.  Also  owner  of  store, 
corner  of  Orleans  and  Eagle  Streets,  Rock  Island. 

Mr.  Hillier  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Nova 
Scotia,  on  the  3d  day  of  December,  1845;  Miss  Flora 
McDonald,  daughter  of  Coll  and  Sarah  (McClennon) 
McDonald,  was  the  bride.  She  is  of  Scotch  birth, 
and  the  mother  of  eight  children,  whom  they  have 
given  the  following  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth : 
George,  Henry,  Charles  W.,  Sarah,  Alexander,  Tan- 


jore,  Matilda  and  Amelia.     Alexander  and   Tanjore 
are  deceased. 

Mr.  Hillier  has  served  his  township  as  School  Di- 
rector, Supervisor  and  Road  Commissioner.  He  is 
an  active,  enterprising  farmer,  and  a  respected  citi- 
zen. He  finds  his  political  home  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Everts 
Commandery,  No.  18,  Knights  Templars. 


A 


;  I'p^cnry  Dovman,  of  Moline,  was  born  in  Hol- 
stein,  Germany,  Jan.  12,  1833,  and  attend- 
f§r  "'*  ec*  sc'100'  there  until  about  1 6  years  of  age  ; 
labored  on  a  farm  for  a  time,  then  in  a  grocery 
at  Hamburg,  then  for  a  carpenter  there,  and 
finally  left  for  the  "  land  of  golden  opportunity," 
arriving  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  June  6,  1S55,  where 
he  worked  about  the  city  and  on  farms  in  the 
vicinity  until  May,  t86i,  when  he  came  to  Moline; 
at  this  point  he  first  was  employed  in  a  saw-mill  gDj 
for  a  year,  for  J.  S.  Keator,  then  took  a  job  as  sec-  = 
tion  hand  on  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  ^ 
Railroad  and  worked  in  that  capacity  four  years ; 
during  the  succeeding  four  years  he  had  charge  of  a 
gang  of  men  in  the  employ  of  the  Government  on 
Rock  Island.  In  1870  he  entered  the  employment 
of  the  Moline  Wagon  Company,  having  charge  of 
the  shipping,  "warehouse  and  lumber-yard,  the  latter 
for  eight  years,  and  the  former  position  he  has  held 
continuously  for  15  years,  which  is  proof  of  his  faith- 
ful ability. 

Mr.  Dorman  was  married  in  Holstein,  Germany, 
Dec.  22,  1854,  to  Anna  Struve,  and  they  have  had 
12  children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living.  The 
record  stands  as  follows :  Emma,  born  in  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  Sept.  26,  1855,  died  in  that  city  Jan.  29, 
1856;  Annie,  born  in  the  same  city,  Sept.  9,  1856, 
and  died  at  Moline  Jan.  18,  1880;  P.  G.  Dorman, 
born  i  Davenport,  Sept.  16,  1858,  and  died  at  Mo- 
line, Oct.  27,  1S62;  Dorris,  born  in  Davenport,  Jan.  t 
1,  i86r,diedin  Moline,  April  9,  187  1;  Fred  L.,  born  <j 
Dec.  16,  1862;  Henry  E.,  Feb.  22,  1861;;  Andrew  C,  9 
April  8,  1867;  Augusta,  Nov.  12,  1868;  Louisa,  j 
March  12,  1871;  G.  M.  Dorman,  May  7,  1874; 
Gustav,  Aug.  3,  1S76,  and  Louis,  Dec.  1,  1878. 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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Fritz  Dorman,  father  of  Henry,  was  born  at  Hol- 
stein,  Jan.  2S,  1811,  and  died  April  23,  1876;  and 
Catharina  Dorman  (Henry's  mother)  was  born  also 
in  Holstein,  Sept.  15,  181 1,  and  died  in  Moline,  May 
1870.  Mrs.  Dorman's  father,  Engert  Struve, 
died  when  she  was  six  months  old,  and  her  mother, 
Elizabeth  Struve,  died  when  she  was  three  years  old  ; 
her  maiden  name  was  Roehl.  Mrs.  Dorman  was 
born  at  Holstein,  Nov.  3,  1833.  The  daughter, 
Annie,  became  the  wife  of  Theodore  Hasse,  and  died 
leaving  three  daughters. 

Mr.  Dorman  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  is  active 
as  a  Druid  and  a  Turner.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  D.  are 
liberal  in  their  religious  views.  He  is  greatly  desir- 
ous that  his  children  receive  a  good  education  and 
spares  no  necessary  expense  in  promoting  that  end, 
making  it  a  point  that  they  should  attend  both  the 
English  and  German  schools.  He  considers  the 
■)  school-house  to  be  of  far  greater  value  to  the  country 
than  the  church. 


A 


-*3- 


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red    A.  Burgston,   of  the    firm    of  F.  A. 
Burgston  &  Co.,  dealers  in  dry  goods   and 
carpets,  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and   17th 
Street,  Moline.     This   firm  is  composed  of  F. 
A.  Burgston  and  Charles  H.  Deere,  and  estab- 
lished business  in  January,  1883,  and  carries 
an  average  stock  of  $20,000. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Burg- 
ston, and  was  born  in  Sweden,  March  28,  1856.  In 
1865  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  with  his  pa- 
rents, and  located  at  Geneseo,  111.,  until  1870,  when 
he  came  to  Moline.  His  education  was  acquired  in 
the  city  schools  and  in  1875  he  engaged  as  clerk 
with  Hull  Bros.,  general  merchants.  Mr.  Burgston 
continued  with  Hull  Bros,  eight  years  (1883),  when 
he  formed  the  existing  partnership  with  Charles  H. 
Deere. 

Mr.  Burgston  was  married  at    Moline,    May    29, 

1 88 1,  to  Miss  Addie  L.  Jackson,  daughter  of  Thomas 

i   and  Margaret  S.  Jackson.      Mrs.  Burgston  was  born 

^  in  Moline,  and  her  mother,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Mr. 

M.  Hartzell,  it  is  said  was  the  first  white  girl  born  in 

Rock  Island  County,  the  date  of  her  birth  being  May 


22,  1837.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burgston  have  one  child,  a 
son,  Glenn  J  ,  born  Oct.  8,  1883.  Mrs.  Burgston  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
B.  is  a  Republican,  having  voted  with  that  party 
since  attaining  majority. 


W¥\ (f \  B  illiam  Sears,  of  the  firm  of  Sears'  Sons, 
I'P^TTu  ml"ers  an(^  proprietors  of  the  Island 
j1S*£n  *  Mills,  located  on  the  north  side  of  Rock 
•Jftfcgy  River,  near  the  village  of  Milan.  He  is  the 
"Ml"  second  son  and  fourth  child  of  David  B.  and 
\f  Delilah  (Caldwell)  Sears,  natives  of  New  York 
State  and  New  Jersey  respectively.  The  father  was 
of  New  England  parentage.  His  ancestry  in  this 
country  dates  back  to  Richard  Sears,  who  settled  at 
Yarmouth,  Mass.,  about  1636.  The  family  is  large 
and  is  scattered  throughout  the  United  States.  An 
effort  is  now  being  made  to  trace  the  genealogy  back 
to  their  forefathers,  which  shows  that  the  family  is 
connected  with  some  of  the  best  people  of  New  En- 
gland. The  father  of  our  subject,  David  Sears,  was 
separated  from  the  main  branch  of  the  family  during 
the  Indian  troubles  in  Ohio,  where  he  had  gone  with 
his  father,  Joseph  Sears,  when  eight  years  of  age. 
David  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  came  to  Galla- 
tin Co.,  111.,  previous  to  his  marriage  to  Miss  Melinda 
Stokes,  who  died  in  that  county  after  she  had  become 
the  mother  of  six  children,  only  one  of  whom  sur- 
vived, Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Eastman,  now  a  resident  of 
Chicago.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married 
in  the  same  county,  and  two  children,  Margaret  and 
Mary,  both  deceased,  were  born  before  they  came  to 
Moline,  111.  This  removal  occurred  in  1835.  He 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  and  became  one  of 
the  prominent  citizens  of  the  county.  A  more  ex- 
tended notice  of  David  B.  Sears  is  given  elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Sears  consisted  of  eight  chil- 
dren, three  daughters,  deceased,  two  already  men- 
tioned, and  Jane,  who  died  at  Moline.  Those  living 
are  David,  who  was  born  in  Moline,  March  21,  1838, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated;  the  principal 
part  of  his  time  was  spent  in  his  father's  mills.  He 
was  married  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  March  19,  1858, 
to  Miss  Mary  Stinson,  a  lady  who  was  born  in  Huron 


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Co.,  Ohio,  March  7,  1838,  and  was  brought  West 
with  her  father  when  a  young  lady.  She  is  now  the 
mother  of  five  children, — Lila  M.,  Hugh  R.,  Harriet 
D.,  John  D.  and  Vester.  The  two  former  are  well 
educated.  The  first  named  is  a  teacher  of  art  draw- 
ing ;  David  is  now  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Sears'  Sons,  and  resides  in  Rock  Island  Township. 

William  Sears,  our  subject,  was  born  at  Moline, 
Nov.  18,  1840,  and  was  educated  there,  and  in  i860 
began  to  learn  the  miller's  trade.  On  the  1st  of 
January,  1S64,  he  wis  married,  at  Moline.  After 
this  event  he,  with  his  father  and  brothers,  formed  a 
co-partnership  to  carry  on  the  milling  business.  Our 
subject  succeeded  Mr.  Norris  as  Postmaster  at 
Sears'  postoffice  in  1878,  and  has  since  held  the 
position. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sears  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  deceased,  Ernst.  Those  living 
are  William, C.  Barton  and  Benjamin  L.  The  family 
attend  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  politically,  all 
are  Republicans. 

George  W.,  the  sixth  child  of  the  family,  was  born 
at  Moline,  Nov.  23,  1842.  He  was  reared  under  the 
influences  of  the  home  and  educated  at  Moline, 
where  he  went  to  school  until  18  years  of  age,  when 
he  enlisted  in  the  first  call  for  troops  early  in  April, 
1861,  in  Co.  C,  Second  Iowa  Inf.,  firmed  at  Daven- 
port. He  was  afterward  transferred  to  the  27th  111. 
and  made  Commissary  Sergeant.  Just  before  his 
discharge  he  was  transferred  to  the  Ninth  Illinois 
Mounted  Infantry.  He  was  honorably  discharged  in 
May,  1865,  having  served  a  little  more  than  four 
years.  He  was  fortunate  in  being  neither  wounded 
nor  imprisoned,  although  in  some  of  the  hardest- 
fought  battles  of  the  war,  such  as  Murfreesboro, 
Stone  River,  siege  of  Nashville,  and  all  through  the 
Atlanta  campaign.  Afier  his  return  home,  he  be- 
came connected  with  his  brothers  in  the  milling 
business.  April  7,  1S73.  he  was  married,  at  Milan, 
to  Miss  Lizzie  Huyett,  who  was  born  in  Williams- 
burg, Pa.,  Nov.  23,  1850.  She  was  brought  to  Milan 
when  a  small  child.  She  is  the  dauglrer  of  Dr.  Jos. 
Huyett,  a  well-known  physician  of  this  county,  where 
she  was  educated.  Joseph  H.,  Clara  and  George  L. 
are  the  names  of  their'three  children.  The  family 
attend  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  Mr.  S. 
is  connected.  He  is  serving  as  School  Director  at 
present. 

Nettie  Sears  was  born  at  Moline,  March  10,  1848. 


She  was  educated  in  North  Granville,  N.  Y.,  and  now 
resides  in  the  town  of  Sears.  Henry  H.,  the  young- 
est member  of  the  family,  was  born  Oct.  18,  1850; 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Moline,  at  the  busi- 
ness college  at  Davenport,  and  worked  with  his 
father  in  the  erection  of  mills  and  water-powers. 
Sept.  16,  1875,  he  was  married,  at  the  city  of  Rock 
Island,  to  Miss  Kate  M.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Agenora  (Holt)  Gilmore.  Her  parents  were  natives 
respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maine;  by  occupa- 
tion her  father  was  a  carpenter  and  contractor.  Her 
parents  were  married  in  this  State  and  located  in 
Rock  Island  city,  where  Mrs.  S.,  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  June  21,  1S54.  She  completed  her  education 
at  the  Platteville  (Wis.)  Seminary.  She  has  become 
the  mother  of  two  children, —  Agenora  H.  and 
Charles  E. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Sears  has  been  principally 
engaged  in  fanning  and  in  keeping  the  books  for  his 
brothers  at  the  mill.  This  mill,  now  bearing  the 
name  of  "  Island  Mill,"  is  a  solid  limestone  struc- 
ture, with  basement  and  four  stories,  51x61  feet, 
with  full  patent-roller  attachments.  The  power  is 
shed  by  the  river,  and  the  mill  has  a  capacity  of 
300  barrels  per  day. 

Mr.  Sears  has  held  various  local  offices  and  is  at 
present  the  Township  Assessor.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 


v- 


'■z  ra  Weatherhead,  deceased,  formerly  a  farm 
er  residing  on   section  27,  Hampton  Town- 
ship, was   born    in  Guilford,  Windham  Co., 
Vt.,  July  27,    1809,   and   came   to   this   county 
July    1,    1839,   when   within   a  few  days  of  his 
30th  year.     His  parents  were  Abel  and  Ruth 
(Davis)  Weatherhead. 

Mr.  Weatherhead,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, was  an  inmate  of  the  parental  household,  receiv- 
ing the  advantages  of  the  common  school  of  his 
native  county,  and  performing  such  labor  as  is  com- 
mon to  farmers'  sons,  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
majority.  On  becoming  his  "  own  man  "  he  engaged 
to  labor  in  a  knife  manufactory  in  his  native  State, 
and  labored  at  that  occupation  for  six  years.    At  this 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


age  in  life,  realizing  that  better  inducements  were  of- 
fered in  the  West  for  acquiring  a  competency,  he 
came  to  this  county  and  purchased  land.  Coming 
at  an  early  date  in  the  history  of  this  county,  he  is 
undoubtedly  classed  as  one  of  the  pioneers;  and  re- 
maining here  until  his  death,  he  aided  in  no  small 
degree  by  his  labor  and  his  means  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county.  At  the  date  of  his  death  he 
owned  1,000  acres  of  land.  Politically,  he  was  a 
Democrat.  His  accumulations  were  acquired  by 
honest,  straightforward,  energetic  effort,  and  he  left 
his  wife  and  children  well  provided  with  a  fine  home 
and  good  surroundings. 

Mr.  Weatherhead  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Wells,  Oct.  26,  1849.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Daniel  McNeil,  and  was  born  in  De- 
troit, Mich.,  Nov.  3,  1821.  Four  children  have  been 
born  of  their  union,  namely  :  Drury  A.,  born  July 
23,  1849;  Ellen  O.,  born  Aug.  23,  185 1;  Kate  L., 
March  14,  1857,  and  Ona  E.,  March  4,  iS6r.  Drury 
married  Adaline  DeWoolf,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren,— -Greta,  Ira  and  Louisa.  Ellen  married  Al- 
phonzo  Gates,  and  they  have  one  daughter, — Ona  J. 
Kate  L.  married  Leander  Gates,  and  they  have  one 
daughter, — -Edna  G.  Ona  married  Albert  Smith, 
and  resides  in  California.  Mrs.  Weatherhead  now 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  and  manages  the  farm, 
being  a  lady  of  rare  business  qualifications,  as  well 
as  possessing  commendable  literary  attainments.  She 
is  well  preserved  and  good  for  many  years  of  active 
life  yet. 

A  view  of  her  house  appears  on  another  page. 


iofc 


■set 
I 


.'form  H.  Loding,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 11,  South  Moline  Township,  is  a  son 
of  Hans  and  Elseby  Loding,  who  were  na- 
•  ,  tives  of  Germany,  in  which  country  they 
both  died.  John  H.  was  born  in  the  native 
country  of  his  parents  Oct.  2,  1843.  He  re- 
mained in  Germany  until  about  22  years  of  age, 
when,  as  thousands  of  others  have  done,  he  came  to 
the  shores  of  America,  where  he  might  enjoy  greater 
opportunities  and  better  advantages  for  making  a 
living  and   accumulating  something  for  his  family. 


He  was  employed  for  a  time  on  a  railroad  in  Iowa  as 
a  section  hand.  He  lived  in  that  State  for  a  few 
months,  when  he  came  to  Rock  Island  County  and 
was  employed  in  the  mines  of  this  and  Henry  Coun- 
ties for  11  years.  He  then  bought  80  acres  of  land 
in  South  Moline  Township,  section  11,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

Mr.  Loding  was  married  in  Moline,  Sept.  12,  1872, 
to  Miss  Luella  Smith,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Cath- 
erine Smith,  and  who  was  born  in  the  same  town- 
ship, March  14,  1856.  Their  home  has  been  blessed 
with  a  family  of  six  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Those  living  are  :  Charles  A.,  born  Nov. 
10,  1873:  Elmer  F.,  Dei;.  11,  1875;  Stanwood  YY\, 
Nov.  23,  1877  ;  Clyde  O.,  born  Oct.  8,  1880;  Emory 
M.,  born  Feb.  10,  1884.  Mr.  L.  is  politically  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party. 


•iillts—^i 


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1® 


Iffeenjamin  Goble,  one   of  the  oldest  native    I 


yjljp   born  lesidents  of  the  great     Prairie   State, 


f§$P^  is  now  a  retired    farmer,   living   at    Milan,    ^j 
<SP    this     county.       He     was     born     in     Wabash 


-^i*!3*- 


■^*;- 


County,  111.,  Oct.  17,  1813,  on  the  Wabash 
River,  15  miles  south  of  Vincennes,  Ind. 
Mr.  George  Goble,  father  of  Benjamin,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  married  Miss  Nancy  Arnold,  also  a 
native  of  that  State.  They  were  of  Irish  ancestry. 
Both  of  Benjamin's  grandfathers  were  soldiers  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  one  of  them  a  captain.  The 
subject  of  this  biographical  outline  was  the  oldest  of  5 
ten  children,  and  is  the  only  one  now  'living!  When 
peace  was  declared  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain,  in  1815,  his  father  moved  with  his 
family  into  Clay  County,  this  State,  settling  upon  the 
Little  Wabash  River;  in  the  spring  of  1826  they  re- 
moved to  the  American  Bottom,  near  St.  Louis,  Mo. ; 
the  next  year  they  went  across  the  river  and  located 
five  miles  north  of  St.  Louis  ;  then  they  lived  one 
year  on  the  Merrimac  River,  south  of  that  city;  and 
in  May,  1829,  they  came  to  this  county  and  settled 
near  the  site  of  Moline,  that  is,  about  one  mile  east. 
The  senior  Goble  died  the  succeeding  fall,  leaving 
his  soil  Benjamin,  then  17  years  of  age,  practically  at 
the  head  of  the  family,  which  then  consisted  of  the  r3 


^J"/"©?^ 


402 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


widowed  mother  and  five  children.     He   "took  up" 
a    small    piece  of  land    and    made    some  improve- 
ments upon  it,  but,  owing  to  the  changes   made  by 
our  Government  in  its  treaties  with  the  Indians,  with 
reference    to    reservations,    etc.,   he    lost   his   claim. 
When  the  Black  Hawk  War  broke  out  in  1 83 1 ,  he  and 
his  few  neighbors  had  to  garrison  themselves  in  Fort 
Armstrong,  on  the   southern   point  of  Rock  Island. 
There  they  had  to  remain    a  month  or  two  in  each 
of  the  twoyears,  1831  and  1832,  enduring  many  and 
severe  hardships,  in  order  to  keep  themselves  secure 
from    Indian    hostilities.     They    had,   of  course,    to 
lose  their  little  crops,  stock  of  domestic  animals,  etc. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr.  Goble  remained 
with  his  mother  until  about  a  year  after  he  was  mar- 
ried, on  the  island  of  Lowell,   now   better    known  as 
"  Little  Island,"  in  a  small  cabin  15x16  feet  square. 
His  marriage  occurred  Aug.   22,   1833,  to  Miss  Bar- 
bara, daughter  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  VandrefT,  of 
,  Pennsylvania  ancestry.     Mrs.   G.   was   born    about 
A  18 1 6,  and  was  but   a  child  when  her  parents  moved 
=  to  Ohio ;  a   few   years   later  they  settled  near  Rock 
;  Island  and  Moline,  this  county.     In   the  spring  of 
1    1834,  Mr.  G.  made   a   claim   of  108   acres    between 
these  two  points,  which  was  then  wild  and  unbroken, 
with  more  Indians  than    whites  in  the  vicinity  ;  that 
place  is  now  known  as   the   "Brooks   place."     Some 
1  years  afterward  he  sold  there  and  removed  to  "Rock 
Bottom,"  near  the  junction  of  the    Rock    River  with 
the  Mississippi ;  and,  after  residing  at  several  other 
places  for  short  periods,  he   went  to   Henry  County 
and  purchased  500  acres  of  land,  where  he  resided 
until  May,  1869,  when    he    traveled    around   in   the 
farther  West,  but,  finding  no  place  that  better  suited 
him,   he   returned   to    this    county.       He,  however, 
looked  about  for  two  months,  without    unloading  his 
wagon,  for  a  suitable  location,  and  then  settled  on  a 
farm    on    Big    Island,  near    Rock    Island,  and  lived 
there   until   February,    1882,  when   he  retired  from 
active  farm  labor,  came  to   Milan,  and  purchased  a 
fine  piece  of  property,  where  lie  now  resides. 

He  has  had  1 1  children,  ro  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
all  hale  and  hearty.  The  family  have  called  a  phy- 
sician but  once,  and  they  attribute  their  extraordi- 
nary health  mainly  to  their  abstinence  from  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  tobacco,  tea,  coffee,  etc. 

Mr.  Goble,  still  having  a  remarkably  strong  mem- 
ory, has  recently  published  a  book  entitled  "  Pioneer 


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Life  in  Illinois,"  in  which  many  interesting  events, 
especially  in  this  part  of  the  State,  are  well  and  truly 
related. 

Mr.  Goble  is  a  zealous  Republican. 


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ared  L.  Cool,  a  farmer  of  Cordova  Town- 
ship, and  a  pioneer  of  1838  of  Rock  Island 
County,  was  bom  Feb.  1,  1S10,  in  Hunter- 
don Co.,  N.  J.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Larison)  Cool.     When  he  was 
T4  his  father  died,  and  after  that  event  he  went 
to  Pennington,  in   his  native  State,  to  accept  a  posi- 
tion as  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  establishment,  where 
he  was   employed   two  years.     He   went   thence  to 
New  Brunswick,  in  the  same  State,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cedar-cooper.     He   served  between  four 
and  five  years,  and   after   he   had   completed   his  in- 
dentures he  operated  one  year  as  a  "  jour  "  in  the 
State   of  New    York.    '  He    then    returned    to   New 
Brunswick,  and  not  long  after  to  Princeton,  where  he 
established   his  business   in  his  own  interest,  which 
he   managed   there    one  year,   and   went   thence   to 
Trenton.     At  that  place  he  entered  into  the  prose- 
cution of  the  same  business  and  continued  its  man- 
agement  there   until    1S38.     In   company  with   the 
family,  which  the  good  sense,  energy   and   affection 
of  his  mother  had  kept  together  after  the  death  of 
the  father,  he  started  for  Illinois.     The  journey  was 
made  overland   with  teams,  and   they   were  on  the 
route  54  days,   cooking  and  camping  on   the  way. 
They  reached  Cordova  July  16,  1S38.     After  his  ar- 
rival in   Rock  Island  County  he  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  company  with  his  brothers,  three  in 
number.     The    association    then    formed    with    his 
brother    next   older  continued    until    March,    1884, 
when  the  latter  died,  at  72  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Cool  was  married  in  Princeton,  N.  J.,  Nov.  5, 
1832,  to  Margaret  Smith,  a  native  of  the  place  where 
she  was  married,  and  where  she  was  born,  June  26, 
1814.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cool  five  children  have 
been  born,  in  the  order  in  which  their  names  are 
given:  Jonathan  S.,  R.  Condit,  Sarah,  wife  of  J.  J. 
Johnson,  of  Cordova,  Mary,  married  James  B.  Bailey, 
of  Cordova,  and  Edward. 

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Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cool  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding Nov.  5,  1882,  at  which  their  five  children  were 
present  and  14  grandchildren.  There  was  one  great- 
grandchild also  present,  and  a  large  number  of  other 
relatives  and  friends.  'I  he  presents  were  numerous, 
valuable  and  beautiful. 

Mrs.  Cool  died  March  22,  1884.  Hers  was  the 
first  death  in  the  family,  and  she  had  lived  with  her 
husband  nearly  52  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Cordova,  to  which  the  husband 
also  belongs.  The  youngest  son,  Edward,  is  the 
manager  of  the  homestead.  He  was  married  March 
31,  1873,  to  Libbie  Vanderburgh.  She  was  born  in 
Green  Co.,  N.  Y. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cool  is  a  Democrat.  He  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson  in  1832,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  adhered  to  the  party  of  his  first  choice. 


HI  eorge   Gibson,  iron-molder,  Moline,    was 
born  on  Christmas  Day  in  the  year    1829, 
at  a  small  hamlet  called  Brown's  Buildings, 
'*f  •   Northumberland,    County   of   Durham,   Eng- 
land, his  father  being  George  Gibson,  and  his 
mother's    maiden     name     Miss    Jane    Usher, 
both  descending  from  old  English  families. 

George  Gibson, of  whom  we  are  writing,  was  mar- 
ried Jan.  3,  1854,  to  Miss  Isabel  Wheatley,  at 
Lamesly  Church,  Eighteen  Banks,  England  (near 
where  he  was  born),  on  the  domains  of  Lord  Ravens- 
worth,  near  New-Castle-upon-Tyne.  She  was  born 
at  Windy  Nook  in  1832.  Their  children  are  Jane 
A.,  born  Nov.  21,  1854,  died  March  16,  1862;  Rob- 
ert L.,  born  Aug.  1,  1856;  Samuel,  born  Aug.  24, 
1858;  Isabelle,  born  Sept.  9,  i860;  Jane  A.,  born 
May  4,  1863,  died  Nov.  2,  1869;  George,  born  Sept. 
2,  1864;  John  S.,  born  May  10,  1867;  Gawen  W., 
born  Jan.  iS,  1870;  William  E.,born  Feb.  23,  1872. 
The  daughter,  Isabelle,  was  married  Aug.  25,  188-, 
to  Clyde  Mann. 

Mr.  George  Gibson  attended  school  until  eight 
years  of  age,  then  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  and 
worked  at  that  until  he  was  about  17  years  of  age, 
when  he  quit  that  occupation  and  learned  the  trade 
of  iron-molder,  at  which  he  worked  until  he  came  to 
.America  in  1866,  and  drifted  out  to  Chicago   for   a 


short  season.  He  next  went  to  Beloit,  Wis.,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  part  of  the  time  as  a  regular  la- 
borer and  also  as  foreman,  until  1878,  when  he  came 
to  Moline.  He  immediately  took  charge  of  the  large 
foundry  of  Deere  &  Co.,  as  foreman,  where  the  work- 
ing force  under  him,  in  the  busy  season,  was  50 
hands.  Here  he  remained,  attentive  to  his  work, 
but  in  the  meantime  has  purchased  a  fine  farm  of 
160  acres  in  Antelope  Co.,  Neb.,  which  he  is  con- 
stantly improving,  making  a  home  ready  for  his  old 
age. 

In  political  opinion,  Mr.  Gibson  is  a  Republican, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  lodge  of  Modern  Woodmen. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


•  Henry  Redecker,  brick  manufacturer,  of 
|£  South  Rock  Island,  was  born  in  Germany, 
Dec.  17,  1829.  His  father,  Benjamin 
Henry  Redecker,  was  a  native  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  where  he  was  a  farmer,  and  where, 
also,  he  passed  his  life,  dying  when  our  sub- 
ject was  12  years  of  age.  His  mother,  Elizabeth 
(Moffmann)  Redecker,  was  also  a  native  of  Hanover, 
where  she  died  in  1863.  Our  subject  was  educated 
in  his  native  tongue,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father 
continued  to  reside  with  his  mother  for  four  years, 
when  he  hired  out  as  a  general  laborer  on  a  farm. 
In  1854  he  came  to  America,  locating  first  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  near  where  he  engaged  as  a  farm  laborer, 
and  six  months  later  came  to  Rock  Island  City. 
After  his  arrival  here,  he  continued  the  farmer's 
work  until  1869,  when  he  determined  to  try  the  ex- 
periment of  conducting  a  farm  for  himself,  which  he 
did  for  three  years.  After  that  period  he  began  to 
follow  teaming  at  Rock  Island,  which  he  continued 
from  1 86 1  to  1864.  He  then  went  to  Virginia  City, 
Montana,  but  remained  in  the  mountains  but  a  short 
time,  when  he  returned  to  Rock  Island,  and  soon 
moved  to  South  Rock  Island,  where,  in  1872,  he  be- 
gan to  make  brick,  having  bought  five  acres  of  ground 
on  Old  Sixth  Avenue,  in  1866.  Since  1872  he  has 
followed  the  brick  business,  with  a  fair  degree  of  suc- 
cess. He  turns  out  on  an  average  about  350,000 
brick  annually.     He  manufactures  an  excellent  arti- 


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cle,  and  is  ranked  among  the  prominent  brick  men 
of  the  county.  Besides  his  brick-yard,  he  owns  a 
house  and  lot  in  Rock  Island,  and  40  acres  of  land 
in  Black  Hawk  Township. 

In  1 85  9  our  subject  was  married,  in  the  city  of 
Rock  Island,  to  Miss  Victoria  Brainier,  who  was  born 
in  Bridenburg,  Germany,  April  24,  1S39  Her  father 
was  a  rake-maker  by  occupation,  and  he  died  when 
she  was  14  years  of  age,  and  when  iS  years  old  she 
came  with  some  friends  to  America.  Her  mother  is 
still  living  in  Germany.  Mrs.  R.  lived  at  Rock 
Island  until  her  marriage.  She  is  the  mother  of  1  r 
children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  Those  living 
are  Christiana,  Bernhardt,  Lizzie,  Victoria  D.,  Henry 
W.,  Emma  M.,  Clara  and  Ella  G.  The  deceased 
are  Fred,  Minnie  and  Frank. 

Politically,  Mr.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  Republican 
party. 


:r;'f  '■  (ij  .antes  F.  Robinson,  Cashier  of  the  Rock 
llr-_jJ,\  -  Island  National  Hank,  only  son  of  Captain 
''**  T.  J.  and  Mrs.  A.  A.  Robinson,  was  born 
in  Rock  Island  County,  Feb.  27,  1849.  He 
spent  the  principal  part  of  his  early  life  at 
school,  graduating  from  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity, -Evanston,  111  ,  in  the  class  of  1872. 

Immediately  after  leaving  school,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  began  his  business  career  as  a  "messen- 
ger" in  the  Rock  Island  National  Bank.  In  the 
spring  of  the  year  following  he  was  advanced  to  the 
position  of  assistant  cashier  of  that  institution,  and 
before  the  end  of  the  year,  1873,  the  bank's  manager 
found  it  expedient  to  elevate  him  to  the  cashiership. 
In  addition  to  his  banking  interests  he  is  largely 
identified  with  other  enterprises.  He  is  Treasurer 
of  the  Rock  Island  County  Brush  Electric  Light 
Company,  and  a  director  in  the  Rock  Island  & 
Milan  Street  Railway  Company.  He  has  served  the 
city  one  term,  1881-1S83,  as  its  Treasurer;  is  pres- 
ent Treasurer  of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  in  Masonry  ; 
Junior  Warden  of  the  Commandery  ;  Past  Chancel- 
or  Commander  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Re- 
ceiver of  Black  Hawk  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.   Robinson   formed   a  matrimonial  alliance  at 


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Pekin,  111.,  in  October,  1879,  with  Miss  M.  E. 
Rhoads,  daughter  of  Samuel  Rhoads,  Esq.,  of  that 
city. 


f  i'K",  on.  John  Barge,  native  of  Armstrong  Co., 
TMEMk  Pa.,  sixth  child  in  a  family  of  r6  reared  to 
y\jT  men  and  women  by  their  parents,  John  and 

tyS  Jane  (Elliott)  Barge,  who  were  Pennsylvanians 
by  birth,  and  German  and  Scotch  respectively 
by  blood,  was  born  May  1,  1816.  The  family 
removed  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and 
afterward  into  Wayne  County,  that  State,  where  John 
Barge,  Sr.,  died  in  1S50,  at  the  age  of  about  76  years. 
The  widow,  with  a  number  of  her  children,  removed 
to  Rock  Island  in  185 1. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools,  and  at  the  Ashland  (Ohio)  Acad- 
emy, and  began  life  for  himself  as  an  educator — in 
fact  he  taught  in  the  public  schools  to  earn  money 
witli  which  to  carry  him  through  his  academic  course. 
He  taught  in  the  Ohio  schools  till  about  24  years  old, 
and  returned  to  his  native  county.  For  two  years 
there  he  taught  public  schools,  and  then  took  charge 
as  Principal  in  the  Kittanning  Academy,  to  which  he 
devoted  eight  consecutive  years. 

In  1S52  he  visited  Rock  Island,  and  while  here 
located  some  land  warrants.  He  remained  but  a 
short  time,  however,  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  resumed  his  profession,  and  taught  until 
1855.  In  that  year  he  returned  West,  and  taught 
school  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  until  1S56.  From  Dav- 
enport  he  removed  to  Dixon,  111.,  and  there  taught 
two  years;  the  following  two  years  found  him  em- 
ployed in  the  Rock  Island  schools.  In  i860  he  went 
to  Macomb,  111.,  where  the  public  schools  furnished 
him  employment  about  three  years.  In  1863,  in 
company  with  two  other  gentlemen,  he  took  charge 
of  the  Macomb  College,  then  very  near  a  defunct  in- 
stitution, infused  into  it  new  life,  placed  it  squarely 
upon  its  feet,  and  conducted  it  successfully  for  five 
years. 

While  at  Macomb  he  was  twice  elected  School 
Superintendent  of  McDonough  County,  and  was  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  that  office  when  failing  health 
forced   him    to   change    his    location    and   business. 


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Leaving  his  unexpired  term  of  office  to  be  filled  out 
by  a  deputy,  he  came  to  Rock  Island,  and  for  two 
years  made  a  business  of  physical  recuperation.  In 
1870  he  was  elected  Assessor  of  Rock  Island  City 
and  Township,  and  re-elected  to  the  same  position 
in  [871.  In  1872-3  he  held  the  City  Clerk's  office 
by  election,  and  from  1S74  to  1877  kept  books  for  the 
Rock  Island  Gas  Co.  At  this  writing  (July,  1885) 
he  is  filling  the  office  of  Assessor  for  the  fifth  time, 
the  last  three  terms  having  been  given  him  in  imme- 
diate succession. 

'The  record  of  Mr.  Barge's  life  needs  no  elabora- 
tion at  the  hands  of  the  writer  of  this  sketch.  His 
popularity  as  a  citizen  is  proven  by  his  almost  un- 
precedented official  preferment.  His  life  as  an 
educator  of  youth  is  without  spot  or  blemish;  and 
when,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  he  shall  be  gathered 
unto  his  fathers,  those  alone  who  live  after  him  will 
be  the  losers,  for  unto  such  as  he  are  all  the  promises 
of  One  who  taught  the  lessons  of  faith,  hope  and 
charity,  and  laid  down  the  Golden  Rule. 

Mr.  Barge  has  been  a  consistent  member  of  tlte 
Presbyterian  Church  ever  since  he  was  19  years  of 
age.  He  was  married  Feb.  14,  1847,  at  Kittanning, 
Pa.,  to  Miss  Euphemia  Kelly,  daughter  of  the 
Hon.  Meek  Kelly,  deceased,  and  a  native  of  Indiana 
Co.,  Pa.  They  have  one  child,  Effie,  living,  and 
have  buried  two,  James  C.  and  John  M. 


erman  S.  Keator,  President  of  the  J.  S. 
'-  Keator  Lumber  Company,  President  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley  Insurance  Company, 
and  Director  of  the  Moline  National  Bank,  was 
born  in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  1,  1822, 
and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  S.  and  Jane  A.  (New- 
kirk)  Keator.  His  ancestors  were  of  the  old  New 
York  Knickerbocker  origin. 

J.  S.  passed  his  boyhood  in  his  native  county,  and 
when  13  years  of  age  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Honesdale,  Pa  ,  and  two  years  later  began  his  busi- 
ness career  as  a  merchant's  clerk.  On  reaching 
manhood  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  and 
lumbering.  Twenty-two  years  of  prosperous  busi- 
ness in  the  East  placed  Mr.  Keator  in  possession  of 
a  goodly  capital,  with  which,  in   1856,  he  set  out  for 


the  West,  seeking  a  field  of  investment  in  which  he 
hoped  to  build  a  fortune.  By  the  advice  of  friends 
he  steered  clear  of  an  old  acquaintance  in  Chicago, 
the  late  Hon.  William  B.  Ogden,  who  was  then  an 
enthusiastic  "boomer"  of  the  infant  city,  but  since 
of  such  marvelous  growth.  He  was  advised  not  to 
listen  to  Ogden's  eloquent  word  pictures  of  Chicago's 
probable  brilliant  future,  for  fear  he  would  be  per- 
suaded to  sink  his  money  in  that  "slough  of  de- 
spond "  and  lose  it.  The  appearance  of  Chicago  at 
first  sight,  at  that  time,  was  such  as  to  justify  the  un- 
favorable opinion  his  friends  had  of  the  place,  for  it 
was  little  better  than  a  frog-pond.  So  he  passed  by 
that  place,  and  came  on  West  to  the  Mississippi,  and 
located  at  Moline.  He  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness at  that  place,  Nov.  r,  1856,  purchasing  large 
tracts  of  pine' lands  on  the  Black  and  Chippewa 
Rivers  of  Wisconsin,  at  a  very  low  figure.  His  am- 
ple means  enabled  him  to  safely  weather  the  great 
financial  storm  of  1857.  He  manufactured  lumber 
at  Moline  successfully,  and  during  the  flush  times  of 
the  war,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  the  West  built 
up  during  the  few  succeeding  years,  he  made  money  • 
"hand  over  fist."  In  1869  he  built  a  saw -mill  at  < 
Rock  Island,  known  as  Keator  &  Company's  Mill. 
He  consolidated  with  the  Annawalt  &  Denkman 
Company  and  formed  the  Rock  Island  Manufac- 
turing Company,  of  which  he  was  a  Director.  His 
son,  Samuel,  was  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the 
company. 

Mr.  Keator  was  the  first  President  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Moline  ;  was  elected  and  served  as 
a  member  of  the  City  Council  of  Moline  for  eight 
years;  assisted  in  buiiding  the  Moline  &  Rock 
Island  Street  Railway,  of  which  company  he  was 
President  and  general  manager  for  two  years.  In 
1877  he  built  the  Keator  House  at  Moline,  which  is 
the  only  first-class  hotel  in  the  city.  He  is  the  pres- 
ent owner  of  the  building. 

His  Moline  saw-mill  and  yards  were  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1870,  by  which  he  lost  $75,000.  He  immedi- 
ately set  to  work  to  rebuild,  and  within  four  months 
from  the  date  of  the  fire  had  the  mill  again  in  opera- 
tion. He  pushed  his  lumber  business,  as  he  did 
everything  with  which  he  was  connected,  until  in 
August,  1883,  he  had  a  stock  of  eight  million  feet  of 
seasoned  lumber  in  his  yards.  At  that  time  the 
second  great  disaster  of  his  business  career  occurred, 
when  fire  again  swept  the  premises  clean,  including 


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saw-mills,  planing-mills,  and  his  immense  stock  of 
lumber.  His  loss  at  this  time  aggregated  $250,000, 
on  which  there  was  only  an  insurance  of  $90,000. 
He  certainly  was  well  provided  with  resources,  or  he 
must  have  gone  down  under  such  a  terrible  blow. 
He  owned  at  the  time,  besides  his  mills,  30,000  acres 
of  pine  land,  on  the  Black  and  Chippewa  Rivers,  an 
interest  in  a  cattle  ranch  in  Texas  of  82,000  acres, 
the  company  of  which  he  is  President,  besides  own- 
ing an  individual  tract  of  20,000  acres  in  that  State. 
He  still  owns  $20,000  acres  of  pine  land  on  the  wa- 
ters of  the  Black  and  Chippewa  Rivers,  and  is  also 
extensively  interested  in  farming  land  in  Illinois. 
He  has  one  farm  of  800  acres  in  Henry  County,  and 
one  ot  160  acres,  and  still  another  of  120  acres,  all 
well  improved.  He  also  has  a  half  interest  in  a 
10,000-acre  tract  in  the  Sioux  Valley,  near  Water- 
town,  Dak.,  which  is  crossed  by  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railway,  and  is  the  site  of  a  station. 
His  City  property  in  Moline  and  Rock  Island  is  also 
widely  extensive. 

Mr.  Keator  has  rebuilt  the  saw-mill  at  Moline,  on 
the  most  improved  and  modern  plan,  and  now  has 
one  of  the  most  important  and  extensive  mills  on 
the  Mississippi  River.  He  is  also  interested  in  an 
extensive  saw-mill  and  lumber  business  at  Daven- 
port, having  the  celebrated  Simon  Paige  Mill  under 
lease. 

Mr.  Keator  was  married  in  Durham,  Green  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1846,  to  Miss  Mary  Baldwin,  daughter  of 
Dennis  Baldwin.  Four  children  were  born  to  them, 
as  follows  :  Samuel  J.,  the  eldest,  was  born  at  Hones- 
dale,  Pa.,  and  is  Vice-President  of  the  J.  S.  Keator 
Lumber  Company,  and  resides  at  Rock  Island;  Ben- 
jamin C.  is  Secretary  of  the  J.  S.  Keator  Lumber 
Company,  and  lives  at  Moline;  Frederick  W.  is  an 
attorney  at  Chicago;  he  is  a  graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege and  of  Yale  Law  School;  Edward  B.  is  em- 
ployed in  his  father's  Moline  business.  Mrs.  Keator 
died  in  May,  1857,  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Keator 
was  married  again  in  February,  i860,  at  Fayette- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Sarah  Yelverton.  She  was  born 
in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Mary  F.  and  Frank  Y.  Mrs.  Keator  is 
a  member  cf  the  Congregational  Church. 

Mr.  Keator  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  old 
Whig  party,  and  voted  for  Henry  Clay.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Republican  party,  and  in 
1856  voted  for  Fremont,  and  has  since  continued  an 


earnest  supporter  of  that  party  at  each  succeeding 
national  election.  He  is  one  of  the  most  energetic 
and  enterprising  business  men  of  Western  Illinois, 
and  his  operations,  as  the  above  record  shows,  ex- 
tend over  many  years,  and  over  a  wide  scope  of 
territory,  and  are  an  honorable,  worthy  record,  and 
one  his  posterity  may  well  be  proud  of.  His  portrait 
is  given  on  a  preceding  page  in  close  proximity. 


illicit.    "• 
lip 


2^<sfr<liM®>^ 


V6& ijj  \  illiam   Clarke,  engaged   in    farming   and 
iy|||fl]|f    stock-raising,  and  residing  on  section  33, 
^r$~\       Bowling  Township,  was  born  in  County 
Js£3>     Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in  the  spring  of  1831, 
s       in  which  county    he  was   also  married,  in 
November,    1S53,   to  Miss  Eliza  Gauley,  who 
was  born  there  about  1S33. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clarke  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  first  in  the  Province  of  New  Brunswick, 
Canada  East ;  and  two  years  subsequently  he  came 
on  to  this  State  and  rented  land  in  Mercer  County. 
In  1866  he  purchased  55  acres  of  land  in  Bowling 
Township,  this  county,  where  he  has  since  resided 
and  where  he  now  owns  a  quarter-section,  most  of 
which  is  in  a  fine  state  of  improvement. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  are :  Robert 
and  Sarah  E.,  married,  David  B.,  in  Iowa,  William 
A.,  Eliza  A.,  Jane  H.  and  Maggie  J.  The  family 
attend  the  Episcopal  and  Methodist  Episcopal 
Churches.  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  School  Director  for 
eight  years,  and  in  his  political  views  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 


'i^k&^xra 


riaigHp.. 


George  G.  Craig  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Rock  Island   city  April 


W^'  14, 1869, 

ffif     Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.   26,  1845. 


He  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
His  parents,  Alex- 
-  ander  and  Sybilla  (Kern)  Craig  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  resided  and  reared 
the  subject  of  this  notice  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
15  years. 

Dr.  Craig  remained  under  the   parental  roof-tree, 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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assisting  the  fatlier  in  the  maintenance  of  the  family 
and  attending  the  common  schools,  and  also  spent 
two  years  at  Elders  Ridge  Academy,  in  Indiana  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  received  a  good  English  education. 
At  17  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  a  three-months 
regiment  of  Pennsylvania  militia  and  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  guarding  the  fords  on  the 
Ohio  River  between  Wheeling  and  Pittsburg,  and 
had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  in  the  capture  of  John 
Morgan.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  53d  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  from 
January,  1864,  until  the  close  of  the  war  was  an  ac- 
tive participant  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  com- 
pany was  engaged.  He  received  a  slight  wound  at 
Spottsylvania,  and  during  the  first  day's  fighting  at 
Petersburg  was  again  wounded  and  captured  March 
31,  1865.     He  served  in  Gen.  Hancock's  corps. 

Dr.  Craig  studied  medicine  in  Columbia,  Pa., 
and  subsequently  matriculated  at  Jefferson  Med- 
ical College,  Philadelphia,  and,  after  following  the 
curriculum  of  the  same,  graduated  and  received  a 
diploma  on  March  12,  1S69.  He  then  came  to 
Rock  Island,  in  April,  1869,  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  followed  the  same 
with  signal  success. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Craig  to  Miss  Nellie  Cleland 
occurred  Aug.  4,  1874.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Rev.  Samuel  and  Ellen  Cleland  and  was  a  native  of 
Rock  Island,  in  which  place  she  was  born.  Three 
children  have  been  born  of  their  union,  namely  : 
George  G.,  Nellie  and  Alexander.  Dr.  Craig  resign- 
ed as  City  Physician  to  accept  the  appointment  of 
Commissioner  of  Health  for  the  city  of  Rock  Island. 
As  Health  Commissioner  Dr.  Craig  first  met  with 
some  opposition  in  carrying  forward  his  plans  in  re- 
gard to  the  proper  method  of  placing  Rock  Island  in 
a  good  sanitary  condition.  After  the  authorities  and 
citizens  came  to  understand,  however,  and  with  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  the  Rock  Island  Union  and 
Argus,  his  plans  for  the  general  health  of  the  city 
were  readily  adopted  by  the  authorities  and  endorsed 
by  the  good  citizens.  The  Doctor's  plan  may  be 
most  succinctly  stated  in  one  word,  Cleanliness, — of 
course,  with  the  necessary  adjuncts  of  a  thorough 
system  of  draining  and  a  constant  general  removal 
of  all  decomposing  matter  from  the  city.  This  has 
been  heretofore  either  buried  or  thrown  on  the  sur- 
face. Another  great  benefit  derived  from  his  plan 
was  the  establishment  of  abattoir,  which  was  done 


largely  through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Craig.  By  the  fol- 
lowing statistics  the  reader  will  readily  observe  the 
substantial  benefit  derived  from  the  adoption  of  Dr. 
Craig's  ideas  in  regard  to  the  sanitary  measures  of 
the  city: 

YEAR.  DEATHS.         RATIO  PER  1,000. 

1881 288 24.7 

1882 225 19.2 

18S3 154 13.2 

1S84 170 14.5 

It  has  been  observed  by  those  competent  to  judge 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  since  the  beginning 
of  1883,  are  saving  annually  in  expenditure  for  phy- 
sicians' fees  and  medicine  at  least  $20,000,  besides  a 
large  saving  which  would  otherwise  result  from  a 
loss  of  time. 

As  an  illustration  of  economical  management,  we 
mention  the  year  1882,  when  small-pox  was  quite 
prevalent  in  Illinois.  In  Rock  Island  there  were  15 
cases,  representing  eight  different  outbreaks  in  as 
many  different  localities.  In  no  instance  did  the 
disease  spread  from  any  house  after  being  discovered. 
The  total  cost  of  each  case,  including  city  and 
county  expenses,  was  $45.22.  This  included  med- 
ical attendance,  quarantining,  vaccination,  disinfect- 
ing, etc.  As  compared  with  Mcliue,  the  neighboring 
city,  where  they  had  20  cases,  the  cost  was  $8,000. 
In  Joliet,  111.,  30  cases  cost  $12,000,  or  $400  a  case 
in  each  city.  This  of  itself  will  attest  the  economy 
and  rare  executive  and  medical  ability  brought  into 
requisition  for  the  city's  benefit  at  a  critical  time. 

Dr.  Craig  held  the  position  of  City  Physician  for 
a  period  of  12  years,  a  fact  of  i*  self  which  is  sufficient 
to  demonstrate  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
by  the  citizens,  not  only  as  a  practitioner,  but  as  a 
genial,  social  and  straightforward,  honest  and  fair 
dealing  man.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Masonry  and  ot  the  A.  O.  U.  VV.  Politically,  he 
is  a  Republican.  His  residence  is  located  on  18th 
Street  and  7th  Avenue. 


^ ¥-^r-^- 


• 


P.  ohn  B.  Davison,  M.   D.,  Moline,  111.,  was 
^iafr  born  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  June  n, 
'    1826,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  Thomas 
tfz    W.  and  Mary  (Best)   Davison,  also  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.     The   first    15   years   of  his   life 


* 


were  spent  upon   his  father's  farm,  alternating 
the  labors  thereof  with  attendance  at  the  common 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


schools.  When  about  18  years  of  age  he  closed  a 
three  years'  term  at  Ligonier  (Pa.)  Academy,  and  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  D.  T.  Richardson,  at  Greensburg, 
Pa.,  began  the  study  of  medicine.  At  the  age  of 
about  24  years  he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in 
1868.  Between  his  first  entry  into  college  and  his 
graduation,  however,  he  had  several  years'  actual 
practice  in  his  profession.  In  185S  he  removed  from 
Western  Pennsylvania  to  Rock  Island  County,  and 
began  practice  at  Milan,  and  there  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  time  spent  in  the  army,  practiced  medi- 
cine nine  years. 

In  1869  Mr.  Davison  came  to  Moline,  where  he 
has  since  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  his  pro- 
fession. In  1862  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  Stales  as  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  90th  Reg., 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  which  position  he  resigned  on  account 
of  loss  of  health,  March,  1863.  His  superior  officer 
never  reported  to  his  command,  and  Dr.  Davison 
was  forced  to  discharge  the  duties  of  Surgeon-in- 
Chief  during  the  whole  time  he  was  with  the  regi- 
ment. The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  State  Medical 
Society;  also  of  the  Medical  Association.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Congregational  Church,  a  Sir 
Knight  in  Masonry  and  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow. 

Dr.  Davison  was  united  in  marriage  at  Moline  in 
1870  to  Miss  Nettie  H.  Edwards,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam H.  Edwards,  Esq.,  of  the  Moline  Plow  AVorks. 
In  politics,  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican,  but  his  pro- 
fession occupies  too  much  of  his  time  to  admit  of 
any  active  participation  in  the  labors  of  his  party. 


-K- 


-£S- 


fohn  Shall,  a  leading  agriculturist  and  stock- 
farmer  of  Coe  Township,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent on  section  26  since  1864.  He  was 
born  Aug.  17,  1833,  near  New  Castle,  Mercer 
Co.,  Pa.  His  father,  Martin  Shall,  was  born 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  was  there  mar- 
He  came  with  his  wife  and  children,  four  in 
number,  to  this  country  in  1S31.  He  settled  at  a 
place  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  remained  but  a 
short  time,  moving  thence  to  Mercer  (now  Lawrence) 
County,  in  the  same  State.     There  Mr.  Shall,  of  this 


sketch,  grew  to  the  estate  of  manhood.  He  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  resided  at  home  until 
he  was  22  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Illinois. 
He  was  still  a  single  man,  and  he  engaged  as  a  farm 
assistant  on  the  well-known  Marshall  stock-farm,  of 
Coe  Township,  Rock  Island  County. 

He  came  to  the  county  in  March,  1856,  and  he 
was  married  Sept.  28,  1857,  to  Matilda  Ann  Cun- 
ningham. She  was  born  in  County  West  Meath, 
Ireland,  May  12,  1834,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
with  her  father  when  she  was  n  years  old.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Shall  operated  as  a  renter  seven 
years,  and  met  with  the  success  his  thrift  and  indus- 
try deserved.  In  1864  he  bought  80  acres  of  land 
on  section  26,  of  Coe  Township.  He  soon  after  pur- 
chased 20  acres  lying  adjoining,  on  which  there  had 
been  a  house  built.  He  removed  the  building  to  the 
larger  tract,  and  it  has  since  become  the  family  resi- 
dence. He  has  added  to  it  at  different  times,  until 
he  now  has  a  large  and  commodious  house.  Mr. 
Shall  is  the  owner  of  the  half-section  on  which  his 
residence  stands.  It  is  all  under  excellent  improve- 
ments— is  fenced  and  supplied  with  good  farm  struc- 
tures. The  place  is  made  still  more  attractive  and 
valuable  by  the  setting  out  of  shade  and  ornamental 
trees.  It  is  further  enhanced  in  value  by  five  acres 
of  orchard  and  a  variety  of  small  fruits. 

Mr.  Shall  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  makes  Short-horn  Durham  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs  a  specialty,  as  well  as  Norman 
horses  for  draft,  and  Hambletonian  and  Bashaw- 
mares  for  carriage  and  roadsters.  He  has  been  a 
successful  farmer. 

The  estate  of  Mr.  Shall  is  estimated  as  one  of  the 
most  desirable  in  Coe  Township,  from  the  fact  that 
there  is  living  water  in  every  field  save  one,  in  which 
the  water  is  brought  to  the  surface  by  the  aid  of  a 
small  wind-mill.  We  give  views  of  Mr.  Shall's  splen- 
did farm  on  the  following  page. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shall  have  three  children, — Wil- 
liam H.,  Alice  E.  and  John  M.  Mi.  Shall  is  one  of 
15  children  born  to  his  parents,  of  whom  but  four  are 
at  present  living.  His  mother  died  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  demise  of  his  father  took  place  in  Missouri. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Shall  located  in  Canaan,  Conn., 
in  1845,  and  lived  there  until  May,  1S56.  At  that 
date  he  removed  to  Cordova,  where  he  lived  during 
the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 


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In  his  political  faith  and  connections  Mr.  Shall  is 
a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 


(§/ 


^ 


spoilt  ndrew  Jackson  Little,  a  resident  of  Buffalo 
W~l1I    Prairie  Township,  was  horn  in  Newark,  Lii  k- 
a'0"  ing  Co.,  Ohio,  May  16,  181 7,  and  is  a  son 
!Mte    of  Jacob  and  Catherine   (Pegg)   Little,   both 
\\T     natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  maternal  grand  - 
I        father  of  the  subject  of  this   biographical   no- 
tice, Elias  Pegg,  settled  in  the  Territory  of  Ohio  in 
180 1,  and  was  among  the  first  families  to  locate   in 
Newark,  Licking  County.     The  father  of  the  subject  ' 
of  this  notice  located  in  the  same  county  in    1804. 
He  was  born  in  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Andrew  Jackson  Little,  subject  of  this  sketch, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Newark,  Licking  Co.,  Ohio. 
His  father  was  a  stone-cutter  by  trade,  and  on  at- 
taining a  suitable  age  the  son  learned  the  same  trade 
under  his  instruction,  together  with  that  of  an  en- 
graver on  stone,  and  followed  that  trade  with  the 
exception  of  three  years,  during  which  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  cabinet  business,  until  1854.  In  the 
spring  of  that  year,  realizing  that  to  better  his  finan- 
cial condition,  the  West,  with  its  broad  and  unculti- 
vated land,  offered  better  inducements  for  the 
accumulation  of  a  competency  than  the  crowded 
East,  he  concluded  to  emigrate  thither.  Conse- 
quently, during  that  year,  he  came  to  this  State,  in 
company  with  his  brother-in-law.  They  visited  the 
southern  part  of  the  State,  but  did  not  like  it  and 
came  to  this  county,  where  they  procured  Govern- 
ment land,  located  on  sections  27  and  34  of  Buffalo 
Prairie  Township.  After  procuring  his  land,  he  re- 
turned to  Newark,  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  moved  the 
family  here  and  located  on  his  land,  where  he  en- 
tered vigorously  and  energetically  upon  the  task  of 
its  improvement  and  cultivation.  He  has  all  the 
land  enclosed,  and  has  also  erected  thereon  good 
frame  buildings,  including  a  residence,  barn  and  other 
out-buildings. 

Mr.  Little  was  united  in  marriage,  May  16,  1844, 
with  Keziah  A.  Sutton.  She  was  born  in  Licking 
Co.,  Ohio.     Their  children  have  been  seven  in  num- 


ber, five  of  whom  survive;  Joseph  E.  was  born  in 
Newark,  Ohio,  and  resides  in  Callahan  Co.,  Texas; 
Sarah  C,  born  in  Newark,  Ohio,  is  the  wife  of  L.  C. 
Lloyd,  and  resides  in  Rock  Island  ;  Andrew  J.,  born 
in  Newark,  Ohio,  resides  in  Callahan  Co,  Texas; 
D.  D.  lives  in  Nebraska,  where  Albert  M.  also  re- 
sides; Nellie  E.,  born  in  Illinois,  is  the  wife  of  T. 
O.  Gunnell,  and  resides  in  Nebraska.  Mrs.  Little 
died  Aug.  3,  1S64. 

Mr.  Little  has  been  more  or  less  prominent  in  the 
affairs  of  his  township  since  living  here,  and  has  held 
various  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  has 
served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways  and  Supervisor 
for  two  terms.  He  was  formerlv  a  member  of  the 
Whig  party,  but  later  adhered  to  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  parly. 


m 

I 


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.'■■I;  f  I  ■'.  V.  Bailey,  .1  prominent  resident  of  Cor- 
r\r  dova,  was  born  in  Port  Byron,  this  county, 
^^  May  10,  1846,  the  youngest  son  of  Moses 
and  Lucretia  (Van  Valkenburg)  Bailey.  Both 
his  parents  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State, 
and  settled  in  this  county  in  1S35.  His  father 
was  a  gunsmith  by  tnide,  but  when  he  settled  in 
Port  Byron  he  opened  a  blacksmith  shop.  His 
death  occurred  in  1853,  when  J.  V.  was  seven  years 
old. 

The  latter,  with  his  mother,  then  went  to  live  with 
his  sister,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Marshall,  in  Port  Byron.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  for  seven  years,  and  then 
four  terms  at  Knox  College,  at  Galesburg,  this  Slate. 
In  1 861,  he  taught  school  in  Canoe  Creek  Township, 
and  afterward  continued  in  the  profession  during  the 
winter  seasons  for  a  few  years.  In  1864  he  became 
traveling  salesman  for  the  Halliday  Windmill  Co., 
and  was  in  their  service  eight  years,  having  seven 
different  counties  in  this  State  for  his  territory.  He 
has  since  acted  as  general  agent  of  the  Wilson  Sew- 
ing Machine  Company,  Fairbanks  Scale  Company, 
Osborn  Harvester  Company  and  the  Rock  Island 
Plow  Company.  At  intervals  he  engaged  in  farming 
in  Coe  Township,  this  county,  where  he  owned  a 
farm.  Finally  he  located  in  Cordova,  where  he  at 
present  resides. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  united  in  marriage  in    1870  with 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


^!*t§^ 


Miss  May,  daughter  of  J.  L.  and  Margaret  (Smith) 
Cool,  and  they  have  one  child,  named  Carrie  T. 

Mr.  Bailey's  only  brother,  Schuyler  M.,  was  born 
in  New  York  State  in  1829,  and  served  in  the  Mexi- 
can War;  and  in  consideration  of  his  services  he 
received  from  the  Government  a  land  warrant,  which 
he  placed  on  a  piece  of  land.  In  1849  he  went  to 
California,  where  he  died  in  1851.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  had  two  sisters,  one  of  whom  is  now  liv- 
ing on  the  estate  of  C.  B.  Marshall,  in  Dallas,  Tex., 
where  her  husband  has  been  engaged  in  stock-raising 
and  farming. 

Mr.  Bailey  is  a  member  of  Philo  Lodge,  No.  436, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Port  Byron  ;  of  Barrett  Chapter, 
No.  18,  at  Rock  Island;  of  Everts  Commandety,  No. 
18,  also  of  Rock  Island ;  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. ;  of  Burr 
Oak  Lodge,  M.  W.  A. ;  and  has  also  taken  two  de- 
grees in  the  Order  of  Knights  of  Pythias. 


=J®HJH&£===- 


I 

V 

m 


foamuel  L.  Carothers,  residing  on  section 
I  11,  Edgington  Township,  where  he  is  en- 
» <K  gaged  in  general  farming,  was  born  in  Car- 
roll Co.,  Ohio,  May  31,  1S30.  His  father, 
Thomas  Carothers,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
of  Scotch  parentage,  and  by  occupation  was  a 
farmer.  He  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Mary  Snod- 
grass,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State. 
After  their  marriage  they  settled  in  Carroll  County, 
where,  in  Brown  Township,  our  subject  was  reared 
until  his  13th  year,  when  the  family  moved  West,  to 
St.  Joseph  Co.,  Ind.  His  father  was  afterwards 
killed  by  a  kick  from  a  horse  at  Mishawaka.  The 
mother  subsequently  died  at  the  same  place,  having, 
prior  to  her  death,  however,  for  a  time  lived  in  the 
West. 

Mr.  Carothers,  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Illinois 
when  about  23  years  of  age,  and  for  a  time  engaged 
with  a  Mr.  Taylor  on  a  farm.  On  the  17th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1855,  our  subject  and  Miss  Elzira  Monts  were 
united  in  marriage,  in  Edgington  Township,  this 
county.  Mrs.  Carothers  was  born  in  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  and  was  the  eldest  child  of  the  lady  who  after- 
ward became  the  wife  of  James  Taylor.  After  their 
marriage,  Mr.  Carothers  and  his  wife  settled  on  one 


of  Mr.  Taylor's  farms,  and  subsequently  made  a 
permanent  location  upon  a  farm  of  80  acres  given 
them  by  James  Taylor.  They  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased  and  three 
married. 

Politically,  Mr.  C.  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  her  re- 
ligious associations,  Mrs.  C.  is  connected  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


— ^-^-s§=4HN.>.-- 


^e  P"\fK  attheas  M.   Paulsen,   junior   member  of 


gy|,  the  firm  of  Paulsen  Bros.,  brick  manufac- 
sgjpT'^'  turers,  contractors  and  builders,  residing 
?*\  in  South  Rock  Island,  was  born  in  Holstein, 
Germany,  May  10,  1853.  His  father,  Andras 
Paulsen,  was  a  native  of  Holstein,  Germany, 
born  in  the  town  of  Tundern,  and  by  occupation  a 
farmer.  In  that  place  he  married  Anna  Paulsen. 
After  their  union  they  continued  to  reside  in  their 
native  land,  where  Mrs.  Paulsen  died,  Feb.  19,  1881, 
at  the  age  of  64  years.  The  father  is  now  70  years 
of  age,  and  still  resides  in  Holstein.  During  his  act- 
ive business  career  he  was  a  prominent  farmer  and 
stock  dealer. 

Our  subject  was  the  youngest  of  six  sons  born  to 
his  parents  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  He  learned 
the  butcher's  trade  in  his  native  country,  and,  after 
he  left  home,  followed  it  for  four  years.  Seeking  to 
better  his  condition  in  life  and  secure  a  wider  and 
more  profitable  field  to  work  in,  he  came  to  America, 
arriving  on  our  shores  in  July,  1873.  He  soon  came 
to  Rock  Island  city,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for 
about  18  months,  when  he  and  his  older  brother, 
Hans  Paulsen,  embarked  in  their  present  business. 
Since  then  they  have  carried  on  a  very  large  busi- 
ness, manufacturing  from  1,000,000  to  2,000,000  of 
brick  annually.  They  have  also  erected  some  of 
the  most  extensive  buildings  in  the  city  of  Rock 
Island,  among  which  are  Buford  &  Co.'s  plow  shops. 
They  own  six  acres  of  land,  where  their  brick-yards 
are  located.  They  also  own  two  good  brick  resi- 
dences adjoining.  Mr.  Paulsen  is  a  young  man  of 
considerable  enterprise,  and  is  certain  to  lead  an  act- 
ive and  prominent  life,  and  to  develop  the  capacity 
for  managing  extensive  business  affairs. 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


Our  subject  was  united  in  marriage,  at  the  Lu- 
theran church  in  Rock  Island,  Feb.  10,  1878,  with 
Miss  Maria  Willetson.  She  is  also  a  native  of  Hol- 
stein,  Germany,  and  was  born  May  1,  1862.  She 
was  reared  in  her  native  country  until  she  was  seven 
years  of  age,  when  she  came  with  her  parents  to 
America,  and  they  located  at  Rock  Island,  where 
she  completed  her  education  at  the  English  school. 
She  is  the  mother  of  four  children, — Henry,  Loretta 
C,  Harry  and  Walter. 

Mr.  Paulsen  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
politically  is  a  Democrat. 


> 


.;tr.  Warren  Hunter,  a  resident  of  Hampton, 
jj,L    came  to  that  place  in    1879,  from   Strong, 
^IfiS?"^     Franklin  Co.,  Me.     He  attended  the  com- 
CTV      mon  schools  of  his   native  county    until    19 
it    years  of  age>  when  his  father  gave  him  his  time, 
and  he  went  forth  to  labor  for  the  accumulation 
of  property  and  to  carve  a  future  for  himself.     He 
taught  school  winters  and  attended  an  academy  dur- 
ing the  spring  and   fall,   and   continued   alternating 
his  time  by  keeping  school  and  attending  the  acad- 
emy until  he  was  22  years  of  age.     He  then  clerked 
in   a  mercantile  establishment  for  18  months,  after 
which  he  followed  the  same  vocation  in  a  wholesale 
store  for  six  months.     At  this  point  in  his  life's  his- 
tory, he  engaged  to  study  medicine  with  a  brother, 
and  continued  under  his  instruction  for  four  years. 
Dr.  Warren  Hunter  was  born  in   1833.     During 
the  time  of  his  study  he  attended  the  Maine  Medical 
College,  at   which   institution  he  matriculated   and 
followed   the  entire  curriculum,  finally  receiving  his 
diploma  in  i860.     He  then  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Steuben,  and  afterwards  in  Cherry- 
field  and  then  in  Phillips,  Franklin  County,  his  native 
State,  and  finally  in  Strong,  his  birthplace.     In  1865 
^\   Dr.  Hunter  was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon  for  the 
1 6th  Maine  Volunteers.     He  held  the  position  for 
Jf.   some  time  and  was  then  discharged  on  account  of 
physical  disability.     In  1879  he  came  to  Hampton, 
■    this  county,  and  entered  upon   the  practice   of  his 
profession.     In  1882  he  lost  his  office,   library,   sur- 
gical instruments  and  drugs  by  fire,  but  not  being 


discouraged  he  again  started,  and  succeeded  in  par- 
tially replacing  his  library  and  instruments.  He 
has  been  the  Township  Physician  for  six  years. 

Dr.  Hunter  was  married,  April  9,  1861,  to  Harriet 
M.  Toothaker,  a  resident  of  Strong,  Franklin  Co., 
Maine.  She  was  a  native  of  Phillips,  Maine,  in 
which  State  she  was  born  in  1847.  The  issue  of 
their  union  was  two  children, — Charles  W.,  born  Oct. 
29,  1869;  and  Nettie  E.,born  Sept.  16,  1877.  They 
adopted  a  girl,  Ella  Upton  Leighton.  She  was  an 
orphan,  three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  adoption, 
and  was  born  Jan.  13,  1862,  in  Steuben,  Maine. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  May  31,  1883,  mourned 
as  a  loving  wife,  kind  mother  and  a  generous  friend. 

Religiously,  Dr.  Hunter  belongs  to  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order,  Blue  Mountain  Lodge,  Phillips, 
Maine;  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  the  Order  of  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Maine,  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Illinois  Central  and  the 
American  Medical  Associations. 

Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets  of  the 
Republican  party, and  as  a  voter  is  just  as  old  as 
the  party  itself.  He  has  a  fine  practice,  built  up  by 
his  competency  and  attention  to  business,  and  has 
held  many  of  the  minor  county  and  township  offices. 


\ 


^*M"  ustavus  A.  N.  Segur,  a  resident  of  Rapids 


;■;  Cjjfi     City,  this  county,  to  which  place  he  came 
-   K   in    1872,  was    born  in   Whiteside  County, 
this   State,  June    16,  1855,  his  parents  being 
Amos  and  Hannah  L.  (Noyce)  Segur,  natives 
?       of  Maine.     Mr.  Segur,  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  came  to   Illinois   and    settled  at 
Erie,  Whiteside  County,  where  he  followed  painting 
until  1861.     In  1862   he  enlisted  in   Co.   I,  75th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  three  years.     He  was  promoted 
to  2d  Lieutenant,  then  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  then 
to  Captain,  which  latter   position   he  held  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  participating  in  all  the  engagements 
in    which    his    company    were    actively    interested. 
After  the  war  was  over,  and  the  cause  for  which  he 
had    fought  was    victorious,  he   came  to    Hampton 
Township,  this   county,  and    purchased  40  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  he  located,  and  entered  vigorously 


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and  energetically  upon  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment, and  on  which  he  resided  for  three  years.  He 
then  sold  his  land,  and  moved  into  the  village  of 
Port  Byron,  where  he  resided  until  the  date  of  his 
death,  May  7,  1869. 

Gustavus  Segur,  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch, 
remained  with  his  parents,  receiving  the  advantages 
of  a  good  common-school  education,  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  17  years.  He  then  left  the  parental 
homestead  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  barber,  in 
which  vocation  he  has  since  been  interested  until  the 
present  time,  and  which  business  he  follows  at  Rap- 
ids City. 

Mr.  Segur  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Bertha  Maurer,  of  Rapids  City,  June  r6,  1875,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  three  children — Anna,  born 
April  24,  1877;  Mary,  April  18,  1879;  and  Ade- 
laide, born  Oct.  7,  1881.  Politically,  Mr.  Segur  is  a 
Greenbacker.  He  is  Collector  of  Hampton  Town- 
ship, and  socially  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  runs  a  confectionery  in  con- 
nection with  his  barber  shop,  and  owns  his  house  and 
lot  in  Rapids  City. 


foseph  Huyett,  M.  D.,a  practicing  physician 
Jjfc  at  Milan,  was  born  in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa., 
-.-)  •'  "**  Sept.  rr,  1820.  His  father,  John  Huyett, 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  of  German  descent 
and  by  occupation  a  farmer.  His  grandparents 
were  among  the  first  settlers  on  the  Schuylkill, 
River,  and  generally  were  farmers.  The  mother  of 
Dr.  Huyett,  nee  Elizabeth  Groff  (now  made  "Grove" 
by  an  act  of  the  British  Colony),  was  also  of  German 
ancestry,  and  a  descendant  of  royal  blood.  She  was 
a  descendant  of  Hans  Groff,  who  was  an  exile  from 
Germany  on  account  of  his  religious  views,  and  came 
to  this  country  in  1695,  and  a  short  time  after  his 
arrival  he  moved  to  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he 
took  up  a  large  body  of  land,  which  was  called,  in 
honor  of  his  title,  Earl  Township.  It  is  now  divided 
into  East  and  West  Earl  Townships.  From  him 
sprang  a  large  family,  who  were  all  Mennonites.  The 
Doctor's  mother  was  the  member  of  a  large  family, 
and  he  himself  is  the  youngest  of  her  12  children. 


His  father  dying  when  he  was  T2  years  of  age,  and  yfe 
his   mother  dying  in  1845,   he  lived  in    his    native  /- 
county  until  1848,  when   he  came  West  and  located   S 
in  Milan.     He  studied  medicine  under  the  superin-    j 
tendence   of  Dr.    Daniel  Houtz,  of  Alexander,  Pa.,     I 
and  in  1841  he  entered  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  * 
at  Philadelphia,  where  he  graduated,  in  March,  1843. 
He    immediately   entered   upon   the    practice  of  his 
chosen   profession,   in    Williamsburg,    Pa.,  where  he 
continued    until    1S4S,  as    above    mentioned.     Since 
coming  to  Milan  he  has  had  an  extensive  patronage 
and  a  successful  practice.     In  1862,  during  the  war, 
he  was  commissioned   Surgeon  of  the   93d  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  Army  of  the  West.     He  was  brought  into  direct 
contact  with  the  enemy  at   Jackson,  Miss  ,  and  also 
in  many  other  of  the   hotly-contested  engagements 
of  the  late  war.      He   escaped   all   severe  casualties, 
however,    although    sometimes     by    a    very    narrow 
margin. 

Having  served  for  nearly  two  years,  he  resigned  ' 
and  came  home,  resuming  his  practice,  which  he  has  N 
since  continued.  His  experience  in  the  army  has  $ 
enabled  him  to  be  competent  for  any  case  of  surgery.  \ 
He  has  now  a  landed  estate  of  about  275  acres.  He  g 
has  held  nearly  all  the  local  offices  of  the  village  and  * 
township,  having  been  Councilman,  Assessor,  Collec- 
tor, Supervisor,  etc.  In  his  political  action  he  is  in- 
dependent. Mrs.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

Dr.  H.  married  Harriet  L.  Adams,  Sept.  10,  1S44, 
in  Williamsburg,  Pa.  She  was  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Judge  Joseph  Adams,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. His  ancestors  dated  back  to  the  old  Puri- 
tan stock,  his  gteat-grandfather  coming  over  from 
England  with  William  Penn.  Her  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Crum,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  Her  ancestors  were  of  English  de- 
scent. 

To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  been  born  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.  :  Mary  C,  Elizabeth  G.,  Anna  C,  Clara  J., 
Herman,  and  two  boys  who  died  in  Infancy.  Mary 
C.  married  Alexander  Moorhead,  and  to  them  have  (*?■ 
been  born  three  children — Wallace,  Anna  and  Jo- 
seph. Elizabeth  G.  married  George  Sears,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  four  children — Joseph,  Clara, 
George  and  Elizabeth.  Anna  C.  married  Dr.  Mat- 
thew Criswell,  of  Hamlet,  Mercer  Co.  This  union 
has  been   blessed    with    two    children — Edith    and 


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Joseph.  Clara  J.  married  George  R.  Sydner,  a  mer- 
chant of  Milan.  To  them  have  been  born  one  child 
— Hattie.  Herman  J.,  the  youngest,  is  a  graduate 
Jefferson  of  Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  He  re- 
ceived his  diploma  April,  1885,  and  is  now  practicing 
his  chosen  profession  in  Milan  with  his  father. 

Dr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Iowa  and  Illinois  Medi- 
cal Association. 


-<~S- 


-S~- 


B.  Carson,  Vice-President  of  the   Moline 
Screw  Company,  was  born   in   Iowa  City, 
(a^*  Iowa,  March    16,   i860,   and  is  the  son  of 
T.   C.  and  M.   J.  Carson.     His  parents  were 
from    Philadelphia,    and    settled    in    Iowa    in 
1S56.     T.    B.  received  his  literary  education 
at  the   State  University  of  Iowa,  at  which  he  took  a 
three-years  course.     He  then  took  a  scientific  course 
at    the    Massachusetts    Institute   of  Technology   at 
Boston,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1882  with  the 
degree  of  M.  E.     He  was  employed  in  the  extensive 
iron  works  of  E.  P.  Allis  &  Co.,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
and  subsequently  with  the  American  Glucose  Com- 
pany, of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.     In  1884  he  came  to  Moline 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  an  iron-wood  screw 
factory  at  this  point.     He  made  the  necessary  plans 
and  estimates.     Messrs.   C.    H.    Deere  and   H.    L. 
Bullen  joined   him   in  the  enterprise  and    together 
they  incorporated  the  Moline  Screw  Company,   of 
which  Mr.  Carson  is  Vice-President  and  Manager. 


«e- 


dolphus  Dunlap,  one   of  the   reliable  and 

Jf   progressive  citizens  of  South    Rock  Island 

8p"*  Township,  residing  on  section  10,  was  born 


n  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  June  7,  1815.  His 
father,  Joseph,  and  his  mother,  Sophia  M. 
)  (Eberhardt)  Dunlap,  were  natives  of  New 
Jersey  and  Greene  County,  Pa.,  respectively,  and 
were  of  Scotch  and  German  descent.  His  father  was 
a  mechanic  and  cabinet-maker  for  many  years  in 
Ohio,  and   lumbered  on  the    Allegheny  River  some 


(?1 


419 


years.  Mr.  Dunlap,  Sr.,  came  to  this  county  in 
1834,  and  "took  up"  a  claim  in  Edgington  Township, 
on  which  he  erected  a  log  hut.  He  then  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  in  May  of  the  following  year  brought  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  seven  children 
(one  daughter  being  married  at  the  time),  to  this 
county,  and  settled  on  the  claim,  which  he  had  made 
the  year  previous,  and  which  amounted  at  that  time 
to  nearly  1,000  acres  of  land.  The  area  was  after- 
wards increased  to  nearly  1,200  acres,  and  he  and 
his  family  located  upon  the  same  and  entered  vigor- 
ously and  energetically  upon  the  task  of  its  improve- 
ment, and  succeeded  in  placing  the  major  portion  of 
it  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  The  father  continued 
to  reside  on  the  homestead  until  Aug.  8,  1867,  when 
he  passed  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter,  aged  83  years. 
The  demise  of  the  mother  occurred  March  15,  1870, 
while  in  her  78th  year. 

Adolphus   Dunlap,    subject   of    this    biographical 
notice,  was  the  eldest  but   one  in  order  of  birth  of  a 
family  of  ten    children.     He   was    20  years  of  age   * 
when  the  family  came  to  this  county7and  had  served   ', 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  gunsmith    trade    under  the 
instruction  of  Mr.  Daniel  Edgington,  now  of   Edg- 
ington Township,  and  in  whose  honor  the   township    1 
was  named.     He  completed  his   trade  with    Mr.  E.   <n£/ 
after  they  came  to  this  State,  and  began  work  at  it 
in  Edgington  Township,  and  to  him  the  honor  is  due 
of  making  the  first  gun  that  was  ever  made  in   Rock 
Island  County.     Mr.  Dunlap  continued  at  his  trade 
for  more  than  20  years. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Edgington  Town- 
ship, Aug.  27,  1840,  with  Elizabeth  Carr,  born  near 
Marietta,  Ohio,  Sept.  15,  1882.  She  was  only  a 
small  child  when  her  father  came  to  this  State,  her 
mother  having  died  in  Ohio.  They  settled  in  what 
was  then  Cass  County,  111.,  near  Beardstown.  Mrs. 
Dunlap,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  lived  for 
some  time  with  her  grandparents,  after  which  she 
lived  for  a  while  with  her  uncle,  and  lastly,  a  few 
years  before  her  marriage,  with  her  father.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dunlap  became  the  parents  of  11  children,  two 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Sophia  M.  Forgy  resides  in 
Butler  County,  Kan.  ;  Sarah  is  living  at  home,  and 
is  single;  Joseph  is  married  and  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Edgington  Township;  Peter  is  likewise  married  and 
is  a  resident  of  Rooks  County,  Kan.,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming ;  Elizabeth  Graham  is  a  resident 
of  Rock  Island,  South  Rock  Island  Township,  and 


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JPtfC^"  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


Rebecca  Graham  lives  in  Rock  Island  Township ; 
Mary  lives  on  the  parental  homestead  ;  Benjamin  is 
married  and  lives  with  his  family  on  the  homestead, 
and  Adolphus  is  living  at  home. 

In  185  1,  Mr.  Dunlap,  subject  of  this  notice,  went 
to  Rock  Island  city  and  started  a  gunsmith  shop, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  his  trade  until  1856,  when 
he  moved  upon  a  piece  of  land,  consisting  of  25 
acres,  a  half-mile  from  the  city,  in  South  Rock  Is- 
land Township,  and  on  which  he  has  since  resided. 
He  is  the  owner  of  about  300  acres  of  partly  im- 
proved land,  in  Edgington  Township.  In  1840,  he 
was  elected  one  of  the  County  Commissioners,  and 
held  the  office  for  three  years,  representing  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  county.  He  has  since  held  all  the 
offices  of  the  township,  having  been  Supervisor  and 
Collector. 

Politically,  Mr.  Dunlap  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 

Mr.  Dunlap  came  to  the  county  when  a  young 
man,  even  before  reaching  his  majority,  and  has,  for 
half  a  century,  been  actively  and  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  history  of  Rock  Island  County.  He 
is  a  man  eminently  worthy  to  be  classed  among  her 
best  and  most  prominent  citizens.  We  therefore 
take  pleasure  in  presenting  his  portrait  in  this 
volume. 


SrJRHJH** 


ohn  B.  Griffith,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 10,  South  Moline  Township,  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Margaret  Griffith.   (See  sketch 
of  John  Griffith,  in  another  part  of  this  work.) 
Mr.  Griffith,  subject  of  this   biographical   no- 
\      tice,  was  born  in   Moline  Township,  Sept.    17, 
He  received  a  good  common-school   educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  assisted 
on  the  farm,  which  occupation   he  has  followed   all 
his  life  in  Rock  Island  County. 

Mr.  Griffith  was  united  in  marriage,  in  South  Mo- 
line  Township,    June    26,   1864,  with  Miss    Maria 
Dewrose,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Margaret  (Lewis)  Dewrose,   natives  of  England  and 
•g)    Wales  respectively. 
^        Her  parents  had  eight  children,  namely:  William, 


George,  Annie,  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  John  W.,  Maria, 
and  Mary  J.  Maria  was  born  in  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa., 
Oct.  30,  1844.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  are  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Margaret  E.,  born  June  12,  1867  ; 
George  E.,  born  Sept.  3,  "1868;  John  D.,  born  Apiil 
20,  1872,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Religiously, 
Mrs.  Griffith  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  politically  Mr.  Griffith  is  a  believer  in 
and  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party. 


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,  rs.  Peter  Glanz,  a  resident  of  Hampton 


;|  T&feaJaf;  Township,  is  a  native  of  France,  in  which 
";  "•'_'1  country  she  was  born  Feb.  27,  1833.  Her 
/l«?  >.  parents  were  Wendel  and  Margaret  (Beal) 
Alieff,  natives  of  Prussia  and  France  respect- 
ively, and  emigrated  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1833. 
Mrs.  Glanz,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  left  her  pa- 
rents' home  at  the  age  of  21  years,  at  which  date  she 
married  Peter  Glanz,  the  event  occurring  Nov.  8, 
1844.  By  their  union  nine  children  were  born,  six 
of  whom  survive,  namely:  Mary  A.,  George,  Elenora, 
Morris,  John  and  Martina.  Peter  Glanz,  the  hus- 
band of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  moved  to  Hamp- 
ton Township,  April  18,  1845.  He  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  vocation  for  a  year,  then 
bought  a  farm  on  section  9,  consisting  of  40  acres, 
which  he  cultivated  until  the  date  of  his  death  in 
1871.  Previous  to  his  death,  he  purchased  an  addi- 
tional 40  acres  adjoining  his  original  purchase,  so 
that  at  the  date  of  his  demise  he  was  the  proprietor 
of  80  acres.  Since  that  time  his  wife  has  managed 
the  farm  with  the  assistance  of  her  son.  Politically, 
Mr.  Glanz  was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  having  enlisted  in 
the  Ninth  111.  Caw,  served  eight  months  and  received 
and  honorable  discharge. 

Mrs.  Glanz  has  two  daughters  married.  Mary  A. 
married  William  Moore,  and  has  two  children, — 
Elenora  and  George,  and  they  reside  in  Hampton 
Township;  Elenora  married  John  Moore  and  lives 
in  the  same  township.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Glanz  and 
her  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  at 
Hampton. 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


421 


.     OCO 


.ohn   Griffith,  a  farmer,  residing  on   section 
14,  South  Moline  Township,  is  the  son  of 
Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Edwards)   Grif- 
fith, natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  South   Caro- 
lina respectively.  They  were  united  in  marriage 
and  settled  in    Kentucky,!  where  the   mother 
The  father   died  in   Clark  Co.,  Ind.     Their 
family    comprised    three   children, — Simeon,    James 
and  John. 

John  Griffith,  whose  name  heads  this   sketch,  was 
born  in  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  25,  1805,  where  he 
resided  until  t2  years  of  age,  when  he   accompanied 
•  his  parents  to  Indiana.      In    the   latter   State   he    re- 
sided on  the  parental   homestead,   receiving  a  good 
education  in  the  common  schools.     He  remained  in 
that  State  until  1836,  when,  realizing  that  he  should 
1=1    better  his  financial  condition  in  life,  and  that  the  1111- 
,    developed  West  offered    advantages   superior  to   the 
1^    State  in  which  he  resided,  he  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
|    ty,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 


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suits.  On  his  arrival  here,  he  purchased  120  acres 
of  land  in  what  is  now  Moline  Township,  on  which 
he  settled  and  entered  energetically  upon  the  task  of 
its  improvement,  and  on  which  he  has  resided  until 
the  present  time.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of  135 
acres,  100  of  which  is  in  an  advanced  state  of  culti- 
vation. He  has  a  good  residence  on  his  farm,  to- 
gether with  substantial  outbuildings,  and  is  meeting 
with  success  in  his  chosen  vocation. 

Mr.  Griffith  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Old- 
ham Co.,  Ky.,  April  17,  1828,  with  Miss  Margaret 
Mattheus,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  Mattheus,  natives  of  Virginia.  Their  family 
comprised  eight  children,  of  whom  Margaret  was 
the  fifth  in  order  of  birlh.  She  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, Nov.  14,  tSo6  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Nancy  E  ,  born 
April  17,  1829;  Mary  W.,  born  Sept.  12,  1831;  Mar- 
tha J.,  born  Aug.  24,  1833;  James  A.,  born  Dec.  15, 
1835  ;  John  R.  and  Simeon  D.  are  twins,  born  Sept. 
17,  1838  ;  Benjamin  F.,  born  Sept.  20,  184 1,  and  Ann 
M.,  born  July  8,  1844.  Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of 
Norman  Cowel,  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Ann  M.  mar- 


ried Frank  Newton,  and  resides  in  Hampton  Town- 
ship, this  county.  Nancy,  Mary  and  Benjamin  are 
deceased.  James  A.  resides  in  Moline  Township,  as 
likewise  do  John  R.  and  Simeon. 

The  wife  and  mother  died  in  South  Moline  Town- 
ship, March  7,  1873.  Mr.  G.  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  as  was  also  his  wife.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  formerly  an 
Abolitionist. 


— sGi- 


D.  Edwards,  one  of  the  energetic  and  pros- 
perous farmers  of  Hampton  Township,  re- 
siding on  sections  23  and  24,  was  born  in 

•  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  r7,  182S.  His  parents, 
Luther  and  Mary  (Wilcox)  Edwards,  natives  of 
*-  Vermont,  came  to  Hampton  Township  in  1839, 
and  located  on  section  15,  but  after  one  year's  resi- 
dence there  removed  on  section  24,  where  they  re- 
sided until  their  deaths,  which  occurred  in  1850  and 
and  1863,  respectively. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  attained  the  age  of  21  years, 
in  the  meantime  attending  school,  acquiring  an  En- 
glish education.  When  he  reached  the  age  men- 
tioned he  had  60  acres  of  land  given  him,  in  consid- 
eration of  his  providing  for  his  parents  while  they 
lived.  In  r868  he  spent  one  year  as  a  merchant  in 
Rock  Island,  but  has  resumed  his  former  occupation 
— that  ofa  farmer,  and  is  engaged  quite  extensively 
in  stock-raising.  He  has  227  acres  of  land  at  pres- 
ent, all  well  improved  and  in  good  farming  con- 
dition. 

Mr.  Edwards  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
1849  with  Miss  Asenath  Cook,  who  died  in  185 1, 
without  issue.  He  then  married  again,  in  1854, 
Margaret  G.  Blanchard  being  the  lady  of  his  choice. 
She  is  a  native  of  Vermont. 

Mr.  Edwards  has  never  raised  any  family  of  his 
own,  but  has  taken  orphan  children,  one  Louise 
Hopkins  lived  with  him  10  years,  and  then  married. 
About  two  years  ago  he  adopted  a  boy,  Adolph 
Schaublin,  who  is  now  15  years  of  age,  and  will 
make  his  home  with  Mr.  Edwards  until  he  attains 
the  age  of  2 1  years. 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Mr.  E.  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and,  religiously,  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  has  held  vari- 
ous offices,  such  as  School  Director  and  Road  Com- 
missioner. Mr.  Edwards  is  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers living  in  Hampton  Township,  and  also  one  of 
the  leading  representative  citizens  of  the  county. 
He  is  also  one  of  the  leading  Sunday-school  workers 
in  Rock  Island  County,  having,  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  given  much  of  his  time  and 
attention  to  that  laudable  work. 


I:  jfpll*,  enry  P.  Oakley,  of  the  Moline  Ice  Compa- 
I'  ny,is  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  was  born  in 
that  country  Feb.  23,  1833.  His  life  was 
passed  on  a  farm,  but  on  approaching  man- 
hood he  took  to  the  sea.  He  sailed  in  the 
merchant  service,  and  made  one  trip  around 
the  world ;  was  promoted  to  mate  of  a  vessel  (top- 
sail schooner),  and  in  1857  had  a  terrible  experience 
on  the  American  coast.  His  vessel  lay  at  New  Or- 
leans during  the  yellow  fever  season,  and  one  of  the 
crew  contracted  the  disease,  which  was  not  discov- 
ered until  they  were  weighing  anchor  to  start  on 
their  return  voyage  to  New  York.  The  first  death 
occurred  before  they  reached  the  Gulf,  then  one  aft- 
er another  fell  sick,  including  himself  and  the  cap- 
tain. They  were  not  far  on  their  return  voyage 
before  they  had  lost  five  of  their  crew  of  eight,  and 
the  remaining  three  members  were  the  captain,  a 
boy  and  himself,  all  sick  and  feeble.  They  were  not 
strong  enough  to  handle  the  larger  sails,  and  were 
obliged  to  leave  them  set  as  they  were,  although 
threatened  with  a  storm.  They  secured  the  smaller 
sails,  and  rode  the  storm  out  with  the  main  sails  set, 
expecting  every  minute  to  see  them  carried  away. 
They  "  spoke  a  bark  "  soon  afterwards  and  asked  for 
some  hands,  but  were  refused.  Either  the  bark  was 
short-handed,  as  her  officer  claimed,  or  else  her  men 
were  not  disposed  to  take  any  chances  on  the  fever- 
stricken  vessel.  Under  these  trying  circumstances 
they  made  their  way,  marvelously  as  it  may  seem,  to 
New  York  in  safety. 

Mr.  Oakley  had  intended  this  for  his  last  voyage, 
and  it  came  very  near  being  one  too  many.  He 
quit  the  sea  at  New  York,  and  came  West   in  1858, 


locating  near  Morrison,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Henry  County, 
where  he  carried  on  a  farm  from  1865  to  1872.  He 
then  came  to  Moline  and  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  remaining  in  the  same  for  five  years,  when 
he  sold  out  and  engaged  with  Deere  &  Mansur, 
corn-planter  manufacturers,  as  foreman  of  the  lum- 
ber department.  While  continuing  with  this  compa- 
ny he  formed  a  partnership  with  Swan  Trop  and 
Andrew  Shellberg  in  the  ice  business,  underlthe 
title  of  the  Moline  Ice  Company ;  but  does  not  give 
his  personal  attention  to  the  business. 

Mr.  Oakley  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  at  Ge- 
neseo,  Henry  Co.,  III.,  in  1863,  with  Miss  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Nels  Hall.  Mrs.  Oakley  was  born  in 
Sweden.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  four  chil- 
dren, namely  :  Nellie,  born  in  1864;  Minnie,  born 
in  1867  ;  Katie,  born  in  1873;  and  Robert,  born   in 

i37S- 
Mr.  Oakley  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views,  and  in 

political  opinion  is  a  Republican. 


.on.    Henry   A.  Ainsworth,  State    Senator, 
representing    the  Twenty-first  District  of 
Illinois,  also  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the 
m    Williams,  White  &  Co.'s  Iron  Works.   Mr.  Ains- 
\      worth  is  a  native  of  Williamstown,  Orange  Co., 
Vt.;  is    a    son    of  Calvin    and  Laura    (Lynde) 
Ainsworth,  and  was  born  Sept.  28,  1833.     His  par- 
ents were  both  natives  of  Vermont. 

Henry  A.  received  an  academic  education,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1853,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  made  his  home  in  Geneseo,  Henry  Co., 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
and  served  as  one  of  the  first  Trustees  of  that  town. 
He  continued  his  residence  at  Geneseo  until  July, 
1870,  when  he  came  to  Moline,  and  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  Williams  &  Co.'s  Iron  Works.  On  the 
incorporation  of  the  company  in  the  following  year, 
he  was  chosen  its  first  secretary  and  treasurer. 
He  has  been  re-elected,  and  has  held  that  position 
continuously  since.  Under  his  efficient  management 
the  business  has  prospered,  and  has  been  largely  in- 
creased in  importance.  During  the  year  1880  the 
large  buildings   on  the   west   of  Eighth  Street  were 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


425 


erected,  thus  greatly  increasing  the  capacity  of  the 
works.  (See  history  of  the  company  elsewhere  in 
this  work.) 

Mr.  Ainsworth  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  at 
Ashland,  Ohio,  July  27,  1858,  with  Miss  Sarah  R. 
Andrews,  daughter  of  Alanson  and  Sarah  (Gates) 
Andrews,  and  a  sister  of  Lorin  Andrews,  President 
of  Kenyon  College,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Ainsworth  was  born 
at  Ashland,  Ohio.  They  have  three  children,  one 
son  and  two  daughters:  Harry,  Mary  A.  and  Laura 
L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ainsworth  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  A.  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  He  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  Moline  Common  Council,  and  in  r882  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  the  Twenty-first 
Senatorial  District.  He  participated  in  the  memor- 
able contest  for  the  United  States  Senatorship  in 
1885,  wtiich  resulted  in  the  return  of  John  A.  Logan, 
and  has  served  on  various  important  committees. 

As  a  business  man  and  citizen,  Mr.  Ainsworth  is 
held  in  high  esteem. 


5 

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I'ames  W.  Morgan,  M.  D  ,  practicing  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  at  Port  Byron,  was  born 
"?  at  Thornton,  Boone  Co ,  Ind.,  Dec.  4, 
1837.  His  father,  Isaac  Morgan,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  and  was  of  Welsh  descent.  The 
latter  married  Cynthia  Westfall,  who  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  and  who  is  of  mixed  German  and  Irish 
origin.  The  family  emigrated  to  Iowa  in  1846, 
whither  they  drove  across  the  intervening  country 
with  horse  teams,  and  located  in  Scott  County,  where 
his  father  bought  a  farm  three  miles  from  Davenport. 
When  he  was  17,  Dr.  Morgan  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Asa  Morgan,  at  De- 
witt,  Iowa;  and,  later,  he  matriculated  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  whence 
he  was  graduated. 

He  commenced  his  career  as  a  practitioner  at  Ly- 
tle  City,  Iowa,  in  1859.  During  the  war  he  went  to 
the  scenes  of  conflict  in  the  capacity  of  surgeon  of 
the  14th  Regt.  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  and  acted  in  that  ca- 
pacity nine  months.  In  May,  T864,  he  was  commis- 
sioned Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  40th  Iowa  Vols.,  by 
Governor  Stone.     He  remained   with  the   command 


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until  1865.  On  leaving  the  army  Dr.  Morgan  lo- 
cated at  Cordova,  where  he  practiced  until  1876. 
Within  that  year  he  removed  to  Port  Byron  and  es- 
tablished his  business  as  a  physician.  Here  he  has 
since  practiced  with  satisfactory  success.  He  takes 
high  rank  as  a  skilled  physician  and  suigeon,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  in  the  county. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  June  10,  i860,  to  Ma- 
ria E.  Norcutt,  a  native  of  Hardwick,  WorcesterCo., 
Mass.  Clara  J.  W.  is  their  only  surviving  child. 
Politically,  Dr.  Morgan  is  a  Republican.  He  be- 
longs to  Philo  Lodge  No.  436,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Port 
Byron,  Lodge  No.  624,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Alpha  Lodge  No. 
85,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  to  Sycamore  Camp  of  Modern 
Woodmen. 

Dr.  Morgan  is  a  man  of  versatile  talent,  and  of 
broad  and  catholic  views  on  the  many  important 
metaphysical,  scientific  and  other  subjects  which 
have  elicited  the  attention  of  the  world  within  the 
last  two  or  three  decades.  He  finds  time,  when  not 
attending  to  the  onerous  duties  of  his  profession,  to 
investigate  the  theories  and  philosophical  conclusions 
of  the  brightest  scholars  of  the  day.  As  a  compan- 
ion he  is  genial  and  social,  as  a  friend  true  and  stead- 
fast. The  Doctor  is  also  a  pleasing  and  logical 
speaker,  and  possessed  of  much  magnetic  force, 
which  wins  conviction  in  the  minds  of  his  auditors. 

Dr.  Morgan  is  certainly  deserving  the  high  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  the  people  of  Rock  Island 
County,  both  as  a  professional  gentleman  and  a  citi- 
zen. He  earnestly  endeavors  to  do  the  most  good 
professionally  to  the  community  in  which  he  lives, 
and  in  a  social  way  is  a  prominent  worker  and  mem- 
ber of  the  highest  circles.  He  is  a  gentleman 
worthy  to  be  classed  among  the  leading  men  of  the 
county,  and  as  such  we  place  his  likeness  in  the  gal- 
axy of  portraits  of  the  representative  men  of  Rock 
Island  County. 

■ — ->-5— 4 — txaaOBB* — -3*-i-*" — ■ 


\  innah  Wells,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Rock  Island  County,  as 
5  well  as  one  of  her  most  respected  and  m  . 
honored  citizens.  He  came  to  this  county 
from  Wayne  Co.,  111.,  in  1827.  The  date  of 
his  birth  runs  back  to  May  14,  1821,  and  the   ( 


i 


V 


place  of  his  nativity  was  near  Fairfield,  Wayne  Co 


\3 


ACJORsani^A^ — s«*K ■*t§*@/-f|| 


426 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


) 


E3 

3 


111.  He  lived  at  the  latter  place  with  his  parents 
until  six  years  old,  when  they  moved  to  Rock  Island 
city,  where  his  mother  died  in  1843,  and  his  father 
in  185  1. 

Mr.  Wells  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his  par- 
ents, attending  the  common  schools  and  procuring  a 
good  English  education  therefrom,  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  26  years.  On  arriving  at  that  age  in  life, 
he  purchased  a  farm  on  Rock  River,  containing  400 
acres,  on  which  he  moved  and  entered  vigorously 
and  energetically  upon  the  task  of  its  cultivation, 
and  where  he  continued  to  operate  for  a  period  of  18 
years.  Selling  the  same,  he  purchased  another 
farm,  of  220  acres,  and  was  engaged  in  its  cultiva- 
tion for  T2  years.  He  lived  on  his  farm  near  Anda- 
lusia and  carried  on  the  hardware  business  in  town 
four  years: 

In  1870,  Mr.  Wells  sold  his  interest  in  the  hard- 
ware business  at  Andalusia,  and  up  to  the  date  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  April  15,  1877,  he  carried 
on  his  farm  near  Andalusia,  in  which  vocation  he 
met  with  success. 

Mr.  Wells  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Hannah  Buffum,  a  native  of  this  State.  The 
marriage  took  place  Feb.  25,  1846.  Eight  children 
were  born  of  their  union  :  John  B.,  deceased ; 
Mary  L.,  wife  of  James  S.  Robertson  ;  Clara  E.,  wife 
of  J.  T.  Kenworthy ;  Ella  M.,  wife  of  Dr.  Francis  S. 
Smith;  and  Edward  and  Harry,  deceased;  Lucy 
and  Amanda,  young  ladies,  residing  at  home.  Mary 
L.  married  Edward  Athwood,  and  they  had  two 
children,  John  and  Alberta.  Mr.  Athwood  died  in 
187 1,  and  Mrs.  Athwood  was  again  married,  to 
James  Robertson,  and  two  children  were  born  of  her 
latter  union,  Jessie  M.  and  Mary  F.  Robertson. 
Clara  E.  married  J.  T.  Kenworthy,  and  they  have 
three  children, — Lotta  F.,  Samuel  R.  and  Clara  E. 
Ella  M.  married  Frank  S.  Smith,  a  physician,  and 
they  have  one  boy  and  a  girl. 

Mr.  Wells  was  one  of  the  first  Supervisors  of  Rock 
Island  County,  and  held  the  same  office  for  several 
terms.  Politically,  he  was  identified  with  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Republican  party;  was  a  public-spirited 
man,  and  always  ready  to  assist  in  any  good  cause 
that  was  made  known  to  him.  He  died  April  T5, 
1877,  respected  and  beloved  by  a  host  of  relatives 
and  friends.  Mrs.  Wells  has  erected  a  beautiful 
house  on  the  old  Sixth  Avenue,  which  is  surrounded 


by  one  and  a  half  acres  of  land.  She  lives  enjoying 
the  comforts  of  a  home  left  her  through  the  ener- 
getic labors  of  her  husband,  coupled  with  that  of  her 
own  assistance,  a  respected  member  of  society  and  a 
worthy  citizen  of  Rock  Island  County. 


-K3- 


-£$- 


% P%'janiel  Zimmerman,  wagon-manufacturer  at 

&JbMliL  Cordova,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  three 
JMG^y-  miles  south  of  Greensburgh,  Hempfield 
■y^x  Township,  Westmoreland  County,  April  22, 
Jc\  1826.  He  .is  the  eldest  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Magdalene  (Bartz)  Zimmerman,  both  his  par- 
ents being  natives  also  of  the  Keystone  State  and  of 
German  descent. 

He  remained  at  home  on  his  father's  farm  until 
14  years  of  age,  when  he  went  toGreensburg  to  make 
his  home  with  Asmus  Rumbaugh,  assisting  him  in 
his  store  and  attending  school.  After  serving  a 
mercantile  apprenticeship  of  three  years  he  went  to 
Pittsburg,  where  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  dry-goods 
store  six  months.  Returning  to  Greensburg,  he  be- 
came a  partner  of  his  former  employer,  remaining  in 
that  relation  two  years,  when  he  became  a  salesman 
in  another  house  in  the  same  town.  He  remained 
there  until  r846,  and  then  went  to  Youngstown,  Pa., 
where  he  had  purchased  a  stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise of  Col.  Coulter,  and  continued  in  mercantile 
business  until  1 85 3,  when  he  sold  out.  Having  se- 
cured an  agency  from  C.  H.  McCormick  for  the  sale 
of  his  farm  machinery,  he  from  this  time  on  devoted 
his  whole  attention  to  that  line  of  business.  For  the 
first  six  years  his  headquarters  were  in  Youngstown, 
and  after  1859  in  Cordova,  this  county.  While  en- 
gaged in  tin's  line  of  trade  he  traveled  in  the  States  of 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Kentucky, 
Illinois  and  Iowa.  On  retiring  from  this  line  of 
business,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons, 
in  which  he  is  still  employed,  in  company  with 
Thomas  Carr. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  has  served  as  Notary  Public  since 
Dec.  27,  1S67,  the  date  of  his  commission,  and  was 
appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace  June  2r,  1883.  He 
has  also  served  as  Supervisor  of  his  township  four 
terms;  was  President  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


of  the  village  of  Cordova,  and  has  since  served  as 
Village  Clerk.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cordova 
Lodge,  No.  543,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

He  was  married,  in  1846,  to  Hettie  Steck,  who 
was  born  in  Hempfield  Township,  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  five  children,  viz.:  Will- 
iam C,  who  is  now  in  business  in  Chicago;  Louisa, 
now  the  wife  of  H.  W.  Rathbun,  and  living  in  Plank- 
inton,  Dak.;  Clara  E.,  wife  of  Walter  J.  Pepper,  and 
residing  near  Aledo,  Mercer  Co.,  111.;  Anna,  now 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Johnson,  and  residing  at  Prophetstown, 
Whiteside  Co.,  III.  Mrs.  Z.  died  May  10,  1880,  and 
Mr.  Z.,  for  his  second  wife,  married,  in  1882,  Eliza- 
beth S.  Davidson,  who  is  a  native  of  Johnson  Co., 
Iowa. 


|iJ nomas  Simpson,  a  former  agriculturist  of 
Coe  Township,  was  born  in  Hempfield 
^  Township,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  3, 
181 1,  and  was  the  oldest  son  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Staymates)  Simpson,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  He  is  of 
mixed  Scotch  and  German  descent,  his  mother  hav- 
ing been  of  the  former  and  father  of  the  latter  na- 
tionality by  extraction.  Mr.  Simpson  was  reared  to 
the  vocation  of  a  farmer  in  his  native  county,  and 
was  married  there  Nov.  5,  1835,  to  Eliza  Fisher,  who 
was  born  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa., 
Jan.  28,  18 18,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Sarah  (Golden)  Fisher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpson 
located  in  Hemphill  after  their  marriage,  and  lived 
on  a  rented  farm  for  six  years,  when  they  removed  to 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  and  were  there  resident 
until  1853.  In  that  year  they  removed  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  the  same  county  in  which  the  family  is 
now  living.  Mr. -Simpson  at  first  rented  a  farm  on 
sections  7  and  8  of  Coe  Township,  which  he  contin- 
ued to  manage  five  years.  In  i860  hs  became  the 
owner  of  the  same  place  by  purchase,  and  it  was  his 
home  thenceforward  until  the  date  of  his  demise, 
which  occurred  Feb.  24,  1873.  His  widow  is  still 
living  on  the  homestead  property,  and  has,  since  his 
death,  devoted  her  time  and  energies  to  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  plans  and  purposes  of  the  husband  of 
her   youth.     The    farm  contains    200  acres,  and   is 


under  advanced  improvement  and  in  valuable  agri- 
cultural condition.  The  buildings  are  of  creditable 
character.  She  is  the  mother  of  seven  surviving 
children  :  Sarah  A.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Reynolds, 
a  resident  of  Coe  Township;  James  is  a  resident 
of  Cordova:  Eliza  J.  married  William  Fleming; 
John  F.  is  a  citizen  of  Cordova;  Jesse  is  the  mana- 
ger of  the  homestead  property;  Wesley  lives  with  his 
mother;  Erastus  is  a  resident  of  the  State  of  Iowa. 
They  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


ustaf  Swensson,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in- 
surance, real -estate  and  steamship  ticket 
*    agent,   at   Moline,   is  a  son  of  Olaf  Swens- 


j?>  son,  and  was  born  in  Sweden,  Aug.  3,  1842. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  in  his  native 
country.  In  June,  1S60,  Mr.  Swensson  was 
appointed  Clerk  of  the  Court.  In  the  summer  of 
the  following  year  he  resigned  that  position  to  accept 
that  of  Deputy  Sheriff.  This  he  held  until  1864, 
when  he  accepted  the  position  of  head  book-keeper 
for  S.  F.  Swalander,  wholesale  dealer  at  Gotheborg. 
Shortly  after  this,  we  find  him  engaged  in  the  com- 
mission business,  which  he  abandoned  in  1869  and 
entered  the  employment  of  the  American  Emigrant 
Company,  as  book-keeper  and  cashier,  which  posi- 
tion he  resigned  in  187  r,  coming  to  America. 

He  arrived  at  Moline  in  April,  1872,  and  engaged 
in  the  life-insurance  business,  but  a  year  later  he 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  sewing-machines,  which  he 
continued  until  1877,  when  he  established  the  Skan- 
dia,  a  Swedish  newspaper,  and  published  it  16 
months.  Mr.  Swensson  was  then  appointed  land 
agent  for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road, and  engaged  in  general  real-estate  business, 
which  he  has  since  carried  on.  In  1877  he  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  re-elected  in  i88r 
and  1885.  He  was  appointed  Notary  Public  in 
October,  1876,  and  has  been  Notary  ever  since. 
Mr.  Swensson  has  filled  several  other  local  offices, 
such  as  United  States  Census  taker,  in  1880  and  as 
Deputy  Tax  Collector  three  years.  He  now  repre- 
sents nine  different  steamship  lines  and  three  insur- 
ance companies. 

Mr.  Swensson  formed   a  matrimonial  alliance   in 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


Sweden,  Nov.  27,  1869,  with  Miss  Alida  Josephine 
Stromberg,  daughter  of  L.  Stromberg.  Mrs.  Svvens- 
son  was  born  in  the  city  of  Gotheborg,  Sweden,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  two  sons  and 
a  daughter  :  John  Gustaf,  born  in  Gotheborg,  Swe- 
den, Oct.  5,  187  1 :  Adolph  Frederick,  born  in  Mo- 
line,  111.,  Jan.  27,  1874;  Tora  Catharine,  born  in 
Moline,  July  24,  1878.  Mr.  Swensson  and  family, 
in  religious  sentiment,  are  Lutherans.  Mr.  S.  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views. 


-°-3- 


-S=~- 


"l*  ft  »H illiam  H.    Munger,    lessee   of  the    Rock 
:..!»S=-tVV    Island    House,    Rock    Island,    is    a    well 


!^>i(~)  '  known  and  popular  hotel  man.  The  Mun- 
■'  ger  family  is  of  French  and  German  ancestry. 
William  H.  Munger's  father  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1803.  He  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade  and  prosecuted  that  business 
in  the  city  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  In  1830  he  embarked 
in  the  hotel  business  at  Sullivan,  Madison  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  continuing  with  good  success  until  1S39.  He 
then  purchased  the  Lafayette  Hall  hotel  at  Verona, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y„  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  of  cholera,  in  1853,  leaving  a  competent  estate 
to  his  family.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut, born  in  the  village  of  Saybrook  in  1808.  Her 
maiden  name,  Bushnell,  is  an  old  and  prominent 
Puritan  family.  Their  marriage  occurred  at  Sulli- 
van, N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1825.  They  reared  a  family 
of  seven  children,  viz.  :  James  F.,  William  H,  Don 
A.,  George  B.,  Edward  M.,  Hamilton  G.  and  Doctor 
E.  The  mother  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  77,  passing  her  declining  years  in  visiting  among 
her  children. 

William  H.  Munger  was  born  at  Sullivan,  Madison 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  10th  day  of  April,  1833.  He  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  parents  until  21  years  of 
age,  when  he  begun  life's  labors  for  himself.  He 
rented  a  farm  of  60  acres  near  Verona,  in  his  native 
State,  and  pursued  the  occupation  of  a  farmer;  re- 
maining there  two  years.  He  then  emigrated  to  the 
West,  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Grundy  Co., 
111.,  where  he  remained,  engaged  in  farming,  for  four 


or  five  years,  meeting  with  fair  success.  He  then 
leased  a  hotel  in  Sandwich,  De  Kalb  Co.,  111.,  for 
one  year,  and  entered  into  the  business  of  hotel- 
keeping,  for  which  occupation  subsequent  years 
proved  him  pre  eminently  fitted.  His  next  venture 
was  at  Leland,  La  Salle  County,  this  State,  where  he 
continued  in  the  same  business  for  two  years  ;  then 
to  YVyanet,  111.,  from  whence,  after  a  short  time,  he 
returned  to  Sandwich,  resuming  the  charge  of  his 
first  hotel  venture.  His  next  removal  was  to  Oregon, 
Ogle  County,  where  he  became  the  lessee  of  the 
Sinnissippi  Hotel,  which  acquired  a  noted  promi- 
nence under  his  five  years'  successful  management. 
From  Oregon  he  moved  to  Sterling,  where  he  kept 
tlie  Gault  House  for  one  year.  In  all  these  ventures 
he  was  successful,  not  only  in  a  financial  sense  but 
in  that  of  adding  popularity  to  his  name  and  house 
and  giving  dignity  and  tone  to  his  profession.  On 
leaving  Sterling,  Mr.  Munger  purchased  the  lease  of 
the  Rock  Island  House,  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island, 
which,  under  his  present  management,  is  rated  as 
one  of  the  best  and  most  successfully  conducted 
hostelries  in  the  West. 

Mr.  Munger  was  married  Jan.  27,  r852,  to  the 
daughter  of  Ellery  Shaw.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  New  York;  and  her  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Anthony,  was  a  sister  of  the  Anthony  of 
the  firm  of  Anthony  &  Davis,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  cele- 
brated stove  manufacturers.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Munger, — James  F.  and 
Guy  E.,  the  latter  having  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
James  F.  married  Celestie  Crowell,  daughter  of  Put- 
ney Crowell,  of  Oregon,  III,  and  resides  with  his 
father,  being  interested  in  the  management  of  the 
hotel.  A  few  years  ago  he  adopted  a  little  girl  at 
the  age  of  six  years,  whom  he  intends  to  educate 
and  give  the  same  advantages  as  a  daughter  of  his 
own. 

George  B.  and  Edward  M.,  brothers  of  William 
H.  Munger,  of  whom  we  write,  are  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  For  three 
years  they  kept  the  Burdick  House,  and  afterwards 
took  charge  of  the  Clifton  for  five  years.  In  1882 
they  leased  the  Matteson  House,  which  they  re- 
modeled and  refurnished,  and  under  their  control  is 
at  present  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  hotels  in  Chi- 
cago. Don  A.  and  Doctor  E.  are  also  pursuing  the 
same  occupation  ;  the  former  being  proprietor  of  the 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


to 


Brackett  House  at  Rochelle,  111.,  and  the  latter  keep- 
ing the  American  House  at  Princeton. 

The  Munger  brothers  are  well  known  and  popular 
hostlers  and  their  name  is  rapidly  approaching  the 
enviable  reputation  enjoyed  by  tne  Lelands. 


on.  John  T.  Browning,  attorney  at  law, 
senior  partner  of  the  law  firm  of  Browning 
&  Entiikin,  and  a  resident  of  Rock  Island 
County  since  December,  1858,  was  born  in 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  n,  1830,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  L.  and  Lucy  (Tillotson)  Browning. 
He  received  an  academic  education  and  engaged  in 
the  study  of  law  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  the  fall  of  1858.  He  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Illinois  and  arrived  at  Moline  in 
December  of  that  year.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  pursued  it  con- 
tinuously since.  The  existing  partnership  with  Mr. 
Entrikin  was  formed  July  1,  1876.  Mr.  Browning 
was  Attorney  for  Moline  while  a  village,  and  was  the 
first  City  Attorney,  and  great  credit  is  due  him  for 
arranging  and  planning  many  of  the  early  ordinances 
of  the  city.  His  impress  is  seen  in  many  important 
legal  affairs  of  the  city. 

He  has  served  two  terms  as  representative  in  the 
Illinois  Legislature  from  this  district.  In  the  fall  of 
1874,  he  was  first  elected,  and  re-elected  in  the  fall 
of  1876.  He  served  on  several  important  com- 
mittees, was  careful  of  the  interests  of  his  constitu- 
ents, with  all  due  regard  to  fairness  and  the  general 
welfare  of  the  public.  Being  a  man  of  broad  views 
and  earnest  conviction,  his  support  of  or  opposition  to 
a  pending  measure  always  carried  weight. 

Mr.  Browning  entertained  strong  anti-slavery  views 
in  early  manhood,  and  on  the  formation  of  the  Re- 
publican party  as  a  national  organization  in  1856,  he 
identified  himself  with  it  at  once,  and  was  an  earn- 
supporter  of  Fremont  and  Dayton.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  a  warm  advocate  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples, and  has  been  gratified  by  seeing  his  views  pre- 
vail as  a  national  policy  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  While  zealous  in  support  of  his  party  and 
its  policy,  he  has    always    been    conservative,  con- 


sidering the  welfare  of  the  country  and  good  govern- 
ment more  important  than  mere  party  success;  hence 
he  has  always  urged  the  nomination  of  pure  men  for 
official  positions,  preferring  a  clean  record  and  high 
order  of  talent  to  availability  and  a  reputation  for 
successful  political  intrigue. 

In  his  profession,  Mr.  Browning  ranks  among  the 
foremost  in  Western  Illinois.  During  the  27  years  he 
has  practiced  in  the  Courts,  he  has  won  an  enviable 
reputation  for  fidelity  to  his  clients,  fairness  to  op- 
posing counsel,  and  respect  to  the  Court.  Possessed 
of  studious  habits  and  quick,  perceptive  faculties, 
his  opinions  are  usually  well  founded  and  command 
the  favorable  consideration  of  Court  and  jury. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Browning  could  not  appropriately 
be  omitted  from  this  Album  when  a  representative 
member  of  the  Bar  is  desired  to  be  placed  in  the 
galaxy  of  Rock  Island  portraits.  His  portrait  is 
therefore  given  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


B.  E.  Adams,  proprietor  of  the  Rapids 
<  itv  Mills,  Rapids  City,  was  born  at  Law- 
renceburg,  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  20, 
1842.  His  parents,  Alfred  A.  and  Louisna 
(Green)  Adams,  were  natives  of  Vermont  and 
Ohio  respectively.  After  his  marriage  the  el- 
der Adams  worked  at  farming  and  also  ran  a  steam- 
boat on  the  Ohio  River.  He  soon,  however,  sold  all 
his  interests  there  and  came  to  Rock  Island  County 
and  purchased  250  acres  of  land  in  Cordova  Town- 
ship. Here  for  two  years  he  engaged  in  farming, 
and  in  1855,  the  love  for  water  having  revived,  he 
bought  another  steamboat  and  ran  it  between  St. 
Louis  and  St.  Paul  until  i860.  In  1861  he  bought 
an  interest  in  the  Rapids  City  Mills  and  subequently 
bought  the  whole  property,  but  later  selling  the 
quarter  interest  to  A.  D.  Keely.  He,  however,  con- 
tinued to  manage  the  mills  until  1872,  when  he  sold 
his  interest  to  his  two  sons,  A.  B.  E.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  and  Alfreda.  Shortly  afterwards  the  for- 
mer sold  his  interest  and  later  bought  his  brother's 
interest,  in  1876  bought  out  all  other  interests  and 
has  since  had  the  whole  control  of  the  mill. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1866  to 


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Miss  Sarah  P.  E.  Rowe,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  who 
has  become  the  mother  of  eight  children,  as  follows  : 
Wilfred  T.,  Alfred  A.,  Harold  D.,  Inez  E.  Mable  M., 
Nellie  P.,  Estella  M.  and  Albert  M. 

Besides  owning  the  mill  at  Rapids  City,  Mr.  Ad- 
ams has  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres  in  Cordova  Town- 
ship and  owns  an  interest  in  the  Port  Byron  Lum- 
bering Co.,  which  run  a  saw-mill.  Altogether,  he  is 
one  of  the  substantial,  enterprising  and  solid  men  of 
Rapids  City.  Politically,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Greenback  party,  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order, 
Odd  Fellows  and  also  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Adams  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  126th  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  three  years  and  a  half.  While  in  the 
service  he  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and 
was  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Springfield  and  received  an  honorable 
discharged. 


^NS§3N^ 


oseph  B.  Cox,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
fe-  of  Hampton  Township,  coming  here  at  a 
i^'s'  date  when  the  hand  of  civilization  was 
hardly  visible  in  the  township  in  which  he  lo- 
]£  cated  (in  1836)  and  having  resided  here  con- 
stantly ever  since,  has  witnessed  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county  and  experienced  all  the  trials 
incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new  country.  He 
came  here  in  1836  and  located  on  section  15,  Hamp- 
ton Township,  where  he  took  up  160  acres  of  Gov- 
ernment land  and  on  which  he  has  resided  for  a 
period  of  48  years.  He  was  born  Dec.  2,  i8r3,  in 
Wayne  County,  Ind.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Rue)  Cox,  came  to  Hampton  Township  in  1836, 
and  his  father  took  up  Government  land  on  section 
3  of  the  same  township  on  which  he  resided  until  his 
death. 

Joseph  B.  Cox,  subject  of  this  sketch,  remained  at 
home  until  he  attained  the  age  of  22  years.  His 
years  prior  to  the  age  of  majority  were  spent  on  the 
farm  and  in  the  acquisition  of  a  good  common-school 
education.  Mr.  Cox  was  united  in  marriage  March 
20,  1836,  to  Ann  Williamson,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  of  their  nine  children,  eight  survived. 
The   surviving   are, — Mary  E.,  born  Jan.  8,  1837  ; 


Williamson  M.,  born  May  14,1839;  Augustus  D., 
born  April  iS,  1842  ;  Osborn  M.,  born  June  16,  1847  ; 
Hill  K.,born  April  14,  1849;  Emma  E.,  born  April 
15,  1852;  Cassius  C,  born  June  19,  1854;  and  Ja- 
son J.,  born  June  15,  1857.  Washington  R.  was  a 
soldier  belonging  to  the  89th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Company 
F.  He  was  a  prisoner  four  months  in  the  rebel 
prisons  and  died  at  St.  John's  College  Hospital, 
March  6,  1S63.  All  the  surviving  children  except 
Mary  E.  are  married. 

Politically,  Mr.  Cox  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter 
of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party. 
He  has  held  the  offices  of  Road  Commissioner  and 
School  Director,  and  also  other  minor  township  of- 
fices. Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  At  the  present 
time  Mr.  Cox  is  the  proprietor  of  560  acres  of  land. 
His  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  his  accumula- 
tion of  this  world's  goods  is  attributed  not  only  to 
his  early  coming  to  the  county,  but  to  his  good  judg- 
ment and  determination  in  "  sticking  to  it  "  and 
overcoming  all  obstacles.  He  is  one  of  the  reliable 
men  of  Hampton  Township,  and  is  respected  for  his 
honest,  straightforward,  manly  dealings  with  his 
fellow-man. 

Williamson  M.  Cox,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject, 
was  married  April  r^,  i860,  to  Mabel  Cook,  of 
Hampton  Township.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  living, — William  L.  and  Raymond,  and  re- 
side in  Coe  Township,  this  county.  Augustus  D. 
Cox  married  Anna  Scott,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
Oct.  24,  1867,  and  they  had  three  living  children, 
namely:  Walter  S.,  Fred  E.  and  Ralph  C,  and  at 
present  reside  on  section  22,  Hampton  Township. 
Mrs.  Augustus  D.  Cox  died  July  20,  i88r,  and  Mr. 
Cox  was  again  married  Feb.  3,  18S5,  to  Miss  Dora 
Willson,  of  Iowa.  Osborn  M.  Cox  married  Emma 
Pardey,  of  Geneseo,  111.,  Aug.  18,  1881,  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  two  children, — Nina  D.  and  Frank  L. 
and  reside  in  Hampton  Township.  Hill  K.  married 
Sarah  Jackson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  July  1, 
1875,  and  of  their  union  four  children  have  been 
born, — Nellie,  Maude,  Edgar  and  Annie,  and  they 
also  reside  in  Hampton  Township.  Emma  E.  mar- 
ried Alexander  Mortin,  a  native  of  Scotland,  March 
20,  1872,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  five 
children, — Cora,  Claudie  M.,  Morris,  Arthur,  Annie 
M., — and  they  reside  at  South  Hart,  Dak.  Cassius  C. 
married  Margaret  Arcularius,  a  native  of  Rock  Island 


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County,  Oct.  13,  1880,  and  to  them  two  children 
have  been  born, —  Jennie  B.  and  Edward  J., — and  they 
reside  in  Jasper  County,  Iowa'.  Jason  J.  married 
Hettie  A.  Arcularins,  June  it,  1879,  and  three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  namely ;  Margaret, 
Augusta  and  Edward  B.,  and  their  residence  is  like- 
wise Jasper  County,  Iowa. 


_=]E_ 


i|  dwin  H.  Johnston,  residing  at  Port  Byron, 
is  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State, 
having  been  born  in  Barnet,  Caledonia 
5|L  County,  Sept.  18,  1823.  He  is  the  eldest  son 
!!  of  Alexander  and  Elvina  (Pratt)  Johnston, 
both  natives  of  Vermont.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Alexander  Johnston,  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land and  a  physician  by  profession.  He  emigrated 
to  this  country  after  he  had  graduated,  and  was  the 
first  practitioner  to  locate  in  Barnet,  where  he  settled 
about  1790.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  1793.  He  served  seven  years  as  an  ap- 
prentice and  learned  the  carpenter  and  joiner's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  Vermont  until  1854. 
During  that  year  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at 
Erie,  where  he  died. 

There  were  two  children  in  the  family  of  the  par- 
ents of  Mr.  Johnston,  he  being  the  eldest,  as  stated. 
The  youngest,  Frederick  A.,  is  a  physician  and  fol- 
lows the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Portland,  Ore- 
gon. When  Mr.  Johnston  of  this  notice  was  five 
years  of  age  his  mother  died,  and  his  father  was  again 
married  and  Edwin  made  his  home  with  them  until 
he  attained  his  19th  year.  As  soon  as  he  attained  a 
suitable  age  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  family,  except  during  the  winter  sea- 
sons, when  he  attended  the  common  schools  and 
received  a  good  education,  which  he  extended  by  at- 
tendance at  the  Peacham  Academy  nine  terms.  He 
taught  school  during  the  meantime  to  procure  means 
whereby  he  might  complete  his  education  at  the 
academy,  and  after  following  the  curriculum  of  that 
institution,  graduated  from  the  same  in  1840.  In 
the  spring  of  1841  Mr.  Johnson  went  to  Westmore- 
land County,  Pa.,  and  was  there  engaged  in  teaching 
and  attending  private  grammar  schools   three  years. 


In  the  spring  of  1844,  realizing  that  to  better  his 
condition  financially  the  West  offered  better  facilities 
for  a  young  man  of  noble  ambitions  he  went  to 
Hamilton,  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  study  of  law  with  ex-Governor  Bebb.  He  taught 
school  and  studied  law  under  Gov.  Bebb's  instruc- 
tion three  years. 

In  1847  Mr.  Johnston  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Ellen  C.  Morris.  She  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Butler 
Co.,  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  Mr.  Johnston 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Hamilton  and  hung  out 
his  shingle  in  that  city,  where  he  followed  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  until  the  spring  of  1856.  Mrs. 
Johnston  died  in  1855,  leaving  two  children. 

In  June,  1856,  Mr.  Johnston  came  to  Port  Byron, 
where  he  engaged  in  practicing  his  profession.  He 
had  been  here  but  a  few  years  before  he  was  elected 
Supervisor,  and  served  in  that  position  five  years, 
three  of  which  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Board.  In 
1870  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  District  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Rock  Island  and  Henry  in  the 
Legislature.  In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Johnston  enlisted 
in  Co.  G,  126th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the 
latter  part  of  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability.  He  organized  the 
company  and  was  elected  its  Captain.  The  regiment 
joined  Grant's  forces  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  was 
with  them  through  the  Mississippi  campaign. 

Mr.  Johnston  formed  a  second  matrimonial  alli- 
ance in  1858  with  Miss  Jane  F.  Saville,  a  native  of 
York  State.  Of  this  union  three  children  were  born, 
— Saville,  Edwin  J.  and  Martha.  The  children  of 
his  first   marriage  were  Calvin  and  Ellen. 


3 


- 


Llmer  A.   Drury,  an    energetic    farmer   of 
South  Moline  Township,  residing  on  sec- 
wi§r  t'011  I0>  's   a  son  0I   Elmer  and  Elizabeth 

-|S»-  (Duvoll)  Drury,  natives  of  Vermont  and  Ohio. 
The  parental  family  comprised  12  children,  of 
whom  Elmer  A.  was  the  eldest.  Mr.  Drury 
was  born  in  Washington  County,  Ohio,  May  14, 1820. 
His  early  life  was  passed  in  his  native  county,  where 
he  alternated  his  labors  on  the  farm  by  attendance 
at  the  common-schools.     He  remained  in  his  native 


9 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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county  until  he  attended  the  age  of  30  years,  when 
he  came  to  this  county  and  settled  in  South  Moline 
Township.  He  has  since  resided  in  that  county,  and 
is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  80  acres  of  land,  the 
major  portion  of  which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of 
cultivation. 

Mr.  Drury  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  March 
29,  1837,  in  Ohio,  with  Miss  Margaret  Bailey.  She 
was  born  in  Delaware,  Dec.  18,  181 3.  Her  parents 
were  William  and  Mary  (Riley)  Bailey.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Drury  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely  : 
Mary  E.,  born  April  9,  1839  ;  Caroline,  Dec.  6,  1840; 
Daniel  B.,  June  25,  1843 ;  Charles  A.,  Feb.  5,  1846  ; 
Jane  A.,  Oct.  26,  1848;  Sarah  M.,  Oct.  19,  1850; 
Ellen,  June  18,  1855.  Chris.  A.  died  in  Aujust, 
1878;  Daniel  B.  died  Oct.  7,  1885. 

Politically,  Mr.  Drury  is  identified  with  the  adher- 
ents of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  held  the  po- 
sition of  School  Director  in  his  township,  and  is  a 
respected  citizen  and  an  energetic  farmer. 


ames  R.  Underwood,  a  farmer  residing  on 

section  17,   Drury  Township,  is   a  son   of 

Larkin  and  Mary  (Murphres)  Underwood, 

natives  of  Indiana  and  Virginia  respectively. 

They  were  married   in   Morgan  County,  Ind., 

and    emigrated   to    Rock   Island,    this    State, 

settling  in  Drury  Township,  where  the  father  died, 

in  February,  1846.     The  mother  still  survives,  and 

resides  in  that  township  with  her  son.     Their  family 

comprises  six  children,  namely:  James    R.,   David 

B.,  Jesse,  William  H.,  Henry  C.  and  Sally  A. ;  James 

R.  and  Henry  C.  are  the  only  surviving  children. 

James  R.  Underwood,  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  18,  1S33. 
He  came  to  Rock  Island  County  in  the  fall  of  1840, 
and  this  has  been  his  home  ever  since  that  time, 
where  he  has  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer, 
meeting  with  success.  In  April,  iS6r,  after  shot 
and  shell  had  thundered  from  Rebel  guns  on  Fort 
Sumter,  and  when  the  call  was  first  made  for  troops 
jj^  to  serve  three  months  (it  being  expected  that  the 
rebellion  would  be  put  down  inside  of  that  time),  he 
enlisted  in  the  1st  Iowa  Inf.     After  the  expiration  of 

9B\$*Gi4 


his  term  of  enlistment,  he  re-enlisted  Aug.  12,  1862, 
in  the  126th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  for  three  years. 
He  was  seriously  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Wilson's 
Creek,  Mo*., Aug.  10,  1S61.  and  was  confined  in  a 
hospital  something  over  two  months. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Underwood  re- 
turned to  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  farm  life  in  this 
county,  and  also  has  been  engaged  in  the  occupation 
of  a  blacksmith,  which  trade  he  learned  in  early  life, 
and  at  which  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  four 
years.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  80  acres  of  land  in 
Drury  Township,  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Underwood  to  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Crabtree,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Wm.  and 
Elizabeth  (Swingil)  Crabtree,  natives  of  Virginia,  oc- 
curred in  Drury  Township,  Sept.  10,  1855.  Her 
parents  family  comprised  nine  children — Mary  A., 
John,  Amelia,  Susan,  Eliza  J.,  Emeline,  Charles,  El- 
len and  Jerusha.  Eliza  J.,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Marion  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  2,  1837, 
and  has  borne  to  her  husband  four  children — Byron, 
born  Sept.  21,  1858;  Elzada,  wife  of  Shadrach  YVil- 
ford,  born  August,  i860;  James  M.,  born  October, 
186 1 ;  and  Lavada  E.,  born  May  18,  1866.  Byron  is 
deceased. 

Mr.  Underwood  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor, 
Constable,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  other  minor 
offices.  Religiously,  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  politically,  Mr.  Underwood  is 
identified  with  the  National  party. 


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R  Freek,   M.  D.,  is    a  native  of  Albany, 

„  Whiteside   Countv,    this  State,   where  he 
E 

was  born,  on  the  iothof  September,  iS^a. 

his  parents  being  Nicholas  and  Mary 
(Routledge)  Freek.  The  former  was  a  native 
of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  emigrated  to  Canada 
while  yet  a  young  man,  and  there  married  Miss  Mary 
Routledge,  also  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England.  He 
followed  the  tile  and  brick  making  business  in  Can- 
ada, and  in  1S54  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Al- 
bany, Whiteside  County,  where  he  still  resides. 

W.  R.  Freek,  of  whom  we  write,  was  the  youngest 
of  his  parents'  family,  and  received  a  good  education 

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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


in  the  excellent  schools  of  Albany.  In  the  fall  of 
1873,  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  D.  W.  Lundy,  and 
after  reading  the  standard  text-books,  entered  the 
Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago  and  took  the  full 
course  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 
spring  of  1877.  He  commenced  the  practice  in  his 
native  town,  where  he  continued  until  the  fall  of 
1879,  when  he  came  to  Cordova,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1880,  he 
added  the  drug  business  to  his  practice,  in  both  of 
which  he  has  been  very  successful. 

He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  at  present  is  the  Worshipful 
Master  of  Cordova  Lodge,  No.  543.  Holds  the  po- 
sition of  Venerable  Consul  in  the  Modern  Woodmen, 
a  beneficiary  order.  Politically,  Dr.  Freek  is  in  ac- 
cord with  the  Republican  party. 


WWm \  1  llliam    Oltmanns   came   to    Hampton    in 


_ 


1853.     He  was  born   January  9,  1842,  in 


Germany,  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
i>  States  with  his  brother-in-law  when  quite 
young,  his  father  and  mother  having  pre- 
viously died.  On  coming  to  this  country,  and 
on  attaining  an  age  equal  to  the  emergency,  he  began 
work  as  a  farm  laborer,  and  continued  in  that  voca- 
cation  until  1862  ;  during  that  year  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
I,  2d  Iowa  Regt.,  for  three  months,  and  at  the  expi- 
ration of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  re-enlisted  in  the 
10th  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge.  He  par- 
ticipated in  many  battles  and  skirmishes,  in  fact,  in 
all  in  which  his  company  engaged,  and  received  no 
serious  wound.  After  the  war  was  over  and  the 
cause  for  which  he  fought  was  victorious,  he  went  to 
California  and  engaged  in  gold-mining  and  prospect- 
ing, and  at  the  same  time  fighting  the  Indians.  He 
remained  in  that  State  for  eight  years,  then  went  to 
China,  on  board  the  good  ship  "  Golden  City,"  and 
rrmained  there  three  months,  then  returned  to  San 
Francisco.  From  the  latter  place  he  came  toHarnp- 
ton,  where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  then  took 
a  trip  to  Germany,  his  native  land,  and  was  absent 
about    four    months;  then    returned    to   Hampton. 


Since  going  to  that  place  he  has  purchased  157  acres 
of  land. 

Mr.  Oltmanns  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emma  Beierlein,  May  r3,  1875.  She  is  a  native  of 
Rock  Island.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
two  children,  William  and  Clara.  Mr.  Oltmanns, 
politically,  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


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ere  Pearsall,  a  farmer  of  Coe  Township,  is 

the  third  son  of  W.  C.  and  Jane   (Eling- 

ham)   Pearsall,   and  he  was  born  in  Cook 

County,  near  Chicago,  Nov.  26,  1843.    He  was 

in  his  fifth  year  when  his  parents  removed  to 

~  Rock  Island  County.  In  his  younger  days  he 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  and  attended  school ; 
and  he  afterwards  went  to  the  military  college  at 
Fulton,  in  Whiteside  County,  two  terms.  He  also 
went  to  a  commercial  school  at  Davenport,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1865.  After  his  return  to  his 
home  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  pursuits  of  a 
farmer. 

He  was  married  in  December,  1865,  to  Martha 
L.,  daughter  of  William  McConnell,  of  whom  a 
sketch  appears  in  this  work.  The  newly  married 
people  settled  on  the  place  Mr.  Pearsall  has  since 
owned  and  occupied,  and  on  which  he  has  pursued 
the  vocation  of  his  choice.  His  place  is  situated  on 
section  23,  and  is  in  a  condition  which  does  credit 
to  the  good  sense,  wisdom  and  industry  of  its  owner. 
A  fine  view  of  his  residence  is  given  in  this  work. 
He  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  business  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  Holstein  cattle.  In  connection 
with  his  brother,  he  is  also  shipping  live  stock. 

The  family  circle  includes  six  children,  who  were 
born  in  the  order  in  which  their  names  are  here 
given :  Caldwell,  Luther,  Jeremiah,  Cecilia,  Roy 
and  Louisa. 

Mr.  Pearsall  is  a  member  of  Philo  Lodge,  No. 
624,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
sentiments.  Mrs.  P.  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church. 


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azarus  Lowry.  Among  the  representative 
and  prominent  business  men  of  Port  Byron 
is  Lazarus  Lowry.  He  is  an  old  pioneer 
of  Rock  Island  County  and  has  been  connected 
with  the  business  history  of  Port  Byron  for 
nearly  30  years.  He  was  born  June  19,  1830, 
near  Hallidaysburg,  Pa.,  in  that  part  of  Huntingdon 
County  which  is  now  included  in  Blair  County.  His 
pattrnal  great-grandfather  was  of  Scotch-Irish  origin 
and  he  was  the  first  member  of  his  family  to  settle  in 
America.  He  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and 
settled  on  the  Juniata  River,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  traffic  with  the  Indians.  Lazarus  Lowry,  the 
grandfather  of  Mr.  Lowry  of  this  sketch  and  for 
whom  the  latter  was  named,  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.  He  had  received  several 
slaves  from  his  father  and  a  tract  of  wild  land  em- 
bracing 1,200  acres.  His  estate  was  traversed  by  the 
Juniata  River,  upon  which  he  built  a  flouring-mill, 
near  the  head-waters  of  that  stream,  the  first  manu- 
factory of  its  kind  on  that  river.  On  the  day  on 
which  the  mill  was  put  in  practical  operation  the 
owner  freed  his  slaves.  He  named  his  son  Lazarus, 
who  was  the  second  of  the  name  and  who  married 
Sidney  Holliday,  also  a  resident  and  native  of  Hun- 
tingdon County.  They  were  the  parents  of  Mr. 
Lowry,  of  this  sketch.  The  mother  was  the  daughter 
of  John  Holliday,  a  Major  in  the  Revolutionary 
Army,  and  a  sister  of  John  Holliday,  who  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  War  of  18 12,  and  held  the  same  rank  as 
his  father.  The  family  was  of  Scotch  descent  and 
were  pioneers  of  Huntingdon  County,  Pa. 

When  he  was  20  years  of  age  Mr.  Lowry  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Iowa,  emigrating  thither  in 
1850.  They  journeyed  on  the  railroad  to  Johns- 
town, Pa.,  thence  on'the  canal  to  Pittsburg,  where 
they  took  passage  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Riv- 
ers to  Muscatine.  His  father  bought  a  farm,  situ- 
ated n  miles  northwest  of  Davenport,  of  which  the 
family  took  possession  in  the  spring  of  1851.  Mr. 
Lowry  attended  the  Davenport  College  in  1852,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1853  he  began  business,  operating  as 
a  contractor  in  furnishing  the  United  States  garri- 


sons at  Fort  Crawford,  Prairie  du  Chien  and  Fort 
Snelling  with  provisions.  He  was  occupied  in  that 
capacity  until  1857,  and  was  meanwhile  also  occu- 
pied in  the  variety  of  business  known  as  the  "  river 
trade,  "  and  had  been  for  a  few  years  subsequent. 
For  some  time  while  the  conflicts  between  the  Sioux 
and  Chippewa  Indians  were  in  progress,  the  braves 
of  the  former  being  on  the  war-path,  he  supplied 
their  families  with  provisions.  In  August,  1857,  he 
came  to  Rock  Island  County  and  assumed  control  of 
the  De  Soto  House,  at  Port  Byron,  and  continued  its 
management  until  1S63.  In  February,  of  that  year, 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States  and  was 
assigned  to  duty  in  the  transportation  of  munitions 
of  war  uuder  General  Palmer,  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office 
of  Master  of  Transportation  one  year.  During  the 
raid  of  Morgan's  Cavalry  the  supplies  gave  out  and 
the  troops  subsisted  on  reduced  rations  for  several 
days,  each  man  receiving  two  crackers  daily.  About 
the  commencement  of  1864  he  was  attached  to  the 
corps  of  L.  B.  Boomer,  bridge-contractor,  late  of  Chi- 
cago. In  1864  he  entered  into  a  contract  with  the 
United  States  Government  to  provide  material  for 
the  Nashville  &  Decatur  Railroad,  including  wood 
and  ties.  In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  he  raised 
a  crop  of  cotton  on  a  plantation  which  he  leased, 
which  was  located  65  miles  south  from  Nashville. 
While  marketing  his  crop  he  made  16  trips  from  the 
plantation  to  Nashville,  taking  each  time  an  average 
value  of  from  six  to  twelve  thousand  dollars  worth 
of  cotton.  Good  fortune  decreed  that  no  rebel  raid 
occurred  while  he  was  thus  engaged.  He  had  estab- 
lished a  supply  store  on  the  plantation  and  on  the 
occasion  of  Hood's  raid  he  removed  his  stock  of 
merchandise  to  Reynold's  Station,  where  his  family 
were.  Mrs.  Lowry  with  her  two  children  was  inside 
the  rebel  lines  six  weeks  and  during  the  time  secreted 
about  $2,000  in  cash  on  her  person.  Mr.  Lowry 
with  his  family  returned  to  Port  Byron  in  1865  and 
embarked  in  trade  in  stock  and  grain  and  also  in 
coal,  in  which  lines  of  traffic  he  was  interested  until 
1880.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company,  and  en- 
gaged in  buying  coal  lands  in  Iowa  and  Illinois,  his 
purchases  aggregating  several  millions  of  dollars. 
He  also  conducted  a  mercantile  enterprise  at  Brace- 
ville,  111.,  and  another  at  Angus,  Iowa,  transacting  an 
aggregate  value  of  $90,000  worth  of  business  yearly. 


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In  April,  1885,  lie  embarked  in  mercantile  traffic 
at  Port  Byron,  and,  associated  with  his  son,  initiated 
the  business  in  which  he  has  since  been  engaged. 
On  his  farm,  situated  near  the  village,  he  exhibits  a 
herd  of  thoroughbred  Holstein  cattle,  in  which  he 
takes  just  pride.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  a  consid- 
erable number  of  fine  Jersey  hogs.  He  has  a  palatial 
and  imposing  residence,  built  of  the  best  Milwau- 
kee brick,  which  gives  it  a  beautiful  cream  color.  The 
roof  is  of  the  French  pattern  and  the  interior  is  finely 
finished  in  hard  wood.  It  is  heated  by  steam  and 
lighted  by  gas  manufactured  on  the  premises.  The 
interior  throughout  harmonizes  with  the  exterior. 

On  the  2d  of  August,  1859,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mrs.  Emily  N.  Denlinger,  nee  Durfee,  a  na- 
tive of  Erie  Co.,  Pa ,  and  daughter  of  Addison  G. 
and  Loraine  Addison  Durfee.  Her  mother  subse- 
quently came  West,  in  1839,  and  settled  in  Henry 
County,  111.,  and  later  removed  to  Port  Byron,  at 
which  place  Mrs.  Lowry  was  resident  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage.  She  was  born  Dec.  26,  1829.  Mrs. 
Lowry,  by  her  former  marriage  with  Mr.  Denlinger, 
had  only  one  child,  M.  B.  Denlinger,  now  a  resident  of 
Port  Byron.  Earl  B.  and  Emma  S.  are  the  two  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lowry.  The  latter  is  the  wife 
of  H.  E.  Casteel,  a  merchant  of  Port  Byron.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lowry  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  for- 
merly being  an  old-line  Whig. 


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I  dgar  Humphrey,  of  Cordova,  was  born  in 


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Hopeville,    Mercer   Co.,   N.    J.,  Oct.    12, 
^M^"""    1843,  and  is   the  only  son    of   Elizabeth 
j?S-    Humphrey.     When  Edgar  was  but  two  years 
i      of  age  he  was  brought  to  Rock  Island  County 
\      by  his  mother,  who  located  at  Cordova.     Here 
our  subject  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a  good  edu- 
■^\   cation  at  the  public  schools  at  that  place.     His  com- 
ing to  this  place  was  in  1845,  and  he  has  since  lived 
here,  an  honored  and  respected  citizen.     In  1865  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  with  R.  K.  McCormick 
'    and  George  Ege.     In  1866  the  firm  bought  a    stock 
*   of  general  merchandise,  and  J.  L.  Perkins  became  a 
^   member  of  the  firm,  which  did  business   under   the 


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firm  name  of  J.  L.  Perkins  &  Company.  The  firm 
transacted  a  more  or  less  successful  business  until 
1869,  when  our  subject  bought  the  interest  of  his 
partner  and  continued  the  business  until  1873,  when 
he  sold  out.  He  has  since  been  assisting  his  step- 
father, William  G.  Marshall,  in  the  care  of  his  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Humphrey  was  united  in  marriage  Sept.  12, 
rS68,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Charity 
Karr,  and  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  The  following 
children  have  been  born  to  them :  Jennie,  Lura, 
Lizzie,  William,  Ira  T.  and  Olive  M. 

Mrs.  Humphrey  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Republican. 


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Dunbar,  a  farmer  residing  on  section  13, 
Zunia  Township,  and  the  son  of  Mathew 
"  and  Susan  (Campbell)  Dunbar,  natives  of 
Jjiki  Ireland,  was  born  Dec.  17,  1827,  in  Pennsyl- 
!i£  vania.  When  three  and  one-half  years  of  age 
)  Mr.  Dunbar  was  adopted  by  an  aunt,  with 
whom  he  resided  until  the  age  of  majority.  Under 
her  guidance  he  received  a  good  English  education, 
and  was  brought  up  to  the  labor  common  to  farmers' 
sons  in  the  time  and  locality  in  which  he  resided. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Dunbar,  realizing  the  advantages  of- 
fered by  the  West  for  procuring  a  competency,  came 
to  this  county,  and  at  first  purchased  12  acres  of 
land  upon  which  he  located,  and  to  which  he  has 
added  by  subsequent  purchases  185  acres.  He  lo- 
cated upon  his  land  and  entered  vigorously  and  ener- 
getically upon  the  improvement  of  the  same,  erecting 
in  time  a  good  and  substantial  residence,  barn  and 
outbuildings.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the 
adherents  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  at  present 
School  Director,  which  position  he  has  held  for  25 
years,  and  is  an  active  business  man,  respected  for 
his  sterling  worth  and  honest,  straightforward  deal- 
ings with  his  fellow-man. 

In  1865  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  156th  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
served  nine  months,  and  was  honorably  discharged, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service  at   Springfield,    111. 

Mr.  Dunbar  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Elizabeth  Miller,  May  27,  1849.     She  was   a  native 


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of  Ohio,  in  which  State  she  was  born  Aug.  26,  1848. 
They  have  12  children  living,  namely:  Alonzo,  born 
May  27,  1S50;  Emeline,  Feb.  27,  1S52;  Marilla, 
March  31,  1854;  Jane,  March  24,  1S56;  Samantha, 
Feb.  21,  1858;  Joseph,  Sept.  20,  1S60;  Mary,  April 
2r,  1862;  Olive,  March  26,  1864;  Eliza,  Oct.  18, 
1866;  Louis,  Oct.  t2,  1868;  Elizabeth,  Sept.  27, 
1872;  and  Florence,  Nov.  2,  1875.  Alonzo  married 
Bessie  Whiteside,  and  they  have  five  children  :  Eme- 
line married  Isaac  Struble,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  two  children.  Jane  married  Marion  Walker,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Samantha 
married  Jacob  Graham,  and  they  are  likewise  the 
parents  of  two  children.  Marilla  married  Joseph 
Parkes,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children. 


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'   k^nT    tePnen  E.  Goodlow,    farmer,  residing  on 
W^    section  29,   Rural  Township,   and    Super- 
visor of  the  same,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Gilmore)  Goodlow,  who  are  natives 
of    Ireland.      They   came    to    Rock    Island 
County  at  an   early  day,  and  settled  in    Rural 
Township,  where  he,  in  connection  with  his  brother 
David,  built  the  first  cabin  erected  in  that  township. 
He  was  married  there,  and  reared  a  family,  residing 
in  the  township  until   his   death.     He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely :     Stephen 
E.,  Mary  A.,  John,  Sarah,  Frances  and  Thomas. 

Stephen  E.  Goodlow,  the  subject  of  this  biographi- 
cal notice,  was  born  in  Rural  Township,  June  15, 
1842.  He  received  a  common-school  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  resided  on  a 
farm,  performing  such  work  as  is  common  to  farmers; 
sons.  On  attaining  the  age  of  17  years,  he  went  to 
Missouri,  where  he  was  employed  in  different  occu- 
pations, and  was  also  in  the  State  militia  six  months. 
He  then  returned  to  Rock  Island,  and  about  one 
year  later  he  crossed  the  plains  with  an  ox  team  to 
Idaho,  the  trip  lasting  about  three  months.  He  went 
out  for  the  purpose  of  mining,  but,  not  finding  it  sat- 
isfactory, he  engaged  in  teaming.  He  remained  in 
that  country  for  three  years,  and  then  returned  to  his 
native  State,  and  a  few  months  later  went  to  Mis- 
souri, where  he   remained  for  about  nine    months. 


From  the  latter  place  he  came  to  Rock  Island 
County,  where  lie  settled  and  has  since  resided.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  county, 
owning  a  farm  of  230  acres,  the  major  portion  of 
which  is  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a 
good  residence,  substantial  outbuildings,  and  one  of 
the  finest  farms  in  the  county,  and  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  of  Rural  Township. 

Mr.  Goodlow  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Rural  Township,  in  April,  1868,  with  Miss  Barbara, 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  James  and  Susan 
Campbell,  natives  of  Canada.  Mrs.  Goodlow  was 
born  in  Canada,  in  1843.  They  have  one  child, — 
Nettie. 

Mr.  Goodlow  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Rural 
Township  in  1884,  and  was  re-elected  in  the  spring 
of  1885.  He  has  alspserved  the  township  in  minor 
offices,  such  as  School  Director,  Overseer  of  High- 
ways, etc.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  Mrs.  Goodlow  is  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church. 


-»■    . -&Sh{hE$= 


.  ohn  E.  Babeock.  an  enterprising  and  pro- 
__M"  gressive  farmer,  whose  accumulations  are 
W&  attributable  to  his  own  indomitable  energy, 

pluch  and  good  judgment,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 28,  of  Hampton  Township,  came  to  this 
county  in  the  year  1837.  He  was  born  in 
State  of  Massachusetts,  Dec.  18,  r82r,  his  parents 
being  Timothy  and  Martha  (Bugby)  Babeock,  natives 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

Mr.  Babeock,  whose  name  heads  this  notice,  re- 
ceived the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  remained  under 
the  parental  roof-tree  until  he  attained  the  age  of  14 
years,  when,  realizing  that  the  West  offered  better  in- 
ducements for  the  accumulation  of  a  competency, 
and  being  given  the  privilege  by  his  parents  to  go 
forth  and  fight  out  his  own  destiny,  he  went  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  next  came 
to  this  county,  where  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a 
mercantile  establishment,  which  vocation  he  followed 
for  a  number  of  years. 

At  the  age  of   21  years,  Mr.  Babeock  purchased 


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06-;  acres  located  on  sections  21  and  28,  Hamp- 
ton Township,  and  entered  vigorously  and  energeti- 
cally upon  iis  cultivation  and  improvement.  He 
subsequently  added  to  his  original  purchase  320 
acres,  and  at  the  present  time  is  the  proprietor  of  426 
acres  of  good  tillable  land,  with  good  residence,  barn 
and  outbuildings.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  Dec. 
8,  1857,  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Wells,  a  native  of  Rock 
Island  County,  in  which  State  she  was  born,  Dec.  24, 
1838.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
six  children,  namely:  Ralph  M.,  born  July  29,  i860; 
John  E.,  March  15,  1862;  George  M.,  April  13, 
1864;  Louisa,  Oct.  27,  1866;  Martha  M.,  Oct.  3, 
1S69,  and  Drury  A.,  Aug.  18,1871.  Ralph  M.  married 
Louisa  Silvis,  daughter  of  Thomas  S.  Silvis. 

Politically,  Mr.  Babcock  is  identified  with  the  prin- 
ciples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  he  is  devoting 
a  great  part  of  his  time  to  stock,  and  has  some  90 
head  of  cattle.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
Hampton  Township,  and  although  never  seeking 
office  has  held  the  position  of  Road  Commissioner 
and  School  Director.  He  is  a  man  whose  work  is  as 
good  as  his  bond,  and  his  success  is  attributable  to 
his  honest,  straightforward  dealings  with  his  fellow- 
man,  coupled  with  his  good  judgment  and  persever- 
ance. 


hM3|5 illiain  Killing,  engaged  in  agriculture  on 
Ihjjyia ;  section  22,  Coal  Valley  Township,  is  a  son 
§§p?^  of  Benjamin  and  Eleanor  (Grosscamp) 
jR23>  Killing,  who  were  natives  of  Germany,  and 
had  five  children, — Mary,  Frank,  Amanda, 
William  and  Benjamin.  Mr.  Killing  was  born  in 
Germany  March  1,  1830,  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  he  was  six  years  old,  and  about  one 
year  later  they  settled  in  Comanche,  Iowa.  His 
father  died  soon  afterward,  and  he  was  "bound  out" 
until  21  years  of  age,  but  he  remained  with  his  guar- 
dian but  five  years.  He  then  came  to  Rock  Island, 
where  his  people  had  settled,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county.  He  is  now  the 
proprietor  of  620  acres  of  good  land  in  this  county. 
He  is  a  prominent  and  well-to-do  farmer  and  a  cit- 
izen in  high  standing. 

The  early  days  of  Mr.  Killing  in  this  county  were 


passed  quite  differently  from  what  they  are  now. 
brief  mention  of  what  he  was  called  to  pass  through/i. 
after  his  arrival  in  Rock  Island  County  will  give  some' v« 
idea  of  the  struggles  expeiienced  in  conquering  pov- 
erty, adversity  and  many  seemingly  insurmountable  S 
obstacles.     When  he  arrived  in   Coal  Valley  Town-T 
ship  he  walked  up  the  Bluff  road  without  money  or  I 
funds  and  his  wardrobe  tied   up  in   a  red  bandana  i 
handkerchief.     He  was  looking   for  work,  which   he  I 
finally  secured  from  Joseph  Knox,  cutting  cornstalks 
at  $4  per  month.     After  leaving  Mr.  Knox,  he  went  1 
to  work  for  James  Glenn,  with  whom   he   remained 
for  about  four  years.     After  leaving  Mr.  Glenn,  hav- 
ing saved  something  of  the  very  small  wages  he  re- 
ceived, he  bought  40  acres  of  land  in  Rural  Township 
and  went  to  work  for  himself.     He  worked  hard  and 
diligently  here  for  about  three  years,  when  he  sold 
out  his  farm  and  bought  1  20  acres  of  land  near  the 
village  of  Coal  Valley,  where  he  remained  for  about 
six  or  seven  years,  meeting  with  moderate  success. 
Getting  tired  of  the  hilly  country,  he  sold  his  farm 
for  $1,700.     In  less  than  six  months,  however,  coal 
was  discovered  on  the  place  and  the  man  who  pur-<^= 
chased  it  from  Mr.  Killing  sold   80  acres  of  it   for1''"' 
$10,000.     It  would  really  seem,  considering  the  hard 
struggles  through  which  Mr.  Killing  passed,  and  he*C 
living  so  long  over  the  rich  mine,  that  this   fortune 
rightly  belonged  to  him.     He  finally  settled  on   his 
present    homestead,   however,   where  prosperity   at- 
tended him,  which  place  he  has  improved  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township;  and  we  take  pleasure  in  presenting  a  full- 
page  view  of  his   residence  with  the   pleasant  sur- 
roundings.    As  a  gentleman  worthy  to  be  classed 
among  the  representative   citizens  of  Rock  Island 
County,  we  also  place  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Killing  in  this 
Album,  accompanying  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Killing  was  first  married  in  Edgington,  this 
county,  Nov.  23,  1869,  to  Carrie  Sherwood,  who  was 
a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  died  March 
31,  1876.  Fannie,  their  only  daughter,  was  born  ! 
Nov.  5,  1872.  He  was  again  married,  in  Rock  Isl- 
and, July  2i,  1877,  to  Jane  (Renfrow)  Davis,  widow 
of  John  C.  Davis,  who  died  in  Rock  Island,  Oct.  i, 
1876.  She  had  by  her  first  marriage  six  children, 
viz.:  Josephine  B.,  born  July  4,1852;  Alvira  A., 
Oct.  14,  1855;  Mary  E.,  Dec.  13,  1857;  Sadie  W./g 
Oct.  7,  1859;  Fannie  E.,  Oct.  9,  1861 ;  and  Willie 
E.,  Oct.  23,  1863.     He  died  Aug.  1,  1864.     Joseph-""' 


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ine  married  Frank  W.  Dorman,  and  by  this  mar- 
riage had  five  children, — Birdie,  Louie  A.,  Rhea, 
Johnny  and  Carrie.  Alvira  married  Wm.  Green, 
April  26,  1876,  and  they  have  had  one  child, — Fred- 
die B.  She  was  again  married,  to  Albert  Zeigler, 
Aug.  4,  1881.  Josie,  their  only  child,  died  Jan.  21, 
1884.  Mary  E.  married  W.  F.  Johnson,  Dec.  13, 
1879,  and  became  the  mother  of  two  children, — 
Jennie  F.  and  Lelia  B.  Sadie  married  John  Johns- 
ton Sept.  14,  1883.  One  child  has  been  born  to 
them,  James  Killing,  named  after  his  grandfather. 
Fannie  became  the  wife  of  T.  Winfield  Scott.  Sadie 
is  their  only  child. 

Mr.  K.  is  not  a  politician,  although  he  has  served 
as  School  Director;  in  his  views  of  national  affairs 
he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  K.  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 


-<-HH&*§3»- 


lisha  P.  Reynolds,  Sr.,  an  extensive  rail- 
road and  bridge  contractor,  and  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Rock  Island,  came  to  this  place 
from  Vermont  in  November,  1839.  In  that 
early  day  travelers  in  this  section  of  country 
did  not  have  the  excellent  railroad  facilities  we 
now  have ;  indeed,  the  stage  coach  was  seen  only  at 
few  places  and  at  rare  intervals.  Mr.  Reynolds  was 
hardy  and  determined,  and  on  reaching  Chicago  set 
out  for  Rock  Island  on  foot,  walking  the  entire  dis- 
tance— 150  miles — through  the  unsettled  country. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Vt., 
Feb.  13,  1817.  His  parents  were  Elisha  and  Betsey 
(Stuart)  Reynolds.  The  former  was  born  in  New 
York,  of  English  descent,  and  the  latter  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  of  Scotch  descent.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
2i  years  old,  receiving  a  good  common-school  edu- 
cation. After  leaving  home  he  worked  for  three 
years  for  %\o  per  month,  but  being  dissatisfied  with 
the  outlook  in  the  East,  and  the  narrow  field  it 
afforded  for  a  young  man  of  enterprise,  he  determined 
to  come  to  the  new  and  growing  West.  After  his  ar- 
rival here  he  found,  as  all  pioneers  to  a  new  country 
do,  that  much  hard  muscular  work  is  required  to  de- 
velop a  country.     For  about  two  years  he  worked  at 


cutting  wood  and  splitting  rails,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  burning  and  selling  lime  for  another  two 
years. 

Seeing  a  vast  field  of  fertile  land  all  about  him,  he 
determined  to  try  his  haud  at  farming,  and  accord- 
ingly, in  1844,  he  rented  a  farm  of  640  acres  across 
Rock  River.  This  venture  did  not  prove  so  suc- 
cessful as  he  anticipated,  and  after  three  years  lie 
left  the  farm  and  engaged  in  the  brick  business  and 
contracting,  erecting  buildings,  etc.  This  line  of 
work  he  successfully  followed  for  seven  years,  when, 
in  T853,  he  enlarged  his  field  of  operation,  taking  in 
the  construction  of  public  works.  He  took  at  this 
time  the  contract  for  grading  five  miles  of  the  Rock 
Island  Railroad.  In  this  he  employed  as  many  as 
50  men  at  a  time.  He  was  especially  fitted  for  this 
line  of  work,  and  which  he  has  since  successfully 
followed,  doing  some  very  heavy  work.  The  largest 
contract  he  ever  took  to  complete  in  one  year,  and  in 
fact  one  that  ranks  among  the  heavy  contracts  of  the 
country,  was  the  construction  of  250  miles  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  furnishing 
everything  except  the  iron,  ties  and  spikes.  The 
amount  he  received  for  this  work  was  $1,500,000. 
During  this  time  he  worked  3,000  men  and  r,5oo 
teams.  At  the  present  time,  however,  he  employs 
only  300  men.  In  1884  he  built  250  miles  of  rail- 
road for  the  following  companies :  The  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy,  Cedar  Rapids  &  Northern, 
and  Winona,  Alma  &  Northern  Railroads. 

Among  his  extensive  bridge  building  operations  is 
the  building  of  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Missis- 
sippi at  Minneapolis,  and  the  one  in  Dubuque,  and 
also  the  one  in  Louisiana  across  the  Mississippi,  and 
the  one  over  the  Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  the  one  at  Glas- 
gow over  the  Missouri,  and  also  the  one  at  Platts- 
mouth  over  the  same  river.  He  has  had  the 
contract  for  and  direct  charge  of  building  1,500 
miles  of  railroad,  and  besides  the  bridges  mentioned 
above,  numerous  others  over  small  streams. 

In  i860  Mr.  Reynolds  purchased  350  acres  of  land 
in  Hampton  Township,  this  county,  which  he  still 
owns  and  upon  which  he  keeps  his  tenants. 

Mr.  Reynolds  wa  sunited  in  marriage  with  Eliza 
Young,  a  native  of  Vermont,  April  17,  1847.  To 
them  were  born  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  still 
living, — John  H.,  Betsey,  Lucy  and  Benjamin.  Mrs. 
Reynolds  died  in  1858  and  Mr.  Reynolds  contracted 
a  subsequent  marriage  with  Amanda  Ogden  Oct.  20, 


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i860.  Mrs.  Reynolds  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and  the 
mother  of  one  child, — Elisha  P.  Of  his  children,  John, 
Benjamin  and  Lucy  are  married.  The  two  former  are 
in  company  with  him  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  P. 
Reynolds  &  Co.,  who  are  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  railroads  in  different  States  and  Territories 
of  the  Union. 

Although  not  a  politician,  though  being  a  strong 
Republican  in  his  political  views,  he  has  been  chosen 
Mayor  of  Rock  Island  for  two  terms,  conducting  the 
affairs  of  the  city  in  that  straightforward,  business- 
like way  so  characteristic  of  the  man. 


K  harles  B.  Fisk  was  born  in  Chemnitz,  Po- 
land, Feb.  28,  1854,  his  parents  having 
been  Ferdinand  and  Maria  (Mosch)  Fisk, 

the  former  a  native  of  Prussia  and  the  latter 
W      of  Poland.    They  resided  in  Leipsic,  Saxony, 

where  both  died.  Charles  B.  was  educated 
in  the  excellent  schools  and  gymnasiums  of  Germany 
and  at  the  age  of  1  4  years  was  apprenticed  to  the 
business  of  clerk  and  book-keeping.  In  187 1,  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York,  in  which  city  and  vicinity  he  remained  for  two 
years.  He  came  West  to  Illinois  in  about  1873,  ar>d 
located  in  Rock  Island  County,  and  engaged  to  work 
upon  a  farm,  continuing  the  same  for  about  two 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  period  he  came  to 
Cordova  and  clerked  for  a  Mr.  A.  J.  Sible,  who  was 
Postmaster  and  also  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing. With  him  he  remained  for  three  years,  when  he 
made  a  trip  back  to  his  native  land,  visited  Russia, 
Fiance  and  England,  and  upon  his  return  entered 
the  service  of  Mr.  Lowry,  as  book- keeper,  and  a  year 
later  entered  the  services  of  J.  J.  Johnson  in  the 
same  capacity.  Remaining  in  the  latter  place  until 
the  spring  of  1885,  he  then  engaged  in  the  grocery 
and  hardware  trade,  in  which  he  still  continues. 

In  September,  1878,  Mr.  Fisk  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of  A.  J.  and  Sarah 
Sible,  and  who  was  born  in  Cambridge,  this  State. 
One  child,  a  son  named  Ferdinand  Clyde,  is  the 
only  offspring  of  this  union.  Mr.  Fisk  is  a  member 
of  the  honorable  and  ancient  Order  of   F.  &  A.  M., 


and  belongs  to  Cordova  Lodge,  No.  543.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  Barrett  Chapter,  No.  18,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
belongs  to  the  beneficiary  Order  of  Modern  Wood- 
men. 

Politically,  he  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  has 
represented  his  township  twice  in  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, and  is  a  member  at  the  present  writing. 


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J.  Johnson,  merchant  at  Rapids  City,  was 
born  in  Middlesex  County,  Conn.,  Aug.  2, 
18 18.  His  younger  days  were  spent  chief- 
ly in  school,  acquiring  an  English  education, 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  21.  He  followed 
boat-building  until  1S72,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business.  In  1855  he  came  from 
Binghamton  Township,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Rock 
Island  County,  where  he  remained  one  year,  then 
going  to  LeClaire,  Iowa.  He  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  in  1872  at  the  latter  place,  and  followed 
the  same  until  he  removed  to  Rapids  City  in  1878, 
and  opened  a  store,  where  he  at  present  resides. 

Mr.  Johnson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
1847  with  Miss  Amanda  A.  Galloway,  a  native  of 
Binghamton,  N.  Y.  The  issue  of  their  union  is 
three  children,  namely:  Pamelia,  Flora  and  Arthur. 
Mr.  Johnson,  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  possessor 
of  one  block  and  a  lot,  with  store,  dwelling  and  barn 
on  it,  in  LeClaire,  Iowa,  and  two  dwelling-houses  and 
a  store  and  stock  in  Rapids  City. 


illiam  Rinck,  grocer,  at  Rock  Island,  was 
born   in   Germany,   March    n,  1839,  and 

r  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  na- 
tive country,  until  he  emigrated  to  America. 
On  coming  to  the  United  States  he  came  direct 
to  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  1857,  and  engaged  to 
learn  the  boot  and  shoe  trade.  In  1858  he  removed 
to  St.  Louis  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  that  city  un- 
til May,  1 86 1. 

Soon  after  the  news  had  flashed  across  the  coun- 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


ftry  that  Sumter  had  been  fired  upon,  and  the  Presi- 
dent made  his  call  for  brave  hearts  and  strong  arms 
to  defend  the  Nation's  honor,  Mr.  Rinck  enlisted 
I  in  the  Second  Mo.  Vol.  Inf.  for  a  period  of  three 
months.  At  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment  he  re- 
**  enlisted  in  the  12th  Mo.  Vol.  Inf.  and  served  three 
years  in  the  Union  Army.  He  was  mustered  out 
Sept.  19,  1864,  and  received  an  honorable  discharge, 
having  participated  in  all  the  engagements  in  which 
his  company  were  interested.  On  receiving  his  dis- 
charge, he  returned  to  Rock  Island,  and  worked  at 
the  boot  and  shoe  business  until  1S74.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  is  still  con- 
ducting, and  by  honest  dealings  and  fair  representa- 
tions, has  established  a  good  and  increasing  trade. 
His  store  is  located  on  Seventh  Avenue  and  14^ 
Street,  and  is  50x54  feet  in  dimensions,  and  his 
stock  is  ample  to  meet  the  wants  of  his  customers. 
Mr.  Rinck  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  March 
)  7,  1866,  with  Miss  Katarina  Cordes,  and  they  are 
;*  the  parents  of  n  children,  namely  :  Frederick  W., 
m  born  Dec.  3,  r866;  Catharine  S.,  born  Dec.  3,  1866; 
^  they  were  twins;  Mary,  born  Jan.  28,  1868;  Willie  F., 
ft  born  Oct.  8,  1869;  Benjamin  and  John  (twins),  born 
EJ  Feb.  22,  1871;  Henry,  born  Nov.  23,  1873;  Anna, 
X  born  Feb.  15,  1875;  Dora,  bo:n  March  24,  1877; 
^  Tillie,  born  Oct.  10,  1878,  and  Louise,  born  March 

^!)  29, 1884. 

Politically,  Mr.  Rinck  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  served  as  Alderman 
of  the  Second  Ward  one  year.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Builders'  Association,  and  owns  two  lots  ad- 
joining his  store,  besides  his  residence.  Socially,  lie  is 
member  of  the  Order  of  United  Workmen,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  the  G.  A.  R.  He  is  a  man  always  in  favor  of 
any  improvement  calculated  to  benefit  the  public  or 
community  in  which  he  resides. 


years  in  Pennsylvania.  He  then  worked  at  the  Rock 
Island  House  for  two  years,  when  he  changed  his  oc- 
cupation to  farming,  at  which  he  was  engaged  until 
1841.  His  first  purchase  was  20  acres  of  land  in 
Hampton  Township,  but  ere  long  sold  this  and 
made  another  purchase,  of  40  acres  on  section  16, 
but  finally  sold  this  also;  and  atone  time  was  the 
possessor  of  192  acres,  under  cultivation. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his  pa- 
rents until  23  years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  receiving 
the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  in  the  way  of 
an  education.  After  leaving  the  parental  roof-tree, 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  section  2,  and  followed 
that  occupation  until  1884,  at  the  same  time  running 
a  saloon  which  he  had  opened  in  1879  at  Rapids 
City,  and  in  which  he  is  engaged  at  the  present  time. 
Mr.  V.  is  the  owner  of  55  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Vogel  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  May  24, 
187  1,  with  Miss  Mary  A.  King,  and  of  their  union 
six  children  have  been  born, — Mary  Margaret,  born 
Aug.  24,  1872;  Annie  V.,  May  16,  1875;  Clara  A., 
Aug  9,  1 S 7 7 ;  Francis,  Jan.  17,  1880;  Julia  E., 
June  26,  1882,  and  Rosa  A.,  July  25,  1884.  Mr. 
Vogel  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  and, 
with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  German  Catholic 
Church. 


ohn    C.    Vogel,    proprietor    of  the    Vogel 

imC   House   and  Saloon   in   Rapids   City,  Rock 

Island  County,  in  which  city  he  was  born, 

Feb.    27,    1848.     His   parents,    John   A.    and 

Margaret  (Scherschel)   Vogel,  were  natives  of 

Germany,  from  which  place  they  emigrated  to 

United  States   in   1836,   and  located   for  three 


3-OO06 


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ohn  E.  Crouch,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
Wmfc  raiser,  section  n,  Bowling  Township,  was 


born  in  Adams  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  24,  1847. 
jh  His  father,  Atlas  A.,  a  farmer,  was  born  in  the 
'11  State  of  New  York,  and  settled  in  the  above 
county,  where  three  of  his  children  were  born, 
namely:  Sarah  V.,  who  married  Charles  Kyte  and 
now  resides  upon  a  farm  near  Milan  in  this  county  > 
John  E.,  our  subject,  and  Lorenzo  F.,  who  died  in 
this  township,  when  about  nine  years  of  age.  The 
senior  Crouch  moved  with  his  family  to  Bowling 
Township,  this  county,  upon  a  quarter  section  of 
land  which  he  had  purchased,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  T3,  i86r.  He  was 
an  active  citizen  in  his  community,  a  prominent  man 
in  local  politics,  and  a  pushing,  progressive  farmer. 
Both  himself  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Dunkard 
Church.     She  died  at  the  residence  of  John  E.,  her 


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^./■son,  in   Bowling  Township,  Jan.  5,  1880;  she  was 
born  Nov.  16,  1827. 

Mr.  John  E.  Crouch  was  about  two  years  old  when 
his  father  came  to  this  county,  and  was  14  when  the 
latter  died,  and  he  continued  to  reside  with  his 
mother,  or  his  mother  with  him,  until  her  death.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 

I       He  married  Miss  Amelia  Clippinger,  Dec.  19,  1876. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  George  and  Jane  (Brown) 
Clippinger,  natives  respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and 
.   Indiana,  of  mixed  ancestry, — German,  English  and 
x"  Irish.     Mrs.  Crouch   was  born  in    Marengo,    Iowa, 
y  Dec.  2,  1856,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  four  children. 
^The  others  were  Mary  E.,  Anna  B.,  and  Lena, — all 
living.     When  she  was   12  years  of  age,  the  family 
removed    to   this    county,    settling   in    Milan.     Her 
father  died  April    19,  1880,  on  account  of  fatal   in- 
juries which  he  received  from  the  falling  of  a  bridge 
across  Rock  River.    He  was  standing  upon  it  during 
)a  freshet.   Mrs.  C.'s  mother  died  Dec.  28,  1876.  Mrs. 
•  Crouch    was    educated    in  the  district  schools,  and 
when  17  years  of  age  began  teaching,  and  followed  it 
Ir  for   four    years.     The    three    children    of    Mr.   and 
'Mrs.    Crouch  are  Clyde    C,    born    Nov.   31,    1877; 
=  Winnifred,  Jan.   2,   1881;   and   Nina   B.,  March   26, 
;  1885.     Mr.  Crouch  has  resided  in  Bowling  Town- 
jk  ship  ever  since  his  marriage,  and  now  has   220  acres 
of  valuable  land,  all  fenced  and   in  good  condition 
for  farm  crops.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican. 


.W Prkavid  B  Sears, deceased.   Prominent  among 
f.jEMII,    the  early  settlers  of  Rock   Island  County, 
'Ect"3    as  we'l  as  ranking  high  with  the  prosper- 
x5*>      ous,  enterprising  and  thorough-going  business 
W    men  of  late  years,  was  the  subject  of  this   per- 
S     sonal  narrative.     There  have  been  some  splen- 
did business  men,  men  of  exceptional  capacity  and 
,:;,A  enterprise,  who  came  here  in  an  early  day  and  made 
%  this   the    most    prominent   field' of    their   life-work. 
I  Scarcely  any  of  these,  however,  rank  higher  than  did 
Mr.  Sears.     He  was  born  in  Lima,  Livingston  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in"  April,   1804.     His  father  moved  with   his 


family  to  the  Scioto  Valley,  in  Ohio,  when  David  was 
in  his  seventh  year.  Here  they  lived  during  the 
trying  times  of  the  War  of  181 2.  During  this  period 
they  endured  great  hardships  and  their  lives  were 
frequently  imperiled  by  the  attacks  of  marauding  In- 
dians. They  were  finally  compelled  to  leave  their 
homes  and  flee  for  safety  to  Fort  Erie.  Their  flight 
took  them  across  the  Scioto  River,  and  in  making 
the  passage  their  rude  boat  was  upset,  and  two  of 
David's  sisters  and  a  brother  were  drowned.  Reach- 
ing the  fort,  they  availed  themselves  of  its  protection 
until  after  Perry's  famous  victory,  they  being  within 
sound  of  the  guns  during  the  engagement.  They 
then  removed  to  Cincinnati.  In  1814  the  family 
ventured  further  west,  settling  in  Switzerland  Co., 
Ind.  In  1818  they  again  pulled  up  stakes  and  struck 
out  for  the  Wabash  Valley,  where  they  finally  lo- 
cated permanently.  Two  years  after,  David,  who 
was  then  in  his  17th  year,  yearning  for  an  education, 
resolved  to  return  to  his  native  State.  Accordingly, 
wrapping  all  his  spare  clothing  in  a  cotton  handker- 
chief, he  started  for  New  Orleans  on  a  flat-boat, 
where  he  arrived  safely,  and  went  around  to  New 
York  by  sailing  vessel,  from  whence  he  proceeded  on 
foot  to  his  mother's  people,  living  near  Syracuse. 
Something  seems  to  have  occurred  which  interfered 
with  his  plans  for  obtaining  an  education,  for  in  the 
course  of  a  year  we  find  him  on  his  way  back  to  Illi- 
nois. The  reason  for  this  sudden  move  may,  per- 
haps, be  read  in  the  record  of  his  first  marriage,  which 
occurred  in  1822,  the  woman  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Melinda  Stokes,  of  Shawneetown,  111.  The  young 
couple  commenced  life  on  a  farm  of  80  acres  near 
that  place.  For  a  period  of  14  years  thereafter  Mr. 
Sears  made  farming  his  vocation,  taking  annual  trips 
to  New  Orleans  to  dispose  of  his  produce,  which  he 
shipped  by  flat-boat.  On  these  trips  lucrative  in- 
ducements were  frequently  held  out  to  him  by 
Southern  traders  to  enter  the  slave  traffic,  but  to 
accept  such  a  proposition  was  contrary  to  the  cardi- 
nal principles  of  his  life,  and  he  never  attempted  to 
better  his  fortunes  in  that  way. 

As  early  as  1836,  Mr.  Sears  left  his  home  in 
Southern  Illinois  and  started  for  the  then  much- 
talked  of  country  known  as  the  Upper  Mississippi 
Valley.  Not  a  building  of  any  kind  then  stood  upon 
the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Moline. 

The  lovely  island  remained  as  nature  had  made 
it.     The    swift  waters  of    the   mighty  river   flowed 


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wastefully  past  it  on  either  side.  Five  miles  below, 
old  Black  Hawk's  "  watch-tower  "  raised  its  head  in 
primitive  grandeur  above  the  broad  valley  of  the 
Rock  River,  whose  enchained  water-power  now  turns 
the  wheels  of  numerous  industries.  The  scene  un- 
folded to  the  gaze  of  Mr.  Sears  was  not  only  one  of 
surpassing  natural  loveliness,  but  it  also  revealed,  as 
his  quick  eye  discovered,  superior  advantages  for  the 
location  and  development  of  large  manufacturing  in- 
terests. The  purpose  of  making  this  his  permanent 
abiding  place  was  immediately  formed.  The  build- 
ing of  a  habitation  and  removal  of  his  family  and 
chattels  was  soon  accomplished,  and  then  began  the 
work  which  has  made  the  name  of  Sears  and  the  his- 
tory of  Moline's  industrial  progress  inseparable. 

In  1837,  Mr.  Sears,  in  company  with  J.  W.  Spen- 
cer, Calvin  Ainsworth  and  Spencer  H.  White,  com-  . 
menced  building  the  first  dam  across  the  river  between 
the  island  of  Rock  Island  and  the  Illinois  shore.  In 
the  fall  of  1841  they  erected  a  two-story  saw-mill, 
and  placed  on  the  upper  floor  a  run  of  buhrs  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  neighboring  farmers,  the  near- 
est flour-mill  at  that  time  being  over  100  miles  distant. 
Thomas  Patterson  was  the  millwright  who  supervised 
the  work,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Hun  toon  (to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  much  of  the  information  herein  con- 
tained) the  miller  who  dressed  and  fitted  the  stones. 
The  saw-mill  was  operated  successfully,  and  in  1S43, 
the  country  having  rapidly  filled  with  settlers,  Mr. 
Sears  suggested,  and  the  company  put  into  practical 
effect,  plans  for  the  building  of  what  was  for  a  long 
time  known  as  "  the  big  mill,"  at  this  place.  It  was 
a  four-run  mill,  and  was  fitted  up  at  what  was  con- 
sidered great  expense,  the  entire  cost,  we  believe, 
being  some  $30,000.  Every  article  of  machinery 
about  the  mill  was  the  very  best  that  could  be  ob- 
tained at  that  age  of  old-style  milling.  Mr.  Sears 
was  noted  for  his  readiness  to  adopt  improved  appli- 
ances for  the  simplification  and  lightening  of  labor. 
He  brought  to  Moline  the  first  rotary  saw  used  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  above  St.  Louis,  thereby  incurring 
the  transient  displeasure  of  his  employes,  who  until 
enlightened  could  see  in  the  innovation  only  an  en- 
croachment upon  their  rights.  By  an  arrangement 
with  his  partners  he  completed  the  new  structure 
with  his  own  private  funds,  his  right  to  the  water- 
power  being  made  free  for  a  term  of  years.  He 
controlled  the  mill  and  its  business  until  1848,  ship- 
ping its  products  to  St.  Louis  and  Lower  Mississippi 


River  points.  It  is  related  that  one  cargo  of  his  flour, 
having  been  refused  at  St.  Louis,  was  forwarded  to 
New  Orleans,  where  it  also  failed  to  find  a  pur- 
chaser. Determined  to  dispose  of  it,  Mr.  Sears 
ordered  it  shipped  to  New  York,  where  it  was  imme- 
diately purchased,and  an  order  given  for  100  barrels 
more. 

About  the  time  the  large  mill  was  commenced,  Mr. 
Sears,  in  company  with  Mr.  Chas.  Atkinson,  laid  out 
and  platted  the  town  of  Moline  and  its  "  Island  City 
subdivision,"  which  consisted  of  a  tract  of  37  acres 
on  the  upper  end  of  Rock  Island,  which  was  then 
held  as  a  military  reserve.  This  tract  he  secured 
the  right  from  Congress  (after  three  visits  to  Wash- 
ington and  much  laborious  effort)  to  enter  at  $1.25 
per  acre,  the  privilege  being  granted  him  in  consid- 
eration of  the  benefits  to  navigation  which  had  ac- 
crued from  the  building  of  the  dam  on  the  Illinois 
side  of  the  island. 

The  entire  volume  of  water  being  turned  into  the 
main  channel,  the  passage  of  the  rapids,  long  a  source 
of  trouble  and  danger  to  steamboats,  was  rendered 
easy  and  safe.  In  1S43,  Mr.  Sears  established  a 
foundry  and  erected  a  store  and  other  buildings  in 
Moline,  and  thereafter  for  years  had  a  hand  in  the 
advancement  of  every  project  which  had  the  material 
improvement  of  the  town  for  its  aim.  His  word  was 
as  good  as  his  bond,  and  his  endorsement  was  recog- 
nized as  the  best  of  security.  In  1845  he  built  a 
three-run  flour-mill  on  Benham's  Island,  a  narrow 
strip  of  land  lying  contiguous  to  Rock  Island  on  the 
north,  thereby  developing  a  water-power  between  the 
two  Islands.  He  constructed  a  steamboat  landing 
below  the  mill,  erected  a  house  and  other  buildings 
on  the  main  island;  and  when,  in  1865,  the  Govern- 
ment took  possession  of  the  island  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  national  arsenal  and  armory,  the  com- 
mission awarded  him  $145,175  for  his  property  and 
improvements. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Sears,  seeking  new  fields  for  the 
profitable  investment  of  his  capital,  went  to  Minne- 
sota and  purchased  one-fourth,  as  we  understand,  of 
the  present  milling  site  of  Minneapolis,  which  he 
afterwards  sold  to  the  late  Governor  C.  C.  Washburn, 
of  Wisconsin,  for  $4,000.  In  doing  so  he  made  a 
great  mistake,  as  he  himself  frequently  remarked, 
and  as  the  subsequent  rise  in  the  value  of  the  prop- 
erty has  proved. 

Pushing  westward  on  his  tour  of  observation,  he 


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J?OCX  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


came  to  Lake  Minnetonka,  where  he  could  not  resist 
the  temptation  to  leave  a  mark  of  his  enterprise  in 
the  shape  of  a  saw-mill  and  furniture  factory.  With 
the  exception  of  a  bridge  contract,  undertaken  upon 
his  return  to  Moline,  this  was  the  end  of  his  building 
operations  until  after  the  war.  His  various  business 
interests  required  his  closest  attention  up  to  r86i. 
However,  when  the  country  became  involved  in  civil 
war,  his  patriotism  led  him  to  forsake  his  extensive 
business  interests  and  enlist  in  defense  of  the  old 
flag.  In  August,  i86t,  he  enlisted  in  the  27th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  General  Buford's  regiment,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Quartermaster  with  the  rank  of  Captain.  He 
served  three  years  in  that  capacity,  and  although 
always  at  the  front  did  not  actively  participate  in 
any  engagements.  He  was,  however,  captured  while 
in  charge  of  a  foraging  expedition  south  of  Nashville, 
in  December,  1S63.  He  was  soon  after  paroled  and 
sent  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  was  subsequently 
exchanged.  He  returned  to  his  regiment  and  con- 
tinued to  act  as  Quartermaster  until  his  discharge  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service. 

In  1867,  having  received  from  the  Government  the 
money  due  him  for  his  island  property,  he  built  the 
fine  300-barrel  mill  at  Sears,  now  operated  by  three 
of  his  sons,  David,  William  and  George.  The  de- 
velopment of  the  water-power  of  Rock  River  was  the 
costliest  work  that  Mr.  Sears  ever  undertook,  but, 
conquering  all  reverses,  he  lived  to  see  the  site  which 
he  first  surveyed  from  the  "  watch-tower  "  occupied 
and  the  power  utilized  by  thriving  industrial  estab- 
lishments. With  the  means  at  his  command,  limited 
though  they  sometimes  were,  he  undertook  many 
new  enterprises.  In  1S70  he  built  a  flour  mill  at 
Cleveland,  111.,  and  another  at  Linden  in  1873.  In 
1875  he  went  to  Tama  City,  Iowa,  where  he  erected 
a  large  mill,  and  two  years  after  he  dug  a  canal,  put 
in  a  dam,  and  otherwise  improved  the  water-power 
at  Ottumwa.  In  1880  he  constructed  water-works 
at  Red  Oak,  Iowa,  and  the  following  year  performed 
a  like  work  at  Joplin,  Mo.  On  almost  every  stream 
in  this  section  of  the  country  where  there  was  a 
chance  for  water-power  improvement,  Mr.  Sears  has 
left  monuments  to  his  never-flagging  energy  and  en- 
terprise. 

For  the  last  two  years  of  his  life  he  has  resided  in 
the  little  town  which  bears  his  name.  His  latest 
undertaking  was  the  building  of  a  beautiful  residence 
on  a  bluff  overlooking  his  town  and  the  valleys  of  the 


Rock  and  Mississippi  Rivers.  Up  to  within  a  few 
moments  of  his  death  he  seemed  to  be  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  good  health — in  his  80th  year,  apparently  as 
hale  and  hearty  as  at  any  period  of  his  later  life. 

David  B.  Sears  was  a  man  of  sterling  principles. 
Honest  in  all  his  dealings,  he  was  respected  by  every 
one  with  whom  he  had  business  relaiions.  Liberal 
to  an  extreme,  none  ever  asked  for  his  charity  who 
did  not  receive  what  he  could  afford  to  give.  He 
was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,  and  practiced 
what  he  preached.  The  history  of  his  life  is  a  record 
of  good  deeds,  and  is  worthy  of  all  emulation. 

A  portrait  of  a  man  so  largely  interested  in  the 
growth  and  development  of  this  section  of  the  State 
is  naturally  expected  in  the  Album  of  portraits  of 
prominent  and  representative  citizens  of  the  county. 
The  publishers  are  therefore  pleased  to  present  in 
connection  with  this  sketch  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Sears. 


ulius  L.  McNabney,  a  resident  of  Hampton 
'-  Village,  this  county,  was    born   in   the   vil- 


lage in  which  he  at  present  resides,  Aug. 
22,  1854.  His  parents  were  William  J.  and 
Josephine  (Burk)  McNabney,  natives  of  New 
York  and  Germany  respectively.  His  father 
was  a  cooper  by  occupation,  and  the  latter  part  of 
his  life  worked  at  carpentering.  He  died  Sept.  29, 
1874. 

Julius  L.  McNabney  attended  school  until  he  was 
17  years  of  age,  and  worked  on  the  farm.  Arriving 
at  this  age  in  life,  he  set  forth  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world,  and  for  a  while  worked  on  a  farm.  He 
then  went  to  work  for  the  Hampton  Mining  &  Coal 
Company,  and  was  in  their  employ  for  seven  years, 
then  he  engaged  with  Taylor  Williams'  Coal  Com- 
pany, and  worked  with  them  for  three  years.  His 
position  was  that  of  weighing  coal,  and  since  leaving 
the  latter  company  he  has  spent  two  years  in  paint- 
ing for  Deere  &  Co.,  of  Moline.  April  1,  1885,  he 
was  appointed  Deputy  Head  Consul  for  the  Order 
of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  has  been  en- 
gaged in  organizing  camps  in  Iowa.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  charter  members  of  Moline  Camp.  Politi- 
cally he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 


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J?6>CX  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  McNabney  occurred  in  1877, 
and  the  lady  of  his  choice,  was  Miss  Ida  M.  Willis, 
a  native  of  Hampton  Village,  where  she  was  born 
Jan.  i,  186c  The  issue  of  their  union  has  been 
three  children,  namely:  Louis  M.,  born  Aug.  11, 
1878;  William  E.,  born  July  9,  1881,  and  Goldie, 
born  June  28,  1885.  Mr.  McNabney,  although  a 
young  man,  is  always  interested  in  any  improvement 
that  will  benefit  the  community  in  which  he  resides, 
and  takes  an  active  part  in  its  promotion. 


-5 ~\-^Sl>#^S"w~ 


i  illiam  H.  Lundy,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent young  men  of  Rock  Island  County, 
jfc^fS  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  served  the 
wSy  city  a  greater  number  of  years  successively 
as  Alderman  than  any  other  man,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Naperville,  111,  where  he  was  born  May 
17,  1848.  His  parents,  John  G.  aud  Elizabeth  (Dy- 
ment)  Lundy,  were  boan  in  the  north  of  Ireland  and 
England  respectively.  They  were  married  in  Can- 
ada and  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  DuPage  County 
in  1836,  where  their  six  children  were  born  and 
where  Mrs.  Lundy  yet  lives,  the  senior  Mr.  Lundy 
having  died  in  1881. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  up  to  farm- 
ing, the  duties  whereof  he  alternated  with  attend- 
ance at  the  Naperville  schools,  acquiring  thereby  a 
good  English  education.  He  left  home  when  about 
20  years  of  age  and  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  jewelry  store  about  a  year. 
From  there  he  came  to  Rock  Island  and  engaged  in 
the  business  he  has  since  followed,  viz.  :  dealer  in 
house-furnishing  goods  of  every  description. 

Mr.  Lundy  was  first  elected  Alderman  in  1875 
from  the  Second  Ward,  and  continued  in  that  office 
up  to  the  spring  of  1883,  when  lie  headed  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket  as  candidate  for  Mayor.  In  this  he 
was  defeated  by  only  two  votes,  after  one  of  the  hot- 
test contests  ever  witnessed  in  Rock  Island.  In  this 
election  the  Republican  and  Greenback  Labor  par- 
ties were  united  ;  and,  remembering  that  either  party 
had  always  held  largely  the  balance  of  power  in  the 
city,  the  closeness  of  the  vote  was  a  surprise  to  ev- 
erybody and    an  exalted  compliment  to  Mr.  Lundy. 


From  the  time  of  his  advent  into  politics  Mr.  Lundyv  . 
has  played  a  leading  part.     The  morning   following 


his  first  appearance  in  the  City  Council  as  an  Alder- 
man, a    prominent    city    paper   editorially   predicted  : 
that  the  young  Democratic  member  from  the  Second  I 
Ward  would   prove   the    leading  spirit  of   thatbodyv-: 
during  his  incumbency,  and   the  history    of  his  eight 
years'  continuous  service  fully  verifies  the  prophecy. 
Mr.  Lundy  is  an  ardent,  uncompromising  Democrat, 
and  that  he  enjoys  the  fullest  confidence  of  his  party 
is  attested  by  the  record.     He   has   represented   the 
party  three  or  four  times  as   delegate    to  State  Con-%, 
ventions,  and  the  Congressional  Conventions  as  often- 
as  they  have  occurred  since  he  became   a   citizen  off 
Rock  Island. 

In  1882  he  represented  Rock  Island  at  large  as  a 
Delegate  in  the  Hennepin  Canal  Convention,  at  Dav- 
enport, and  again  in  the  same  cause  and  capacity  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  1884.  He  is  a  close  student,  an 
eloquent  speaker  and  a  graceful  writer.  Mr.  Lundy1 
is  prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,^  ' 
also  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.  and  the  "  Red/": 
Men.  " 

Mr.  Lundy  formed   a  matrimonial  alliance  Oct.  9, 
1881,  at  Rock  Island  city,  with  Miss  Ida  W.  Phillips,c= 
a  native  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  and    their   only   child 
bears  the  euphonious  name  of  Edna  Josephine. 


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lbert  Jjindstrom,  weighmaster  for  Taylor 
1  Williams,  at  the  Rapids  City  Coal  Mines, 
'  Hampton  Township,  is  a  native  of  Sweden, 
in  which  country  he  was  born  Aug.  30,  1846. 
His  parents  were  Charles  and  Christina  (Peter- 
son) Lindstrom,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1852,  coming  direct  to  Rock  Island,  and 
remaining  there  until  1856,  when  they  removed  to 
Rapids  City,  at  which  place  the  father  worked 
at  carriage  and  wagon  making,  and  carried  on  thatjf^ 
vocation  until  1877. 

Albert  Lindstrom,  subject  of  this  notice  remained^, 
with  his  parents  until  1869,  receiving  a  good  com-'® 
mon-school  education.     At  the   age  of  16  he  com-xje 
menced  to  learn  the   carriage  business,   under  the 
instruction  of  his  father,  and  followed  the  same  un-^ 


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til  1877,  excepting  the  time  he  was  fighting  in  the 
Union  army.  He  enlisted  in  September,  1864,  in 
Co.  I,  14th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  and  was  in  the  ser- 
vice 1 1  months,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge. 
He  then  returned  home  and  followed  his  trade  until 
1877.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  engaged  two 
years  in  farming  in  Henry  County,  on  80  acres  of 
land  he  had  purchased.  He  subsequently  sold  the 
same  and  returned  to  Rapids  City,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  employed  as  weighmaster  for  Taylor 
Williams. 

Mr.  Lindstrom  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emeline  Shurtleff,  May  12,  1869,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  three  children, — Anna  R.,  born  March 
15,  1873;  Minnie,  born  Feb.  8,  1876;  and  William 
A.,  Aug.  15,  1879. 

Politically,  Mr.  Lindstrom  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  is  Village  Clerk  and  School 
Director,  was  the  first  Treasurer  of  Rapids  City,  and 
is  one  of  the  energetic  business    men   of  that  village. 


HI!  eorge  S.  Moore,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Lunenburg,  Essex  Co.,  Vt.,  March  4,  1809, 
Ipp  K  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  here, 
™  »  coming  in  1837.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  re- 
ceiving the  advantages  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  early  day,  and,  when  a 
young  man,  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  at 
Guildhall,  Vt.;  later,  conducting  a  hotel  in  the  same 
place.  In  1837,  as  before  stated,  he  started,  in  com- 
pany with  Silas  Marshall,  for  Illinois.  They  traveled 
with  sleighs  until  they  reached  Michigan,  when  they 
exchanged  them  for  wagons,  and  proceeded  on  their 
way  overland  to  Rock  Island  city.  At  this  latter 
place,  Mr.  Moore  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business, 
later  adding  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  and  continued  in 
this  line  of  business  for  a  few  years,  and  then  sold 
out.  He  then  erected  a  hotel,  which  he  managed 
until  the  date  of  his  demise. 

There  were  five  children  in  the  family  of  Mr. 
Moore,  viz :  George,  Albert,  Emma,  Frank  and  Mary. 
George  is  now  in  business  in  Port  Byron;  Albert 
is  in  Nebraska,  and   engaged   in   farming;  Emma  is 


the  wife  of  F.  S.  Gates  and  resides  in  Port  Byron; 
Frank  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  John  Zollinger,  Postmaster  at  Port  Byron. 


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^elen   Whipple   Reed.     This  book  of  bio- 
graphical sketches  would  be  sadly  incom- 
plete  if  issued  without  notice  of  the  subject 
m    of  this  article,  for  she  was   admired   greatly  by 
i      all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact;   and  her 
name  will  be    seen    on   a  loyal  monument   as 
long  as  the  granite  lasts,  and  in  the  hearts  of  hun- 
dreds whom  she  met  and  to  whom   she   came  with 
help  and  hopeful  words,  her  name   is  so  deeply  en- 
graven as  to  never  be  effaced  so  long  as  life  lasts. 

Helen  Davenport  was  born  in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y., 
May  19,  1813,  and  was  married  May  8,  1843,  to  Mr. 
Ralph  Whipple,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  she 
had  one  child,  Henry  O.  Whipple,  whose  sketch  is 
given  elsewhere.  July  n,  1847,  ner  first  husband, 
the  father  of  Henry,  died,  and  in  1858  the  widow 
married  Peter  R.  Reed,  at  Richfield  Springs,  N.  Y., 
and  they  located  at  Moline,  111.,  in  May,  1859,  where 
Mr.  Reed  died,  and  where  she  remained  up  to  the 
time  of  her  death,  which  occurred  April  24,  1882. 

Mrs.  Reed's  maiden  name  was  Davenport,  she  be- 
ing a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Olin) 
Davenport,  both  parents  being  of  Revolutionary 
stock.  She  was  kept  at  school  by  her  parents  and 
acquired  a  splendid  education,  and  held  such  a  po- 
sition by  birth,  education  and  talent  as  carried  her 
into  the  highest  society  in  New  York  State  and  else- 
where, and  she  gained  and  retained  the  acquaintance 
of  many  noted  people.  She  possessed  specially 
pleasant  social  qualities,  a  warm  heart  and  a  natur- 
ally practical  mind  cultured  by  education,  eminent 
association  and  positive  refinement,  and  was  a  lady 
of  kindly  impulses  of  head  and  heart,  reaching  out 
in  tireless  acts  of  charity  and  benevolence.  She  had 
her  portion  of  sorrows  to  meet  and  face  and  knew 
before  she  passed  away  what  toil  and  trouble  meant 
and  when  death  came  to  call  her  home  she  simply 
said,  "I  am  going  on  the  long  vacation,"  and  died. 
She  was  a  high  graduate  of  Miss  Willard's  famous 


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seminary  at  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  and  has  two  brothers 
still  living  in  New  York,  both  prominent  lawyers. 
Two  of  her  uncles  were  Members  of  Congress,  and 
one,  Abrana  Olin,  was  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of 
Columbia  at  Washington,  D.  C,  which  position  he 
filled  until  death. 

When  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  Mrs. 
Reed  came  forward  with  helpful  hands  and  tireless 
loyalty  to  help  the  Union  cause;  and  when  the  rebel 
prison  camp  was  established  upon  the  island  of 
Rock  Island  she  labored  with  heartfelt  energy  to 
cheer  the  despondent  and  help  the  sick  of  both  ar- 
mies, at  the  same  time  raising  supplies  for  the  loyal 
sick  and  wounded  in  the  field.  She  was  President 
of  the  local  Aid  Society  and  a  most  potent  and  valu- 
able aid  to  the  Sanitary  Commission.  She  not  only 
toiled  nobly  for  the  cause  herself,  but  by  precept  and 
example,  and  with  an  energetic  ardor  which  nothing 
could  cool,  she  prevailed  upon  others  also  to  sustain 
and  labor  and  give. 

In  grateful  memory  of  our  noble  and  tireless  ef- 
forts for  the  boys  in  battle,  bivouac,  march  and  hos- 
pital, the  soldiers  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
caused  her  name  to  be  carved  upon  the  granite 
monument  which  they  have  erected  in  Riverside 
Cemetery,  Moline,  to  perpetuate  the  names  of  those 
who  fell  in  battle  or  have  since  died.  Mrs.  Reed's 
portrait  appears  on  another  page. 


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1^-amuel  Devinney,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tspSb.    tion  22,   Hampton  Township,  was  born  in 


Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  March  8,  1835,  and  came 
ji\\,  with  his  parents  in  a  very  early  day  to  Hamp- 
j|{  ton  Township.  They  located  on  section  12, 
and  were  prominent  pioneers  of  Rock  Island 
County.  His  parents,  Andrew  and  Edith  (Wain- 
wright)  Devinney,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
England,  respectively.  They  reared  a  family  of  five 
children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  third  in 
order  of  birth.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  22  years  of  age,  receiving  a  good  common- 
school  education,  and  devoting  much  of  his  time  to 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  at  lumbering  on 
Hampton  Bluff.  After  leaving  home,  and  going  out 
into  the  world  to  mould  his  own  fortune,  he  followed 
the  occupation  of  engineer,  miller  and  farmer.     He 


worked  at  engineering  for  25  years,  but  since  1878  he 
has  devoted  his  time  to  farming.  He  now  has  a 
well-equipped  and  improved'  farm  of  240  acres,  and 
is  one  of  the  substantial  and  leading  men  of  Hamp- 
ton Township.  He  breeds  a  high  grade  of  stock, 
and  at  present  has  a  splendid  herd  of  Durham  cat- 
tle. At  present  he  rents  out  his  farm  to  a  son-in-law, 
George  Turner. 

In  1856  Mr.  Devinney  formed  a  matrimonial  alli- 
ance with  Miss  Sarah  Wixel,  a  native  of  Sweden. 
Two  children  have  blessed  this  union,  Edith  and 
Inez ;  the  former  is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Colgrove  ; 
they  were  married  Sept.  5,  1S78,  and  have  two  chil- 
dren: Samuel  C,  born  Oct.  21,  1879;  and  Olive  E., 
born  April  19,  1884.  On  the  5th  of  September,  1S83, 
Inez  was  united  in  marriage  with  George  Turner. 
Lucy  Elizabeth,  their  only  child,  was  born  Dec.  5, 
1884. 

Mr.  Devinney  is  a  strong  supporter  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  held  the  office 
of  Supervisor  of  his  township  and  that  of  School  Di- 
rector. He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order,  and  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Port  Byron  Lodge. 


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ikharles  Hansgen,  a  grocer  residing  in  Rock 
^F  Island,  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Dorothea  ,  \ 
flfrf'  ""  (Kirchner)  Hansgen,  who  were  natives  of 
■|£)  Saxony,  Germany,  where  they  were  married, 
and  where  their  five  sons  and  four  daughters 
were  born  and  reared.  Their  third  son  now 
forms  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in 
Saxony,  May  18,  1834,  and  came  to  America  in  1852. 
After  a  season  of  two  years  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  N. 
Y.,  he  pushed  on  to  St.  Louis,  and  from  there  in  a 
short  time  to  Rock  Island.  Here  he  procured  em- 
ployment from  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific 
Railway  as  freight-house  man,  from  which  position 
he  was  gradually  advanced  to  a  first-class  conductor- 
ship.  He  was  with  the  railway  company  12  years; 
then  kept  the  Union  Hotel  at  Rock  Island  two  years, 
and  in  1868  embarked  in  the  retail  grocery  business. 
To  this  he  has  since  devoted  his  time,  and  at  this 
writing  (June,  1885)  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  his  manner  of  doing  business  has  been  ap- 
preciated by  those  with  whom  he  has  dealt.  In  all 
his  transactions  he  has  faithfully  adhered  to  the  tra- 
ditions of  a  Christian  parentage,  and  the  conclusion 


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of  his  life  will  be  but  a  verification  of  the  poetic  line, 
"  Honest  employment  brings  pleasure  and  gain." 

Mr.  Hansgen  has  had  no  ambition  for  office-hold- 
ing, though  in  response  to  the  importunities  of  his 
friends  he  has  twice  allowed  the  use  of  his  name  at 
the  polls,  once  as  Alderman  and  again  as  Supervi- 
sor. April  26,  1858,  he  was  married  at  Rock  Island 
to  Miss  Sophia  Baumgaertel,  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  of  the  nine  children  born  to  them  six  are  living, — 
August,  Freddie,  Harman,  Amelia,  Matilda  and 
Willie.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hansgen  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  Mr.  H.  has 
been  the  Church's  Treasurer  since  the  year  1863. 


..  Jg  hilemon  L.  Mitchell,  son  of  Isaac  and  Mar- 
tha  (Libby)  Mitchell,  natives  of  the  State 
of  Maine,  and  of  North  Ireland   ancestry, 


j  ^  He  was  brought  up  almost  from  infancy  in  a 
country  store — in  fact  he  began  at  the  age  of 
13  years  to  earn  his  own  livelihood.  His  opportuni- 
ties for  education  were  limited  to  a  few  weeks'  atten- 
dance at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  State. 
His  parents  reared  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
but  at  this  writing  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  a 
sister  living  in  Maine  are  the  only  survivors.  The 
elder  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  spent  their  lives  in 
their  native  State.  The  father  dying  at  Lhnington 
Jan.  26,  1853,  aged  82  years,  and  Mrs.  Mitchell 
Jan.  3,  1877,  aged  94  years. 

At  the  age  of  25  years  P.  L.  Mitchell  removed  to 
Georgetown,  Ky.,  and  was  there  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  up  to  1850.  In  that  year  he  was  made 
cashier  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Kentucky,  an  insti- 
tution familiar  in  those  days  to  every  business  man 
south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  Line.  In  fact,  for 
years  an  old  "  Farmers'  Bank  "  note  was  equivalent 
to  gold  in  any  State  in  the  Union.  Mr.  Mitchell  re- 
mained cashier  up  to  1856,  the  spring  of  which  year 
he  came  to  Rock  Island,  in  company  with  Mr.  P.  L. 
Cable,  and  engaged  in  the  banking  business.  They 
bought  out  Cook,  Sargent  &  Parker,  now  the  banking 
house  of  Mitchell  and  Lynde,  and  were   in  partner- 


ship up  to  r86o.  In  that  year  Mr.  Cable  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Judge  Lynde,  and  the  house  has  since 
been  designated  by  the  names  of  the  two  principal 
owners. 

In  1858  Mr.  Mitchell  and  his  partner  purchased 
the  building  and  other  assets  of  the  first  banking 
house  established  (  the  old  Rock  Island  Bank  )  at 
this  place,  and  closed  up  its  business  affairs,  thus 
placing  themselves  for  a  few  years  almost  without 
competition  in  the  field  of  banking  in  Rock  Island. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  Mr.  Mitchell  was  the  best 
known  and  probably  the  most  successful  banker  and 
financier  in  this  city,  and  this  fact  gained  him  the 
agency  for  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.,  for  which  concern  he 
placed  $1,000,000  worth  of  United  States  bonds  in 
Rock  Island  County.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  truly  been 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  He  began  life  in 
the  business  world  without  a  penny,  but  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  struggle  down  to  the  time  of  which  we 
write,  the  mercury  in  his  financial  thermometer  has 
steadily  risen.  Slowly,  surely,  when,  as  a  country 
merchant's  clerk  his  monthly  stipend  was  but  little 
in  excess  of  the  demands  of  a  most  economical  life, 
he  managed  to  save  something,  but  more  rapidly  he 
accumulated  as  a  merchant  and  still  faster  as  a 
banker,  until  finally  in  the  zenith  of  a  ripe  age  the 
indicator  points  to  him  as  one  of  the  most  solid  and 
successful  capitalists  in  a  community  distinguished 
for  men  of  financial  genius. 

Mr.  Mitchell  organized  the  Frst  National  Bank  of 
Rock  Island  in  1862,  and  has  since  been  its  Presi- 
dent. Until  recently  he  was  President  of  the  Rock 
Island  Plow  Company.  He  is  Secretary  of  the  Chip- 
piannock  Cemetery  Association,  and  a  large  stock- 
holder in  the  Moline  &  Rock  Island  Street  Railway. 
He  is  the  head  of  the  banking  house  of  Mitchell  & 
Lynde,  and  largely  interested  in  the  Rock  Island 
Glass  Works  and  Rock  Island  Stove  Company.  The 
two  last  named  establishments  are  controlled  by  his 
son  Phil.  Mitchell,  but  were  organized  by  Mr.  Mitch- 
ell himself.  A  record  of  his  donations  and  losses, 
and  debts,  etc.,  show  the  two  sums  to  be  about 
equal,  viz.:  $100,000  each.  For  the  past  ten  years 
he  has  past  his  summers  at  the  sea-shore  and  his 
winters  in  Florida.  Naturally  possessed  of  a  robust 
constitution,  in  the  enjoyment  of  perfect  health,  fully 
conversant  with  the  laws  of  hygiene,  Mr.  Mitchell 
bids  fair  to  live  yet  many  years  of  usefulness  in  a 
community  that  owes  much  of  its  prosperity  to  the 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


fact  of  his  having  been  so  many  years  one  of  its  best 
citizens. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  united  in  marriage  at  Exeter,  N. 
H.,  Oct.  11,  1837,  to  Miss  Catharine  Hall,  who  died 
Oct.  4,  1868,  leaving  five  children  :  Annie  M.  (Mrs. 
Wadsworth),  Mary  H.  (also  a  Mrs.  Wadsworth), 
Phil,  a  banker  and  glass  and  stove  manufacture,  Lau- 
ra M.  (Mrs.  Schaler,  deceased)  and  Kate  M.  (Mrs. 
Watson). 

In  politics,  Mr.  M.  is  a  Republican,  and,  religious- 
ly, is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


> 


H.  Reeves,  a  retired    farmer   of   Cordova 
Township  and  a  resident  of  the  village  of 
the  same  name,  was  born  June  21,  1822, 
in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.     Lewis  and  Hannah 
(Miller)  Reeves,  his  parents,  were  both  natives 
of  New  Jersey,  and  went   thence  to  Trumbull 
*    Co.,  Ohio,  in  the  earliest  days  of  the  settlement  of 
'    that  part  of  the  Buckeye  State.     His  father  bought  a 
considerable  tract  of  timber  and  remained  there  un- 
til he  improved  a  fine  farm.     He  was  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  abilities,  which  were  soon  discovered 
in  a  new  country  where  they  were  needed;  and,  af- 
ter a  residence  of  a  few  years,  he  was  elected  High 
Sheriff  of  Trumbull  County.     He  served  in  the  office 
a  number  of  years,  and  in  1S44  he  removed   to  Dart 
Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  died. 

Mr.  Reeves  has  been  the  controller  of  his  own 
affairs  since  he  was  nine  years  of  age.  He  went 
first  to  Hartford  Township,  Trumbull  County,  and 
there  became  a  member  of  the  household  of  a  Meth- 
odist minister  named  John  Burnett,  who  was  also  a 
farmer,  and  by  whom  he  was  employed  on  the  farm 
two  years.  He  then  went  to  Warren,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  learning  the  details  of  the  business  of  a 
wagon-maker,  with  Messrs.  Bruner  &  Kendall.  He 
went  thence  to  Newton  Falls,  and  passed  one  year 
in  working  at  his  trade.  His  next  place  of  operation 
was  at  Liberty,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and 
subsequent  to  that  time  he  was  nine  months  at  Hub- 
bard. He  then  went  to  Sharon,  in  Mercer  County, 
and  worked  there  at  his  trade  until  1844.  In  that 
year  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  which  he 


bought   in   Sharon,  and  he  passed  the  years    until 
1856  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  the  year  last  named  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  the  township  of  Cordova.  He  spent  a 
year  in  working  as  a  wagon-maker,  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  he  bought  a  farm  on  sections  29  and  30, 
securing  a  claim  of  100  acres.  He  took  possession 
of  the  place  in  i860  and  it  was  his  home  until  1876, 
when  he  rented  his  farm  and  removed  to  Cordova, 
into  a  residence  which  he  had  purchased. 

Mr.  Reeves  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Phebe  Hogland,  Sept.  21,  1842,  in  Mercer  Co.  Pa., 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children.  They 
have  lost  four  by  death.  Melvina  married  Martin 
Vanderburg  and  they  are  living  in  Madison  Co., 
Iowa.  Frank  and  Fred  live  at  Cordova.  The  mother 
died  in  187  1.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Reeves 
was  to  Julia  Johnson,  a  native  of  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio. 


-*~**##§s*»--5 


(■-    '■! 


^on.  James  Z.  Mott,  ex-Mayor  of  the  city  of 
Rock  Island,  and  now  the  head  of  the  firm 
of  Mott,  Winter  &  Co.,  was  born  at  Tru- 
mansburg,  N.  Y.,  May  9,  1826.  He  was  the 
youngest  of  seven  children  of  Burgur  and  Mary 
(Carman)  Mott,  the  former  being  of  an  old  New 
England  family,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Holland. 
They  removed  from  York  State  to  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1835,  where  the  two  old  people  spent  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  Burgur  Mott  was  a  farmer  and  brought 
his  boys  up  to  that  healthful  vocation.  They  were 
sent  to  school  when  the  weather  was  too  bad  to 
work  on  the  farm,  as  was  the  custom,  and  James  Z. 
thereby  picked  up  quite  a  fair  education. 

When  about  25  years  of  age,  he  abandoned  farm- 
ing and  opened  a  hotel  in  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio.  From 
there  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  was  employed 
by  a  lumber  merchant  at  Geneseo  a  few  months, 
going  thence  to  Muscatine,  Iowa,  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. He  returned  to  Ohio  in  1856,  farmed  a  few 
years  and  retreated  again  upon  Geneseo,  and  played 
the  part  of  "  mine  host "  for  several  years.  His  next 
move  was  to  Rock  Island,  where  he  accepted  em- 
ployment from  C.  Tegeler,  as  traveling  man,  and  he 
carried  a  "  grip  "  with  sample  bottles — mostly  empty 
— for  eight  years.     He  then  bought  an  interest  with 


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Mr.  Tegeler,  and  they  were  in  partnership  five  years. 
In  March,  1880,  he  drew  out  of  the  Tegeler  firm, 
and,  in  company  with  J.  Epstein,  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  liquor  traffic.  Jane  following,  Epstein 
sold  out  to  Mr.  Winter,  and  the  firm  of  Mott  & 
Winter  forms  an  important  part  of  the  industrial  his- 
tory of  the  city  of  Rock  Island. 

In  1882  Mr.  Mott  was  prevailed  upon  to  make 
the  race  for  Alderman  of  the  Third  Ward,  and  al- 
though a  Democrat  in  a  Republican  ward  he  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  In  1883  he  led 
the  Democratic  party  to  victory  as  their  candidate 
for  Mayor,  and  at  this  writing  (June,  1885)  it  is  safe 
to  predict  that  his  party  will  have  much  further  use 
for  him. 

Mr.  Mott  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at  Fair- 
field, Ohio,  in  October,  1848,  with  Miss  Lillis  I.  Bur- 
dick,  a  native  of  Huron  County,  and  their  only  child 
is  now  a  man  grown,  Mr.  Sanford  Mott,  engaged  in 
railroad  business. 


— «*« 


ohn  Atkinson,   Alderman  from   the  Sixth 

-  Ward,  Rock  Island,  was  for  many  years  an 

ardent  Republican,  and  was  regarded   by 


the  members  of  that  party  as  utterly  immova- 
ble in  the  faith  as  a  Logan  man ;  but  in  the 
,*  campaign  of  1880,  as  between  the  two  great 
men  and  their  party's  platforms,  he  independently 
chose  the  hero  of  Gettysburg  as  his  ideal  man  for 
1  the  Presidency,  and  the  Democratic  platform  as  the 
;  satisfactory  exponent  of  his  political  convictions. 
|  Since  that  time  he  has  been  as  faithful  a  Democrat 
as  he  ever  was  a  Republican,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1885  led  his  party  successfully  as  their  candidate  for 
Councilman  of  the  Sixth  Ward. 

Mr.  Atkinson  was  born  in  Toronto,  Canada,  Oct. 

28,  1839,  and  came  to  Rock  Island  in  1864.     He  is 

(£\   a  brick-maker  by  trade,  and  to  this  he   has  devoted 

his  life  so  far.     At  the  common  schools  in  his  native 

country  he  received  a  fair  education,  which  formed  a 

nucleus    for   the    learning    and    information    subse- 

'    quently  acquired  through  studious  observation  and 

J    diligent  reading. 

Mrs.  Atkinson,  nee  Miss  Mary  O'Brien,  was  also  a 


native  of  Toronto,  where  they  were  married  Dec.  5, 
1863.  They  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  an 
adopted  daughter,  who  receives  through  them  the 
love  and  affection  of  a  father  and  mother. 


j  ichard  Battersby,  merchant  at  Coal  Val- 
ley,  whose  portrait   is    presented   on    the 
%M^'   opposite  page,  is  a  native  of  England.    His 
'  '^r    parents,  Robert  and  Mary  (Hope)  Battersby, 
■)      are  also  natives  of  that  country.     His  mother 

still  resides  there.  She  was  born  Nov.  29, 
1803.  His  father  is  deceased.  He  was  born  in 
1798,  and  died  in  1873.  In  their  family  were 
Thomas,  Richard,  Edmond,  James,  Elizabeth,  Har- 
graves  and  John. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  was 
born  Dec.  14,  1835,  in  Lancashire,  England;  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  and  lived  at  his 
parental  home  until  he  was  24  years  of  age,  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Rock 
Island  County,  111.  He  was  then  engaged  three 
years  in  mining  at  Carbon  Cliff,  this  county;  then, 
after  a  short  residence  in  Henry  County,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  same  business,  he  settled  in  Coal 
Valley,  in  1862,  and  assisted  his  father-in-law,  Peter 
Seville,  in  his  brewery  until  about  1870.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  mining  and  sale  of  coal,  being  a 
member  of  the  Black  Diamond  Coal  Company,  which 
relation  he  still  sustains.  In  September,  1882,  in 
company  with  Benjamin  Seville,  he  bought  out  the 
stock  of  merchandise  belonging  to  Lewis  B.  Thomas. 
His  partnership  in  that  line  continued  until  Decem- 
ber, 1884,  when  he  bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Seville  and  admitted  into  partnership  his  son,  Robert 
W.  The  firm  is  now  "  Richard  Battersby  &  Son." 
Under  their  judicious  management  their  business 
prospers,  and  is  based  upon  a  substantial  and  lasting 
foundation.  Mr.  B.  is  also  a  member  of  the  coal 
company  known  as  "  Mansill,  Battersby  &  Seville," 
and  is  also  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  narrow-gauge 
railroad  running  from  Coal  Valley  to  Moline. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Battersby  is  a  Demo- 
crat.   Socially,  he  is  identified  with  the  Order  of  Odd 


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Fellows,  and  officially   he   has  served  as  Township 
Collector. 

March  6,  1862,  Mr.  Battersby  was  married  to  Miss 
Bettie  Seville,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Peggy  (Mills) 
Seville,  her  parents  natives  of  England,  who  came  to 
America  in  1847,  settling  first  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  1849  in  Coe  Township,  this  county,  then  at  Car- 
bon Cliff,  and  finally  in  Coal  Valley,  in  1856.  Mr. 
Seville  died  March  10,  1865,  aged  47,  and  Mrs.  S., 
Feb.  21,  1883,  aged  77.  They  had  two  children, — 
Betty  and  Benjamin  B.  Mrs.  Battersby  was  born  in 
Lancashire,  England,  May  27,  1842,  and  she  has  be- 
come the  mother  of  five  children,  namely:  Robert 
W.,  born  Feb.  6,  1863  ;  Peter  Seville,  Nov.  14,  1865  ; 
Benjamin  Franklin,  July  16,  1871;  Harry  Edmund, 
Oct.  13,  1879,  and  Myra  C.  E.,  Sept.  7,  1S82. 


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illiam  A.  P.  Ruge,  dealer  in   choice  wines, 
liquors,   cigars,    sour   eel,  etc.,  at    Milan, 
was  born  at  Oldenburg,  Holstein,  Germa- 
ny, Aug.  i,  1840.     His  father,  John  A.,  was 

a  native  of  Holstein  and  a  tanner  and  boot 
and  shoe  maker  by  occupation.  He  died  after 
he  had  made  all  preparations  for  emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica and  just  before  leaving  the  German  port.  The 
mother  and  her  five  sons  came  on  to  this  country, 
locating  first  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  Oct.  28,  1857. 

William,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  received  a 
thorough  education  in  German  colleges  and  Luther- 
an universities.  By  the  advice  of  an  older  brother, 
who  had  come  to  America  three  years  previously,  he 
commenced  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  and  partly 
completed  it  before  leaving  his  native  land.  On  ar- 
rival in  this  country  in  1857,  he  began  in  earnest  to 
earn  a  livelihood  for  himself  by  labor  on  farms  in 
the  vicinity  of  Davenport.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  proceeded  to  make 
himself  proficient  in  carpentry,  but  not  long  after- 
wards he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  in  St. 
Louis,  where  he  remained  until  the  first  call  for 
three  months  men  for  the  war,  April  16,  i86r,  then 
enlisting  in  Co.jE,  Fourth  Mo.  Vol.  Inf.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  his  term  of  service  he  re-enlisted  in  Co.  E, 
Second  Iowa  Cav.,  at  Davenport,  in  September.    He 


had  been  promoted  Corporal,  and  now,  when  Gen. 
Hatch  was  made  Colonel,  Mr.  Ruge  was  promoted 
Sergeant  and  Chief  of  Escort.  In  this  capacity  he 
participated  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged,  it  being  attached  to  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  The  principal  engagements  were  at 
Farmington,  Tenn.,  May  9,  1862  ;  the  expedition 
passing  Island  No.  10  under  Gen.  Pope;  the  battles 
cf  Black  Land  and  Booneville,  Miss.  ;  Rienzi,  Iuka 
and  Eastport,  Miss ;  Corinth  three  days,  etc.  His 
cavalry  crossed  the  Tallahatchie  River  under  com- 
mand of  Generals  Logan  and  Hatch  (the  latter  hav- 
ing been  promoted  General).  They  also  engaged  in 
the  capture  of  Holly  Springs,  Oxford  and  Grenada, 
Miss.  Falling  back  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  they  re- 
cruited and  Mr.  Ruge  re-enlisted  March  24,  1864, 
his  former  term  of  three  years  having  expired.  Serv- 
ing until  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged Sept.  19,  1865,  at  Selma,  Ala.,  by  special 
order  No.  ^^,  dated  "  Headquarters  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Alabama,  Aug.  23,  1865.  " 

While  leading  a  charge  at  Egypt's  Station,  on  the 
Mississippi  Central  Railroad,  his  horse  was  shot  from 
under  him  and  he,  being  wounded  by  the  fall  of  the 
horse,  was  compelled  to  be  removed  by  two  Order- 
lies, specially-appointed  by  Adjutant  W.  Woodward, 
of  General  Grierson's  Staff.  He  is  yet  a  sufferer 
from  the  injuries  then  received.  After  his  release 
from  the  horse  he  saw  the  banner,  which  had  been 
shot  down  by  the  rebels'  grape,  but  had  saved  the 
horse  by  its  protective  capacity.  He  returned  it  to 
headquarters  and  received  the  compliments  of  Gen. 
Hatch.  Returning  to  Davenport,  he  entered  the 
employ  of  May  &  Rosenfeld,  in  Rock  Island  city,  as 
their  clerk.  In  1866  he  purchased  property  near 
Davenport  and  engaged  in  keeping  a  country  "  tav- 
ern. "  After  conducting  this  for  a  period  of  three 
years,  he  re -crossed  the  river  to  the  city  of  Rock  Isl- 
and, where  he  became  clerk  in  the  shoe  store  of  A. 
J.  Swanson.  Fifteen  months  afterward  they  removed 
to  Milan  and  established  the  business  in  which  Mr. 
R.  is  at  present  engaged  and  in  which  he  is  having 
pre-eminent  success.  His  saloon  is  arranged  in  the 
most  artistic  style  and  is  conducted  on  the  strictest 
business  principles.  Mr.  Ruge  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  the  I.  O.  R.  M.  and  the 
G.  A.  R.,  and  of  the  Order  of  Druids.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  he  is  a  staunch  Republican.  Both  him- 
self and  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


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^OCA'  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


He  is  a  man  of  liberal  education  and  well  informed 
on  the  current  topics  of  the  day. 

Aug.  10  1866,  on  the  site  where  he  built  his  coun- 
try hotel,  Mr.  Ruge  was  married  to  Miss  Dora,  the 
daughter  of  Charles  F.  and  Julia  (Pothei)  Ranzow, 
She  was  born  May  e5,  1S49,  in  Mecklenburg,  Ger- 
many, and  was  two  years  old  when  her  parents  emi- 
grated to  the  United  Slates,  locating  in  Davenport. 
Her  father  was  a  professional  painter  in  frescoe.  She 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  where 
she  resided  until  her  marriage.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruge  are  seven  in  number,  three  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  living  are  Charles,  Wil- 
liam, Otto,  Ludolph,  Clara  E.  and  Nellie  May.  The 
deceased  are  Wiley,  Julia  and  Ella. 

* -«- + 

rof.  Revere  Franklin  Weidner,  Profes- 
sor of  Dogmatics  and  Exegesis  in  Augus- 
Sp^  tana  College  and  Theological  Seminary  of 
\~j  Rock  Island,  was  born  in  Centre  Valley,  Lehigh 
j  \-  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  22,  185  t,  a  graduate  of  Muhlen- 
berg College,  Allen  town,  Pa.,  of  the  class  of 
1869,  also  a  graduate  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Theological  Seminary  of  Philadelphia  (1873);  Pastor 
at  Phillipsburg,  N.  J.  from  1873  to  1877;  Professor 
of  English  History  at  Huhlenberg  College  from  1875 
to  1877  and  Pastor  at  Philadelphia  from  1877  to 
18S2.  Since  1882  he  has  filled  the  chair  of  Pro- 
fessor of  Dogmatics  and  Exegesis  at  Augustana 
College  and  Theological  Seminary  to  this  date  (1885). 
Professor  Weidner  has  been  a  frequent  contributor  to 
reviews  and  religious  papers.  He  is  an  author  of  a 
commentary  on  Mark  and  of  a  theological  cyclo- 
pedia of  18815. 


prfacX 


I  Frederick  Oltmann,   general  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  r5,  Hampton  Township,  is 
a  native  of  Germany,  having  been  born  in 
Oldenburg,  that  country,    June  19,  1839.      He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Hampton  Town- 
His  education    was    received  in  the  common 


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schools  of  this  county,  and  his  younger  days,  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  17  years,  were  passed  on  the 
farm.  On  attaining  the  age  named,  he  left  the  pa- 
rental home  and  went  forth  on  the  road  of  difficulty 
to  fight  the  battles  of  life  single-handed  and  alone. 
He  first  engaged  to  learn  the  carpenter  trade,  which 
after  he  mastered  he  followed  for  some  six  years. 
On  coming  to  this  county,  he  located  in  Hampton 
Township,  where  he  purchased  100  acres  of  land  on 
sections  14,  15  and  23,  and  on  which  he  located  and 
entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon  the  task  of 
its  improvement,  and  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  has  a  good  farm  under  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, with  good  substantial  residence,  barn  and  out- 
buildings. 

He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  belief,  and  religious- 
ly he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Mr.  Oltmann  has  held  the  office  of  School 
Trustee,  and  is  a  respected  and  prosperous  citizen  of 
Hampton  Township. 

Mr.  Oltmann  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Mary  Danhardt,  in  January,  1861,  a  native  of 
Prussia,  Germany,  where  she  was  born  Jan  2,  1839, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  eight  children  :  Freder- 
ick, born  Oct.  15,  1861 ;  Edward,  born  Sept.  4,  1S63; 
Carl,  born  March  12,  1865;  William,  born  Dec.  25, 
1869;  Mena,  born  Dec.  9,  1871;  Emma,  born  April 
1,  1874  ;  Lewis,  born  Jan.  31,  1877,  and  Louisa,  born 
April  5,  1882.  Frederick  married  Catherine  Rail- 
ing, a  native  of  Hampton  Township,  April  9,  1885, 
and  they  reside  in  Green  County,  Iowa. 


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simile  E.  Ziegler,  resident  of  Rock  Island, 
g|||  B  is  the  youngest  son  of  Jacob  and  Caroline 
(Heinzel)  Ziegler,  natives  of  Germany,  and 
-vj-  was  born  at  Rock  Island  city,  May  12,  i860, 
y  His  schooling  was  limited  to  the  winter  months 
«  and  antedated  his  youth,  as  at  the  age  of  13  he 
became  a  printer's  "  devil  "  in  the  office  of  the  Rock 
Island  Union,  and  there  remained  about  seven  years. 
From  the  Union  office  he  started  as  a  "jour  "  printer, 
but  a  few  months  at  type-"  sticking  "  in  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  caused  him  to  ch  angehis  plans  and  he  branched 
out  in   Milwaukee,  Wis.,  as  a  manufacturer  of  pic-    t 


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ture  frames.  From  Milwaukee  he  returned  to  Rock 
Island,  where,  in  the  fall  of  1844,  he  embarked  in  his 
present  business,  viz. :  dealer  in  flour,  feed,  etc. 

Jan.  17,  1882,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Miss  Ada,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  J.  B. 
Ellis,  Esq.,  coal  merchant  at  Rock  Island.  Mr.  Zie- 
gler  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  an  ener- 
getic business  man,  exemplary  in  his  habits,  and 
is  destined  to  make  a  success  of  life. 


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(Lenry  Mardoek,  a  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 

1    tion  7,  Drury  Township,  was  born  in  Union 

Co.,  Ind.,  March   30,   181 7.     He  received 

a  good  common  school  education  in  the  schools 

!of  his  native  county,  and  assisted  in  the  main- 
tenance of  the  family,  by  labor  on  the  farm, 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  23.  On  attaining  this 
age  in  life,  Mr.  Mardoek  came  to  Mercer  Co.,  this 
State,  where  he  resided  from  1840  until  r867,  when 
he  traded  for  a  farm  in  Drury  Township,  this  county, 
located  on  section  7,  on  which  he  moved  and  has 
constantly  resided  until  the  present  time,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years,  during  which  time  he  lived 
in  Muscatine,  for  the  benefit  of  educational  advan- 
tages for  his  children.  He  is  the  owner  of  181  acres 
of  land,  of  which  100  acres  is  under  a  good  state  of 
cultivation,  and  on  which  he  has  good,  substantial 
farm  buildings. 

Mr.  Mardoek  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Muscatine,  Iowa,  Aug.  20,  1861,  with  Mrs.  Rhoda 
E.  Hollingsworth,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza 
(Brandenburg)  McGreer,  and  widow  of  Christopher 
Hollingsworth,  who  died  in  Mercer  Co.,  111.  Mrs. 
Mardoek  had  by  her  first  marriage  one  child,  named 
Willie.  He  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  M.  was  born  in 
Union  Co.,  Ind.,  and  by  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Mar- 
dock  has  become  the  mother  of  three  children : 
Eliza,  born  Aug.  17,  1862;  Stella,  born  Aug.  20, 
1865;  and  Gertie,  born  Nov.  18,1871. 

While  living  in  Mercer  County,  Mr.  Mardoek  held 
various  township  offices.  Mrs.  M.  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.     Politically,  Mr.  Mardoek  is 


a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  is  very  decided  in  his  temper- 
ance views,  being  a  strict  Prohibitionist. 


^ 


v-- 


%  .Si 

it 


■& 


& 


^P^iidward  Burrall,  deceased,  was  born  in 
o^M^ji  Canaan,  Conn.,  April  13,  1815,  and  died 
;r.V"  at  Rock  Island  City,  April  26,  1876.     His 

parents,  Edward  and  Lucy  (Hunt)  Burrall, 
were  also  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  were  of 
1  English  descent.  It  was  in  1853  that  they 
removed  from  Massacusetts  to  Beloit,  Wis.,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the  mother 
dying  in  the  spring  of  i86r,  at  the  age  of  about  60 
years,  and  the  father  on  Oct.  15,  1872,  aged  86  years. 
He  was  many  years  a  merchant,  and  afterward,  in  ' 
Massachusetts,  a  banker  ;  but  in  Beloit  he  took  life 
easy  and  lived  on  his  income. 

Edward  Burrall,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  attended  the  common  schools  of  New  Eng- 
land, when  not  clerking  in  a  store,  and  before  he  was 
21  years  of  age  he  acquired  a  fair  English  education. 
In  1836  his  father  deeded  him  a  farm  in  Mercer  Co.,  . 
111.,  and  upon  this,  in  that  year,  he  began  farming, 
and  followed  it  13  years.  In  1S49  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  search  of  gold,  and  mined,  with  more  or  less 
success,  about  nineteen  months.  In  the  spring  of 
1851  he  removed  from  Henry  Co.,  III.,  to  Edgington, 
Rock  Island  Co.,  and  was  there  for  eight  years  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business.  In  November,  1859, 
he  removed  to  Rock  Island  city,  where  he  continued 
the  mercantile  business  until  1865. 

Mr.  Burrall  was  an  active  business  man  and  hon- 
orably connected  with  many  public  enterprises  dur- 
ing his  life  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  Rock  Island 
County.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  Vice- 
President  of  the  Rock  Island  National  Bank,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Public  Library  Board,  and  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  besides  being  officially  con- 
nected with  various  other  enterprises. 

June  13,  1843,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  C. 
Jack,  daughter  of  Capt.  Charles  Jack,  who  was 
widely  known  to  the  early  settlers  of  Knox,  Henry 
and  other  counties  in  Illinois,  and  was  of  the  first 
families  of  Virginia.    Mrs.  Burrall  was  born  in  Wood 


r\®»^ 


■3^^ — ^K>nn®DDy>^ — *&*■ 


6v^an  &  n  %>j% — 3*<®^ 


JPtfCVT  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


469 


Co.,  Va  ,  Sept.  17,  r?2i,  and  resides  in  Rock  Island, 
at  this  writing  (July,  1885)  a  widow,  at  the  elegant 
home  left  her  by  her  honored  husband.  Her  chil- 
dren are  Charles  E.,  engaged  in  livery  business  in 
Davenport,  Iowa;  Arthur  is  in  real-estate  business 
at  Rock  Island;  Mary  L.,  now  wife  of  J.  M.  Mont- 
gomery, hardware  merchant  of  Rock  Island;  Grace 
C,  now  Mrs.  G.  P.  Frysinger,  of  Rockford,  111.;  and 
Alice,  a  young  lady,  at  home. 


P 


> 


V 
(9 


"IS. on.  John  Maxwell  Gould,  whose  portrait 
J$    is  given  on  the  opposite  page,  is  a  native  of 
Is**   piermont>  Grafton  Co.,   N.    H.,    was   bora 
Feb.  24,  1822,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Amos 
and  Nancy  Harris  (Bartlett)  Gould,  natives  of 
Massachusetts  and    New   Hampshire    respect- 
ively, and  of  English   extraction.      The  elder  Mr. 
1  Gould  was   a  tanner,  shoe  and  harness  maker,  and 
\  taught    his    sons    something   of  his   various  trades. 
During  his  youth,   John   M.   attended   the  common 
schools  through  the  winter  months,  and  at  the  age  of 
18  his  father  sent  him  to  Canaan  (N.  H.)   Academy, 
and  afterwards  to  an  academy  at  Lyme,  the  same 
State. 

From  1840  to  1843,  he  taught  school  at  Canaan 
and  Lyme,  and  in  1844  struck  out  for  the  West. 
His  first  halt  was  at  Chicago,  from  which  place  he 
departed  in  disgust,  after  having  idled  about  the 
muddy  streets  for  nearly  four  weeks.  We  say  "  idled 
about  the  streets;"  but  when  it  is  known  that  those 
four  weeks  constitute  the  sum  of  John  M.  Gould's 
freedom  from  active  business  during  the  whole  of 
his  life,  it  need  not  be  added  that  those  weeks  of 
idleness  were  not  such  from  choice.  From  Chicago 
he  went  to  Grand  de  Tour,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  where  he 
landed  with  but  a  small  sum  of  money  about  his 
person.  Just  how  small  a  sum  may  be  approximated 
when  it  is  known  that  he  left  New  England  with 
$65  in  money,  and  out  of  this  sum  had  to  pay  his 
transportation  and  hotel  fare  through  to  the  point  of 
destination. 

He  had  clerked  some  in  a  store  before  leaving 
Lyme,  and  when  he  secured  a  position  in  Dana  & 
Troop's  mercantile  establishment  at  Grand  de  Tour, 


■^y    q/^hh 


it  was  not  altogether  as  an  inexperienced  man.  At 
the  end  of  a  three-years'  clerkship,  he  bought  an  in- 
terest in  the  concern  by  which  he  was  employed, 
and  the  firm  became  J.  M.  Gould  &  Co.  This 
partnership  lasted  a  year,  and  Mr.  Gould  sold  out. 
Mr.  John  Deere  desired  Mr.  Gould  to  accompany 
him  to  Moline,  insisting  that  he  should  take  charge 
of  his  business  here,  and  offering  him  a  salary  of 
$800  a  year,  in  place  of  only  $250  which  he  had 
been  receiving.  He  accordingly,  in  1848,  came  to 
Moline,  and  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Deere,  Tate 
&  Gould,  manufactured  plows  about  four  years. 
Retiring  from  the  firm,  he  soon  afterward  formed  a 
partnership  with  D.  C.  Dimock,  in  the  manufacture 
of  wooden-ware  and  furniture,  the  first  wooden-ware 
ever  manufactured  west  of  Detroit,  Mich.  In  1856 
their  factory  was  burned  out,  after  which  they  made 
no  more  furniture,  but  continued  the  wooden-ware, 
and  in  1868  incorporated  their  concern  as  Dimock, 
Gould  &  Co.,  and  added  saw-milling  and  lumber 
business  and  the  manufacture  of  paper  pails.  The 
capital  stock  of  this  company  when  incorporated  was 
$150,000,  but  in  1884  it  was  increased  to  $300,000. 
Mr.  Gould  has  been  its  president  and  managing  di- 
rector and  vice-president  since  1882. 

In  1857  the  firm  of  Gould,  Dimock  &  Co.  engaged 
in  the  banking  business  at  Moline,  and  the  concern 
had  an  existence  until  it  was  merged  into  the  First 
National.  In  December,  1863,  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Moline  was  organized  with  Mr.  Gould  as 
cashier,  a  position  lie  filled  until  January,  1867,  at 
which  time  he  was  made  the  bank's  president.  Un- 
der his  administration,  first  as  cashier,  and  later  as 
president, — an  office  he  yet  fills, — the  progress  of 
the  bank  has  been  in  the  highest  degree  creditable 
to  himself  and  correspondingly  satisfactory  to  the 
stockholders. 

Mr.  Gould  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  St. 
Louis,  Rock  Island  &  Chicago  Railway  Company, 
and  became  its  treasurer  in  1876,  a  position  he  filled, 
in  addition  to  his  many  other  important  offices,  until 
the  road  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  Railway  Company. 

Away  back  in  1853  he  was  elected  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  to  the  Judgeship  of  Rock  Island  County, 
and  held  the  office  four  years.  In  186 1  he  left  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  since  been  an  ardent  Re- 
publican. Upon  the  question  of  the  liquor  traffic, 
he  announces  himself  as  a  temperance  man,  but  op- 


& 


& 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


"a^ST 


sC^(- 


v 


36 


posed  to  prohibition.  President  Buchanan  appointed 
him  Postmaster  at  Moline  in  1857,  and  Mr.  Lincoln 
appointed  his  successor  in  1861.  Since  1870  he  has 
been  continuously  the  president  of  the  Lumbermen's 
Board  of  Trade  for  the  four  cities,  Davenport,  Mo- 
line, Rock  Island  and  Muscatine,  and  president  of 
the  Moline  Board  of  Trade  since  May,  1882.  Before 
the  organization  of  the  city  he  was  many  years  Town 
Trustee,  twee  Treasurer  of  the  village,  and  has  been 
Treasurer  of  the  township  funds  continuously  since 
1S64.  He  is  president  of  the  Citizens'  League  of 
Moline,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Char- 
ities and  a  director  in  the  St.  Luke  College  Hospital, 
being  appointed  to  the  latter  position  by  Gov.  Cul- 
lom  in  1877. 

Such  is  but  a  brief  outline  of  the  business  and 
official  l.fe  of  Judge  Gould.  Not  a  tithe  of  his  history 
will  ever  be  written;  the  trials  and  struggles  of  his 
early  manhood  are  but  glanced  at,  and  the  reader 
sees  only  the  bright  epochs  of  his  successes.  But 
we  must  not  forget  that  like  many  another, — in  fact 
like  very  nearly  every  other  man  of  our  time  that 
amounts  to  much, — he  began  life  as  a  poor  boy. 
Before  him  was  the  world,  not  so  hard  to  combat  as 
the  world  at  present,  perhaps,  but  nevertheless  there 
were  struggles  before  him,  and  defeats  in  store  for 
him.  But  with  a  brave  heart  and  strong  arm,  he 
pressed  steadily  forward,  and  the  brief  review  here 
printed  tells  the  results.  Judge  Gould  is  a  well 
preserved  man  for  his  age,  and  does  daily  as  much 
work  as  any  man  in  Moline,  young  or  old.  Instinct- 
ively a  gentleman,  he  places  every  one  around  him 
at  his  ease ;  and  his  comfortable  residence,  presided 
over  by  his  estimable  wife,  is  a  bright  oasis  where 
hundreds  annually  partake  of  his  good  cheer. 

Aug.  t3,  1848,  Mr.  Gould  was  united  in  marriage, 
at  Grand  de  Tour,  111.,  to  Miss  Alice  Chase  Moulton, 
grand-niece  of  the  late  Hon.  Salmon  P.  Chase,  and 
a  native  of  Vermont.  Mrs.  Gould  lived  but  a  short 
time  following  her  marriage,  dying  of  consumption. 
Nov.  r3,  1850,  Judge  Gould  and  Miss  Hannah 
Marcy  Dimock  were  married  at  Moline,  and  of  their 
children,  we  make  the  following  brief  mention  :  Al- 
ice May,  born  May  20,  185 1,  and  died  Aug  29, 
iS5r;  Frank  Wayland,  an  educated  young  gentle- 
man, in  the  employ  of  Dimock.  Gould  &  Co.  as 
salesman ;  Frederick  George,  shipping  clerk  for  the 
same   firm;  Grace  Eliza  (Mrs.  Sullivan  M.   Hill); 


and  John,  born  Aug.    r8,    T858,   and  died   Feb. 
1859. 

Of  no  more  worthy  or  representative  business  man 
of  Rock  Island  County  could  the  publishers  of  this 
work  give  a  portrait  than  of  Mr.  Gould,  as  the  fore- 
going sketch  justifies  us  in  such  a  statement. 


*»- 


IK 


■^MU^MI^ 


ohn  M.  Albrecht,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
£  of  Rock  Island  County,  coming  here  from 
^*$"  from  Pekin,  this  State,  Aug.  14,  1854,  and 
at  present  a  retired  farmer,  residing  in  Rock 
Island  city,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, April  16,  1S32.  In  conformity  to  the 
laws  of  his  native  country,  he  attended  school  until 
14  years  of  age,  at  which  time,  in  company  with  his 
parents,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  arriving 
here  in  1846,  and  landing  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
From  that  place  his  parents  moved  to  Buffalo,  same 
State,  and  becoming  imbued  with  the  Western  fever, 
they  came  to  Chicago.  At  the  latter  place,  they 
hired  two  teams,  and  went  overland  to  La  Salle, 
from  whence  they  went  by  steamer  to  St.  Louis. 
From  the  latter  place  they  went  to  Looking-glass 
Prairie,  Madison  Co.,  111.,  where  they  remained  two 
years. 

At  the  latter  place,  Mr.  Albrecht,  of  this  notice, 
worked  two  years  learning  the  blacksmith's  trade. 
After  leaving  that  place  he  went  to  Monroe  County, 
111.,  and  remained  one  year,  working  or.  a  farm. 
He  then  moved  to  Belleville,  St.  Clair  Co.,  this 
State,  where  he  completed  his  trade  of  a  blacksmith. 
His  next  move  was  to  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  where  he 
worked  as  a  "jour"  at  his  trade  one  year,  and  then 
moved  to  Pekin,  this  Stale.  He  erected  a  shop  at 
the  latter  place,  and  carried  on  the  business  of  black- 
smithing  for  two  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  in  1854 
came  to  Rock  Island,  and  went  to  work  for  Failing 
Bros,  as  a  blacksmith,  and  continued  in  the  same  vo- 
cation for  about  four  months.  His  next  move  was  to 
engage  in  the  saloon  business,  which  he  followed  for 
some  three  years,  then  sold  and  purchased  a  farm  in 
Richland  Grove  Township,  Mercer  County,  consist- 
ing of  80  acres.  He  grubbed  and  cleared  70  acres 
of  the  tract  and  continued  to  cultivate  the  same  un- 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


471  -s 


til  1862,  when  he  moved  back  to  Rock  Island,  and 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  keeping  the  Union 
House  for  one  year.  During  the  year  he  traded  his 
farm  in  Mercer  County  for  one  in  Western  Township, 
Henry  County,  consisting  of  100  acres,  which  he 
cultivated  until  1868.  During  that  year  his  father 
died,  and  his  mother  being  left  alone,  wished  her  son 
to  come  and  settle  up  the  business,  which  he  did. 
The  mother  died  Dec.  30,  1876.  He  retired  from 
the  active  business  of  life  in  1876,  and  is  now  living 
in  Rock  Island,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  laborious  toil, 
coupled  with  that  of  good  judgment  arid  energetic 
determination. 

Mr.  Albrecht  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ame- 
lia Spillmann  in  1854.  She  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
died  Feb.  25,  1883,  leaving  six  children  :  Emma, 
married  J.  F.  Ohlweiler,  Nov.  2,  T876,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Willie  and  Mabel ;  Laura  married  Adam 
Kopp,  Aug.  2,  1874,  and  they  have  two  daugh- 
ters, Emma  and  Louisa,  and  reside  at  present  in  Min- 
neapolis ;  John  married  Mary  Jensen,  Nov.  9,  1 88 1. 
and  they  have  one  child,  Edna ;  Louisa  married 
Henry  Nawman,  May  24,  1882,  and  has  one  child, 
Clara;  Amelia  D.,  born  Oct.  12,  1861,  and  Minnie 
K.,  born  Jan.  17,  1877,  are  unmarried. 

Politically,  Mr.  Albrecht  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  the 
proprietor  of  four  stores  and  one  dwelling  in  Rock 
Island,  and  owns  122  acres  of  land.  He  belongs  to 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Druids,  and  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Albrecht  takes  great 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  city.  His  naturaliza- 
tion papers,  which  made  him  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  were  handed  him  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  who 
said  he  "hoped  Mr.  Albrecht  would  make  a  good 
citizen,  and  thought  he  would,"  and  congratulated 
him  by  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand. 


~wv_~\«j2j2j27©"i€r*<f 


v§%QsZr&?rfr~  *v\/v~. 


dam  Ellis,  resident  at  Port  Byron,  111.,  was 
born  May  1,  1842,  in  the  province  of  On- 
tario, Canada.  He  is  the  son  of  David  and 
Maria  (Spencer)  Ellis,  who  are  respectively  of 
French  and  English  descent  The  family  con- 
sisted of  parents  and  nine  children.  In  1845 
they  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Winnebago 
County,  on  a  farm  which  the  father  bought  from  the 
Government,  and  on  which  he  began  improvements. 


His   labors    were    interrupted    by   his  death.     Two 
years  later  the  mother  died,  in  1852. 

Adam  Ellis  became  an  inmate  of  the  home  of  his 
brother-in-law,  J.  B.  Conklin,  in  Winnebago  County, 
under  whose  care  he  remained  until  be  became  of 
age.  He  enlisted,  Aug.  6,  1862,  in  the  74th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  enrolling  in  Company  A.  He  was  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States  Sept.  4  follow- 
ing. The  command  was  first  assigned  to  the  Eighth 
Brigade,  and  later  to  the  Tenth,  under  General  Post. 
Mr.  Ellis  was  under  fire  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  and  at 
Stone  River  and  Murfreesboro.  At  the  latter  place 
he  was  taken  ill,  and  was  in  the  hospital  until  August, 
1863,  when  he  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battles  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission  Ridge,  in 
1863.  At  the  latter  place  he  was  wounded  in  the 
leg.  When  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  at  London, 
Tenn.,  in  the  spring  of  1864,  his  command  was  as- 
signed to  General  Sherman.  He  was  in  the  actions  *■ 
of  the  Atlanta  campaign  until  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  * 
Mountain,  lasting  from  the  27th  of  June  until  the  : 
night  of  the  2d  of  July,  1864,  when  the  rebels  began  1 
to  evacuate.  Two  days  later,  on  the  skirmish  line, 
being  the  4th  of  July,  he  received  a  wound  in  his  left  '?. 
arm,  which  was  amputated  the  same  day.  He  was  s 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  Marietta,  Iowa,  and  went  < 
thence  successively  to  the  hospitals  at  Chattanooga, 
Nashville,  Evansville  and  Mound  City.  He  left  the 
latter  place  March  4,  1865,  at  which  date  he  was 
discharged,  and  returned  to  Winnebago  Co.,  111. 

He  was  in   15   regular  engagements  while  in  the 
service. 

In  1866  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at 
Harrison,  in  that  county,  where  he  operated  18 
months.  In  1868  he  engaged  in  a  similar  trade  in 
Port  Byron,  in  which  he  was  interested  until  1S82, 
when  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Dakota.  He  pre- 
empted 160  acres  of  land,  and  also  secured  a  tree 
claim.  A  year  later  he  returned  to  Port  Byron.  In 
the  spring  of  1883  he  entered  the  employ  of  J.  M. 
Christy,  of  Rock  Island,  in  whose  interests  he  has  /- 
since  operated  as  a  traveling  salesman. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1866  to 
Mrs.  Mary  Leffingwell,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Jessie  E.  and  Charles  R.  Mrs.  Ellis  is  a  native  of  h 
Hancock  Co.,  111.,  and  she  is  the  daughter  of  Rich-  * 
ard  and  Mary  (Woolfolk)  Smith.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  her  mother  in  Bowling 


)^# 


■^g^ — %M?wm$>*r& — *^*- 


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472 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Green,  Carolina  Co.,  Va.  They  came  to  Winnebago 
County  in  its  earliest  days,  and  her  father  died  there 
in  March,  1882.  She  was  married  in  1857  to  Levi 
B.  Leffingwell,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  he  enlisted  in  a  company  of  New  York 
Sharpshooters.  He  died  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  May  4, 
1863.  Two  of  their  children  are  now  living — Indi- 
aola  and  Lamont.  Indiaola  married  William  Atkin- 
son, and  lives  in  Rockton,  Winnebago  Co.,  111. 
Lamont  lives  in  Port  Byron. 


-K3- 


-E3- 


uther  W.  Skidmore,  D.  D.  S.,  office  in  John 
Deere 's  new  building,  corner  Third  Avenue 
and  17th  Street.  Dr.  Skidmore  was  born  at 
Morris,  111.,  and  is  the  son  of  James  B.  and 
Diantha  (Hall)  Skidmore,  both  natives  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  Dr.  Skidmore  took  a 
regular  course  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  S. 

In  January,  1885,  he  came  to  Moline,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  His  dental  par- 
lors are  complete  in  their  appointments  and  supplied 
with  all  modern  appliances  known  to  the  profession, 
although  but  a  few  months  resident  of  the  city,  Dr. 
Skidmore  is  rapidly  growing  in  favor  with  the  people 
of  Moline. 


t 


eter  McCarl,  farmer,  residing  on  section  2, 
Hampton  Township,  Rock  Island  County, 
is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Mahalie  (Huff- 
Pennsylvania, 
the    schools    of 


jrj  man)  McCarl,  and  was  born  in 
\.     Dec.  21,  1838.     He    attended  tl 


his  native  county,  and  received  the  advantages 
afforded  by  them,  though  at  that  early  period  they 
were  very  limited,  and  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  the  year  1859,  when  he  started  West, 
and  located  in  Rapids  City,  this  county.  Here 
he  worked  out  by  the  day  until  1S65,  when  he  en- 
listed in  Co.  G,  47th  Regt.  of  111.  Inf.,  for  one  year. 
Serving  his  time,  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He 
participated  in  one  battle  of  nine  days  at  Spanish 
Fort,  Alabama.     Returning  home,  he  engaged  as  a 


teamster,  and  continued  the  same  for  three  months  ; 
but,  thinking  to  better  his  condition,  he  opened  a 
general  store,  which  he  continued  for  nine  years. 
Selling  out  in  1877,  he  peddled  coffee  and  tea  for 
two  years;  then  he  came  to  this  place,  on  section  2, 
where  he  has  since  remained. 

In  1863,011  the  23d  day  of  August,  Mr.  McCarl 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Delilah  Shurtleff,  a 
native  of  Hampton  Township,  111.,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  two  children — Henry  and 
Rose. 

Politically,  Mr.  McCarl  is  identified  with  the  prin- 
ciples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party,  and  be- 
longs to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  attends  the  Christian 
Church  with  his  family. 


-£3- 


*~ »- 


ohn  Aster,  confectioner  and  baker  at  Rock 
Island,  to  which  city  he  came  in  185  1,  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  in  which  country  he 
was  born  Jan.  7,  1830.  In  conformity  to  the 
laws  of  his  native  land,  he  attended  school 
until  he  was  13  years  of  age,  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm.  After  leaving  school,  he  went  to 
learn  the  baker's  business,  and  at  the  age  of  16  years 
he  had  charge  of  a  bakery. 

On  attaining  the  age  of  r7  years,  Mr.  Aster,  real- 
izing that  there  were  better  inducements  for  an  indi- 
vidual to  procure  a  competency  in  the  United  States 
than  in  the  "  Faderland,"  determined  to  emigrate. 
He  consequently  set  sail  for  the  "  land  of  promise," 
and  landed  in  New  York,  where  he  commenced  to 
work  the  first  day  of  his  arrival  at  his  trade,  and  con- 
tinued at  the  same  for  two  years.  He  soon  afterward 
came  to  Peru,  this  State,  where  he  worked  in  a  hotel 
for  two  years.  He  then  came  to  Rock  Island,  stop- 
ped for  a  short  time,  then  procured  work  at  Daven- 
port, where  he  remained  a  week,  then  went  to  Moline 
and  engaged  in  the  bakery  business,  remaining  three 
months.  From  the  latter  place  he  went  to  Rock  Is- 
land, where  he  worked  in  a  bakery  for  seven  years, 
and  then  purchased  an  establishment  of  his  own, 
which  he  has  continued  to  conduct  until  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Mr.  Aster  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss 
Catherine  Iten,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  in  1857. 
They  have  six  children:  Elizabeth,  William  L.,  Em- 


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ma,  George  W,  Cora  S.  and  Madge  T.  Elizabeth 
married  Herman  Wettenberg,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Benhard.  Emma  married  Benhard  Harts,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Bessie  Harts. 

Politically,  Mr.  Aster  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  one 
of  the  Supervisors  of  Rock  Island,  and  socially  be- 
longs to  the  I.  O.  O.  F„  the  A.  O.  U.  W,  and  the  U. 
A.   O.  D. 


T 


.lamuel  Bowles,  long  one  of  the  leading 
W  farmers  of  Hampton  Township,  but  now 
*  retired  from  the  active  labors  of  farm  life, 
was  born  Feb.  6,  iSio,  at  Rock  Bridge,  Ya.. 
and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Bagford) 
Bowles,  natives  of  Maryland.  His  parents 
came  to  Indiana  as  early  as  r8i8,  where  they  made 
a  purchase  of  r6o  acres  of  land  in  Washington 
County,  and  remained  there  until  1840,  when  Sam- 
uel, subject  of  this  sketch,  went  after  them  and  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  them  to  Hampton  Township;  but 
the  father,  on  a  visit  to  a  son  in  New  Orleans,  took 
sick  there  and  died.  The  mother  died  at  her  son 
Samuel's. 

Samuel  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  20 
years  old,  and,  as  might  be  expected,  he  enjoyed  very 
limited  advantages  for  an  education,  for  educational 
institutions  and  methods  were  in  a  very  crude  condi- 
tion in  Indiana  from  60  to  70  years  ago.  Young 
Samuel  grew  up  to  a  sturdy  manhood  amid"  these 
rudest  of  pioneer  surroundings,  taking  advantage  of 
every  opportunity  to  gain  knowledge  and  prepare 
himself  for  future  usefulness.  He  naturally  pos- 
sessed a  large  share  of  that  most  valuable  gift,  com- 
mon sense  nor  was  this  dwarfed  or  stunted  by  such 
influences  and  surroundings  as  are  now  too  common. 
Some  of  the  greatest  men  of  our  age  have  grown  up 
amid  just  such  influences  as  those  surrounding  Mr. 
Bowles'  early  life. 

Our  subject  possesses  many  traits  of  both  mind 
and  heart  which  rank  with  those  of  men  who  have 
attained  a  national  reputation.  He  takes  a  large  and 
liberal  view  of  every  subject,  is  generous,  just,  and 
possesses  excellent  judgment,  and  was  a  most  valu- 
able acquisition  to  any  pioneer  settlement.     Shortly 


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after  leaving  home  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mirgaret  Porter,  a  native  of  Virginia.     Telitha 
is  the  name  of  their  only  child.     She  became  the 
wife  of  John  Kay,  and  is   the  mother  of  one  child. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bowles  operated  a  farm  in 
Indiana.     He  then  sold  out  his  interest  in  that  State 
and  came  to  Hampton  Township,  this  county,  where 
he  has  since  continued  to  reside,  and  has  from  the 
very  first  been  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  com- 
munity.    His  farm  contains  420  acres,  a  great  part 
of  which  is  rich  coal  land.     Mr.  Bowles  was  not  only 
one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  the  cc 
but  he  is  the  pioneer  in  the  development  of  the  now 
extensive  and  valuable  coal  interests  of  Rock  Island 
County,  being  the  first  to  make  the  discovery  of  coal. 
As  early  as  1836,  in  his  investigations,  he  discovered 
coal  on  his  land,  and  in  1842  opened  a  coal  bank, 
which  was  the  second  opened  in  the  county.     Since 
that  time  he  has  been  interested  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness, employing  from  20  to  25  hands.     This  exten- 
sive interest  in  this  county  has  been  largely  developed 
through  the  influence   and  instrumentality  of   Mr.  ' 
Bowles. 

Our  subject  has  been  an  active,  enterprising  citi-  i 
zen   of  the  county   for  fully    half   a   century,    and  ^ 
has  been  ever  ready  to  interest  himself  and  take  an  /, 
active  part  in  even"  project  looking  to  the  develop 
ment  of  the  county   or  welfare  of  the  commun:' 
One  of  the  most  commendable  enterprises  of  his  life, 
and  one  which  illustrates  his   generous  disposition 
and  his  earnest  desire  to  assist  the  only  real  source 
through  which  true  reform  in  society  and"the  greatest 
good  to  mankind  comas,  was   the    erection  of  the 
beautiful  church  edifice  on  his  farm.     This  structure  ^ 
was  erected  in   1879,  at  a  cost  of  $^000,  and  is  lo-  |5 
cated  in  the  midst  of  a  beautifully  kept  cemetery,  jj 
His  old  friend  and  fellow  pioneer,  Mr.  Alanson  Sin- 
net,  presented  the  Church  with  a  handsome  Bible  for 
the  pulpit.    The  church  building  is  shown  in  the  full- 
page  view-  of  Mr.  Bowles'  residence  and" surroundings 
which  is  presented  in  this  Album 

As  an  enduring  monument  to  the  memory  of  this 
generous  pioneer  and  citizen,  we  present  his  portrait 
in  this  volume  in  connection  with  this  sketch.  In  the 
view  which  is  also  given  of  his  present  commodious  /j 
residence,  his  home  of  50  years  ago  is  also  shown.  ^ 
It  will  no  doubt  be  a  source  of  gTeat  satisfaction  to  (3 


the  man  in  his  old  age  to  look  back  over  the  scenes 


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of  his  early  struggles  and  preserve  a  picture  of  his 
rude  cabin  home. 

Besides  his  fanning  and  mining  interests,  he  is 
largely  interested  in  other  enteiprises.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Moline,  and  is 
also  one  of  the  Directors  of  that  institution.  He  is 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific  Railroad.  Although  a  Democrat  politically, 
he  has  been  Postmaster  during  the  past  five  years  of 
the  office  of  Bowlesburg.  He  has  also  held  various 
township  offices. 


eter  Farrell,  Alderman  of  the  Second  Ward, 
Rock   Island,  and  one  of  the  most  exten- 

^S'i$.  sive  and  successful  brick  contractors  and 
builders  in  Western  Illinois,  was  born  in 
County  Maid,  Ireland,  and  came  with  his 
parents,  Peter  and  Jane  (Purden)  Farrell,  to 
America  when  he  was  about  seven  years  of  age. 
The  family  stopped  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  the 
parents  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives,  and  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  learned  the  trade  of  a  brick- 
layer, and  lived  until  he  was  about  19  years  of  age. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  came  to  Rock 
Island  and  took  service  on  a  Government  transport, 
and  followed  steamboating  upwards  of  five  years. 
Immediately  upon  abandoning  the  river  he  em- 
barked in  the  business  of  his  life — that  of  contractor 
and  builder.  Since  that  he  lias  constructed  the 
massive  buildings  of  the  Rock  Island  Plow  Works, 
the  Rock  Island  Hotel,  Dart's  grocery  house,  Strack- 
fas  Block,  Saurman's  Market  Square  buildings,  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  Harper's  Opera  House, 
the  Armory  block,  Fulwiler's  saloon  building,  Weir- 
heauser  &  Co.'s  immense  smoke-stack,  nearly  150 
feet  in  height ;  two  paper-mills  at  Milan,  Dimock  & 
Gould's  factory  at  Moline,  and  dwelling-houses  too 
numerous  to  mention. 

In  the  fall  of  1884  he  was  urged  by  his  friends  to 
make  the  race  for  Alderman,  and  much  against  his 
will  acquiesced;  and,  though  a  stanch  Democrat,  he 
represented  a  Republican  ward,  and  thai  to  the  en- 
tire satisfaction  of  the  better  class  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Farrell  was  married  at  Urban  a,  111.,  when 
about  22  years  of  age,  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Matthess, 


a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  following  names 
designate  respectively  their  four  children  :  Sarah 
J.,  James  T.,  in  the  tinning  and  stove  business  at 
Carson,  Iowa;  Richard  L.,  a  brick  mason  at  Rock 
Island,  and  Mina  Belle,  an  accomplished  little  miss 
in  her  teens.  Sarah  married  William  V.  Stafford, 
Feb.  20,  1883,  foreman  of  the  shipping  department  of 
the  Rock  Island  Plow  Works.  Mr.  Farrell  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  also  with  the 
A.  O.  (J.  W. 


-H##«- 


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(j|»dgar  Wells,  a  prominent  young   farmer  of 
Hampton  Township,  and  a  native  of  the 
same,  residing  on  section  21,  was  born  on 
■ff-    the  same  section  Dec.  3,   1861.     His  parents, 
John  and  Mary  (McMurphy)  Wells,  were  na- 
tives of  Vermont  and  New  York,  respectively, 
but  in  an  early  day,  in  1835,  became  pioneers  of  this 
township,  locating  on  section   21,  where  the  mother 
now  lives  with  her  son,  and  where  the  father  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  28,  1880.    They 
were  the  parents  of  n   children,  as  follows  :  Eliza- 
beth I.,  the  eldest,  who  died  at  the  age  of  35  years  ; 
Maria  L.,  Francis  H.,  Clarence  S.,  John  L.,  Rinnah 
A.,  Anthony  S.,  Arthur  S.,  Eunice  M.,  Charlotte  A. 
and  Edgar  L. 

The  elder  Wells,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
prominent  pioneer  of  the  county,  and  during  the 
Black  Hawk  War  enlisted  in  defense  of  the  settlers 
and  served  all  through  that  war.  He  was  driven  in- 
to the  lead  mines  by  the  Indians  at  Galena,  being 
without  coat  or  hat,  the  Indians  having  stolen  them. 
As  a  pioneer  to  a  new  country,  he  was  compelled  to 
undergo  many  inconveniences  and  privations,  which 
he  did  with  great  fortitude.  He  was  long  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  the  township,  and  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church. 

John  Wells  was  born  near  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  July 
18,  1807.  He  removed  from  there  to  Manchester, 
Ohio,  in  18 14.  They  remained  there  but  four 
years,  when  they  pushed  further  West  and  found  a 
location  in  Wayne  Co.,  111.  He  left  home  when  he 
was  about  21  years  of  age,  and  came  North  to  Gale- 
na, and  worked  in  the    lead  mines  for  several  years 


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.tfCCtf-  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


1 


He  was  living  there  at  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  in  which  he  played  a  prominent  part.  After 
that  war  he  engaged  a  short  time  in  buying  cattle  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  State,  and  driving  into  Ga- 
lena and  selling  them.  We  soon  find  him  in  Rock 
Island  County,  where,  in  Hampton  Township,  in 
1835,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  McMurphy. 
This  lady  now  lives  with  her  son  Edgar  on  the  old 
homestead.  Edgar  L.  Wells  has  charge  of  the  old 
homestead  farm  of  240  acres,  and,  although  a  young 
man,  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  township. 
He  was  married  April  16,  1884,  to  Miss  Hattie 
Walker,  a  native  of  Hampton  Township. 


b 


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^ohn  Marshall,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rock 

Island  County,  coming  here  in  1839,  and 

residing    in    the    county   constantly  since 

that  time,  is  at  present  a  resident  of  Cordova 

Township,  and  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock. 

raiser.     He    is    a  son    of  John   and    Charity 

(Golden)    Marshall,    being  the     second   eldest     of 

their  children. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  born  in  Hopewell  Township, 
Huntington  Co.  (now  Mercer  Co.),  New  Jersey, 
April  1,  18 19.  Mr.  Marshall  was  13  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  and  two  years  later  he  went  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a  wagon-maker,  at  which  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  two  years.  He  then  went  to 
Philadelphia,  and  worked  at  carpentering  three  years. 
In  1839,  realizing  that  to  better  his  condition  in  life, 
in  a  financial  point  of  view,  the  West  offered  better 
inducements  than  the  crowded  East,  he  came  to 
Cordova,  Rock  Island  Co.,  111.,  in  company  with 
three  others.  They  arrived  at  Cordova  in  July  of 
that  year,  and  he  and  his  brother,  William  G.  Mar- 
shall, made  a  claim  on  section  3  of  that  township, 
and  as  soon  as  the  land  came    into   market,   entered 

tthe  same.  In  July,  1840,  they  raised  the  first  crop 
in  that  township.  In  1842  the  mother,  in  company 
with  the  remainder  of  the  family,  joined  them,  and  he 
located  on  the  homestead  with  his  mother  until  1845. 
During  the  year  he  entered  the  north  half  of  the 
I  southeast  quarter  of  section  34,  township  20,  range 
2,  now  known  as    Cordova  Township,    and  in  1844 


built  a  frame  house  on  this  place  and  located  there- 
on. He  has  from  time  to  time  added  to  his  original 
purchase  until  he  at  present  is  the  owner  of  360 
acres,  all  in  a  body,  besides  150  acres  adjoining  in 
Coe  Township,  located  on  section  3  and  in  Whiteside 
County.  In  1863  he  erected  a  stone  building  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  34,  Cordova  Township. 
There  is  a  fine  natural  grove  near  by  his  house. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E. 
Cool  in  September,  1840.  She  was  born  in  Prince- 
ton, N.  J.,  July  9,  1819.  They  have  nine  children. 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  J.  F.  Cranston,  and  resides 
in  Benton  County,  Minn. ;  Charity  is  the  wife  of 
Paul  D.  Ege,  and  lives  in  Guthrie  County,  Iowa ; 
Harmon  married  Jennie  Hoff,  and  resides  on  section 
15  southwest  quarter;  Jerome  married  Maria  With- 
row,  of  Albany,  and  lives  in  Whiteside  County; 
Edward  married  Sally  Bailey,  and  lives  in  Guthrie 
County,  Iowa;  Samuel  married  Emma  Seeley,  of 
Clinton,  Iowa,  and  resides  in  Benton  Co.,  Minn.; 
Robert  married  Marietta  Burlingame,  of  Albany,  and 
resides  on  the  homestead  ;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Wells,  and  they  reside  in  Guthrie  County, 
Iowa ;  Horace  married  Sarah  A.  Crawford,  widow  of 
Jonathan  Marshall,  and  resides  on  the  homestead ; 
Clara  died  in  her  twentieth  year,  and  Jonathan  in 
his  twenty-fourth  year. 

Politically,  Mr.  M.  is  a  Republican. 


udge  George  E.  Holmes,  deceased,  who 
'-  was  formerly  a  resident  of  Port  Byron,  was 
born  in  Stoddard,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H., 
Feb.  17,  1802.  While  approaching  the  age  of 
adult  manhood  he  learned  the  trade  of  boot 
and  shoe  maker,  at  which  he  worked  in  his 
native  village.  He  the.)  moved  to  Lunenburg,  Vt., 
where  he  lived,  following  his  trade  until  1830,  when 
he  went  to  Guildhall,  the  county  seat  of  Essex  Co., 
Vt.  He  there  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  be- 
came prominent  in  county  affairs,  and  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  the  county.  In  1833  lie  went  to  St.  Johns- 
bury,  that  State,  where,  for  a  number  of  years,  he 
kept  a  hotel.  In  the  spring  of  1846  he  came  West 
and  settled  in  Port  Byron,  this  county,  where  he  en- 


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gaged  in  trade  with  G.  S.  Moore,  and  at  the  same 
time  kept  the  Port  Byron  House.  Being  a  man  of 
fine  attainments,  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  also 
a  zealous  Abolitionist,  he  became  very  popular,  and 
was  finally  elected  County  Judge,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  the  people  acceptably.  He  was  also  As- 
sociate Justice,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  that  lie  was  a  resident  there,  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  Jan.  3,  1872. 

Judge  Holmes  was  married  twice,  first  to  Mary 
Moore,  Dec.  7,  1826,  who  died  July  21,  1850,  leaving 
five  children,  namely  :  Cynthia,  now  the  widow  of 
N.  Belcher ;  Annette,  widow  of  S.  S.  Guyer;  Ellen, 
no.,  the  wife  of  Capt.  George  Dodge;  Mary,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  Ed.  Murphy  ;  and  Jennie,  now  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Wm.  Lyford.  The  Judge's  second  marriage  oc- 
curred March  24,  185 1,  when  he  chose  for  his  life 
partner  Mrs.  Lorane,  widow  of  Addison  G.  Durfee. 
She  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  Hillsboro  Co.,  N.  H., 
Aug.  15,  1805.  Her  first  husband.  Mr.  Durfee,  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island,  Nov.  1,  1799.  They  were 
married  in  Greenfield,  Erie  Co.,  Pi.,  Feb.  28,  1827. 
By  that  marriage  there  were  two  children,  viz.:  Wil- 
ber,  who  was  born  in  North  East,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan 
17,  1828,  and  Harriet  Pratt,  Aug.  31,  1853;  the  latter 
•has  two  children,  Clarence  and  Grace  C,  who  now 
live  in  Oskaloosa,  Iowa  ;  Emily  N.  is  now  the  wife 
of  L.  Lowry,  and  lives  in  Port  Byron. 


:3*-£-*«e===- 


apt.  Thomas  J.  Eobinson,  President  of 
&  the  Rock  Island  National  Bank,  also  of 
Ip**  the  Black  Diamond  Coal  Company,  was 
$fo  born  at  Appleton,  Maine,  July  28,  1818,  and 
y^  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Dilleway) 
Robinson,  natives  of  the  same  State,  and  of 
English  and  German  extraction,  respectively.  He 
worked  some  at  farming,  but  devoted  most  of  his 
time  to  the  acquirement  of  an  education.  Kent's 
Hill  Academy  (Maine)  offered  him  the  greatest  op- 
portunity in  that  direction,  and  before  he  was  twenty- 
years  of  age  he  had  fitted  himself  as  an  educator 
and  was  teaching  in  the  public  schools. 

In  1838,  he  came  West,  stopping  in  Greene  Co., 
111.,  where  he  taught  school  three  years.     In  1841  he 


procured  a  clerkship  on  a  Lower  Mississippi  steamer, 
and  followed  the  river  about  two  years.  Abandon- 
ing this  position,  he  paid  a  short  visit  to  his  native 
place,  and  returned  to  Greene  County,  and  for  the 
succeeding  three  or  four  years  was  employed  as  clerk 
in  the  County  Treasurer's  office.  In  1847  he  came 
into  Rock  Island  County,  and  for  the  two  years  fol- 
lowing, tried  his  hand  at  farming.  From  here  he 
removed  to  Port  Byron,  111.,  and  embarked  in  mer- 
cantile, lumber  and  flouring-mill  business,  which  he 
followed  four  years.  The  spring  of  1853  he  came  to 
Rock  Island  city  and  bought  an  interest  in  the  Dav- 
enport ferry.  There  was  no  bridge  across  the  Mis- 
sissippi at  that  time,  nor  for  many  years  afterward, 
and  the  ferry-boat  at  this  point  proved  a  veritable 
bonanza.  It  made  everybody  rich  connected  with  it, 
and  to  this  day,  though  the  railroads  and  bridges 
have  taken  away  much  of  its  business,  the  revenues 
derived  from  it  are  immense,  and  as  a  paying  prop- 
erty it  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  Captain,  who 
retains  the  management  of  the  company. 

Captain  Robinson  has  led  a  busy  life,  and  in  noth- 
ing that  he  has  ever  undertaken  has  he  failed.  On 
the  contrary,  the  enterprises  to  which  he  has  given  his 
attention  have  succeeded,  and  specially  so  when  un- 
der his  direct  supervision.  The  Rock  Island  National 
Bank  was  organized  in  1S71,  and  Mr.  Robinson  was 
made  its  President.  Speaking  of  this  concern  after 
it  had  been  fourteen  years  in  successful  operation,  a 
local  authority  very  truthfully  says :  "  Since  the  date 
of  its  organization  the  Rock  Island  National  Bank 
has  been  under  the  management  of  Capt.  T.  J.  Rob- 
inson, and  to  his  praiseworthy  attention  to  its  affairs, 
sound  judgment  and  liberal,  yet  accommodating  con- 
duct when  consistent  with  security,  the  unusual  suc- 
cess and  high  standing  of  the  bank  is  mainly  due. 
Caution,  liberality  and  security  has  been  the  watch- 
word of  Capt.  Robinson's  management." 

His  title  of  Captain  was  probably  derived  from  his 
steamboat  or  ferry  experience.  Any  way,  the  title 
was  given  to  him  several  years  ago  and  adheres  to 
him.  From  1849  to  1854  he  was  one  of  the  Asso- 
ciate Judges  of  Rock  Island  County,  and  the  marvel 
is  that  he  was  not  called  "  Judge  "  instead  of  "  Cap- 
tain." He  is  not  much  addicted  to  politics  though 
away  back  in  the  fifties  he  held  the  office  of  County 
Supervisor,  and  was  Chairman  of  the  Board  a  term 
or  two.  He  has  also  represented  the  Republican 
party,  a  few  times  as  their  delegate  to  the  State  Con- 


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ventions.  In  later  years,  however,  he  devotes  his 
entire  time  to  business.  The  Captain  is  a  Knight 
Templar,  a  good  Republican,  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

He  was  married  in  1846,  in  Greene  Co.,  111.,  to 
Miss  Amy  Ann  Henderson,  a  daughter  of  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  that  county.  Their  only  son,  James 
F.,  is  Cashier  of  the  Rock  Island  National  Bank. 


-<-H*#*§^>-- 


ohn  Sexton  Phillips,  one  of  the  early  pi- 
Hflltf  oneers  of  this  county,  was  born  in  Hopewell, 
b'        Hunterdon  (now  Mercer)  Co.,  N.  J.,  June 
>     10,  1821,   and   was  the  oldest  son  of  John  L. 
"It     and  Nancy  (Sexton)  Phillips,    both  natives  of 
I      New  Jersey.     On  the  paternal  side  he  is  of  the 
seventh  generation  from  Rev.   George  Phillips,  who 
,    came  from  England  in   company  with  George  VVin- 
throp   in    1630,  and    settled    in    Watertown,   Mass. 
His    grandfather    Phillips    married  Catherine  Phil- 
lips, a  descendant  from  Joseph  Phillips,  who  came 
from  Wales  and  settled  in  New  Jersey,  near  Prince- 
ton, prior  to  1700.     The  Sextons  were  also  early  set- 
tlers in  New  Jersey.     Mrs.   Phillips,  mother   of  our 
subject,  died  when  he  was  about    1 2  years  of   age, 
and  his  father  never  formed  a  second  matrimonial 
alliance. 

In  1838  John  S.  Phillips,  whose  name  heads  this 
notice,  came  to  Rock  Island  city  in  company  with 
the  Marshall,  Cool  and  Sexton  families,  with  the  in- 
tention of  selecting  a  suitable  location  for  his  father. 
The  journey  was  made  overland.  For  the  first  three 
years  he  worked  for  his  uncle,  Joseph  R.  Sexton,  but 
in  the  spring  of  1841  he  returned  to  New  Jersey. 
Starting  in  June,  he  went  on  foot  to  Chicago,  where 
he  took  the  steamer  for  Buffalo,  from  there  on  the  ca- 
nal to  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.,  by  railroad  to  Albany  the 
steamer  to  New  York  City,  the  railroad  to  New 
Brunswick,  and  from  that  place  on  foot,  walking  23 
miles.  He  remained  in  New  Jersey  until  1845, 
when,  in  company  with  his  father  and  family,  they 
started  on  their  return  to  Rock  Island  city,  and  again 
came  with  teams  over  bnd,  arriving  here  after  a 
journey  of  52  days.  He  located  in  the  village  of 
Cordova,  where  his  father  died,  in  October,  1862. 


May  12,  1840,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  went  to 
Galena,  and  entered  80  acres  of  land,  being  the  east 
half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  29,  township 
20  north,  range  2  east,  and  on  his  return,  in  1845, 
commenced  to  improve  the  land. 

Sept.  10,  1862,  Mr.  Phillips  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Anna  Maria  Hoff,  who  was  born  Dec.  4, 
1829,  in  Pennington,  N.  J.,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Julia  Hoff.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  have 
become  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  Ruth 
A.,  May  F.  and  Catherine. 

At  the  time  of  marriage  they  settled  on  the  farm 
and  resided  there  three  years,  when  he  rented  the 
farm  and  removed  to  Cordova,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Cordova. 


<«2£<2/&l€r* 


i^e  Witt  Clinton  Dimoek,  treasurer  of  the 
J.    firm  of  Dimoek,  Gould  &  Co.,  manufatc- 
•>  \Ufy-""2     urers  0f  lumber  and  wooden-ware  at  Mo- 
'v\n      line,  was  born  in   Willington,  Conn.,  Oct.   1, 
fa         1820.     He  came  to  Geneseo  in  1840,  and  to 
5  Moline  in  the  summer  of  1843.     In  1852   he 

formed  a  partnership  with  John  M.  Gould  in  the 
manufacture  of  furniture  and  wooden-ware,  on  the 
northeast  end  of  Rock  Island.  They  removed  to  the 
main  land  at  Moline  in  1868,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  and  wooden-ware.  (See  his- 
tory of  this  important  manufacturing  establishment 
elsewhere  in  this  work.) 

Mr.  Dimoek  has  been  in  business  in  Moline  con- 
tinuously for  32  years.  On  the  incorporation  of  the 
firm  of  Dimoek,  Gould  &  Co.,  in  1869,  he  was  elected 
its  first  president ;  was  re-elected,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion until  1884,  with  the  exception  of  two  years, 
when  he  resigned  on  account  of  failing  health.  He 
was  then  elected  treasurer,  which  position  he  holds 
at  the  present  writing. 

Mr.  Dimoek  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Maria  H.  Hubbard,  the  accomplished  daughter 
of  Rufus  Hubbard,  June  17,  1843.  Mrs.  Dimoek 
was  born  in  Bergen,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  issue 
of  their  union  is  two  daughters.  The  eldest,  Nellie  E. 
died  when  about  two  years  of  age ;  and  Florence,  who 


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was  born  in  Moline,  completed  her   education  at  the 
excellent  seminary  at  Highland    Park,  and  in  May, 
1880,  married  Edward  H.  Sleight,  a  stockholder  in  the 
business  of  Dimock,  Gould  &  Co.,  and  a  resident  of 
Moline.     Mr.  Dimock  was  one  of  the  original  stock- 
holders of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Moline,   and 
has  long  served  as  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Direct- 
ors.      His   life  has  been  one  of  business,  and  his 
word  is  as  good  as  his  bond.     His  accumulation  of 
this  world's  goods  is  due  to  his  indomitable   energy, 
good  judgment  and  active  co-operation   of  his  good 
helpmate.     He  has  been  at  the  head  of  an  important 
manufacturing  institution   for  over  30  years,  to  the 
success  of  which   he  has   devoted  his  best  energy. 
He  has  neither  time   nor  inclination  to   participate 
officially  in  public  affairs,  but  is  widely  known  as  a 
man   of  broad  and  liberal  views,   kind-hearted    and 
benevolent,  upright  and  just,  and    possessing   to   a 
gratifying  degree  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens.     Religiously,  Mr.  Dimock  and  his  wife   are 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Moline,  of 
which   denomination   Mr.    Dimock  was  one  of  the 
founders  at  that  place,  and  has  been  a  liberal  contrib- 
utor in  support  of  the  same.     Politically,  he  is  a  be- 
liever in   the  tenets  of  the   Republican  party,    and 
during  the  war  was  a  staunch  Union  man. 

Prominent  among  that  enterprising  class  of  busi- 
ness men  who  have  made  Moline  the  thriving  city 
it  is  to-day,  stands  Mr.  D.  C.  Dimock.  That  this 
city  has  made  rapid  strides  of  late  years  can  not  be 
denied.  One  need  but  go  through  its  business  thor- 
oughfares and  seethe  splendid  buildings  and  the  dis- 
play of  the  enterprise  of  its  merchants  and  business 
men,  to  be  impressed  with  the  just  claims  it  makes 
to  being  a  city  of  prominence  and  importance.  Its 
towering  smoke-stacks  from  the  numerous  and  ex- 
tensive manufactories,  which  are  seen  on  every 
hand,  afford  additional  evidence  of  its  prosperity  and 
the  enterprise  of  its  citizens.  Nor  are  these  the  only 
manifestations  of  city  life  that  may  be  seen  at  Mo- 
line. The  magnificent  and  palatial  residences  in 
many  quarters  of  the  city  tell  the  visitor  that  its  citi- 
zens not  only  aspire  to  founding  large  manufacturing 
establishments  and  extensive  mercantile  concerns, 
but  have  exhibited  a  most  commendable  enterprise 
in  erecting  and  furnishing  many  splendid  dwellings. 
Prominent  among  these  and  one  of  the  most  pleas- 
antly   located    is   the    residence    of    Mr.    Dimock. 


This,  with  its  delightful  surroundings,  is  shown  in  a 
full-page  view,  in  company  with  the  portrait  of  its 
owner. 


-*k*s*«- 


5 


l|,on  J.  "Webb,  Station  Agent  at  Rapids  City, 
'    to  which  place  he  came  in  1876,  was  born 
M  "%    in  Rock  County,  Wis.,  Dec.  29,  1852.  His 
jfev      parents   were   William  J.,  who   was  born  at 
Perry sburg,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  July  7, 
181 1,  and  Eunice  Watson,  who  was  born  at  New 
Salem,    Franklin    Co.,  Mass.,    Jan.    2,    1814.     The 
parents  moved    to   Wisconsin    in    1840,  where  her 
father  purchased  a   farm    containing  40  acres  and 
afterwards  increased  his  landed   interests    until  he 
was  the  proprietor  of  320  acres  in  that  State,  and  on 
which  he  resided  until  shortly  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  7,  1876,  at  Evansville,  Rock  County, 
Wis.,  he    having  moved    there   to  obtain    a  needed 
rest  from   the  cares  of  his  farm.     Don  J.,  subject  of 
this  sketch,  remained   under   parental  care   and  in- 
struction until  he  attained  the  age  of  majority.     His 
earlier  years  were  passed  on  the  farm  and  in  the  ac- 
quisition of  a  good  education,  having  had  the  advan- 
tages afforded   by  the    Evansville  Seminary,  which 
institution  he  attended  four  years.  He  then  attended 
Bryant  &   Stratton's  Business  College  at   Janesville, 
Wis.,  for  two  years,  where  he  completed  a  thorough 
business  course  of  study.     Leaving  commercial  col- 
lege, he   came    home    and  again  entered   upon  the 
duties  of  farm  life. 

In  the  winter  of  1873  he  came  to  Savanna,  Car- 
roll County,  111.,  where  for  two  years  he  was  engaged 
in  learning  telegraphy  and  railroading.  He  then  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  station  agent  at  Rapids  City,  in 
1876,  where  he  has  since  continued  in  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Webb  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Clara  E.  Mitchell,  a  native  of  Rapids  City,  Aug.  30, 
1876.  She  was  born  May  1,  i860.  Her  parents 
were  old  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  that  place, 
moving  there  in  1840.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  them,— Willie  M.,  born  Aug.  29,  1877,  and 
Dwight  J.,  Oct.  2,  1879.  Politically,  Mr.  Webb  is  a 
believer  in  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party.     Religiously,  he  attends  the  Episcopal 


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Church,  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  Philo  Lodge, 
436,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Port  Byron  ;  Barrett  Chap- 
ter, No.  18;  Everts  Commandery,  K.  T ,  No.  18,  of 
Rock  Island,  111. ;  Rapids  City  Lodge,  656,  I.  O.  O. 
F. ;  and  Social  Lodge,  134,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  Rapids 
City. 

•-  — ->5-$ >€^0a $— f4» — ■ 

":•?''  ;  '> 

#|£ohn  Lancashire,  President  of  the  Moline 
Pipe-Organ  Company,  was  born  near  Man- 
chester, England,  in  1844,  and  is  the  son 
of  Robert  Lancashire.  He  served  seven  years 
if  at  the  trade  of  pipe-organ  builder,  and  after- 
wards worked  several  years  in  the  leading  or- 
gan factories  of  Liverpool  and  London.  In  1870  he 
came  to  America  and  the  following  year  to  Moline, 
111.,  where  he  organized  the  Moline  Pipe-Organ 
Company,  of  which  he  was  elected  President  and 
Manager.  Mr.  Lancashire  is  a  thorough  master  of 
his  business  in  every  detail,  and  he  has  had  the  sat- 
isfaction of  seeing  the  enterprise  which  he  was  in- 
strumental in  establishing  in  a  small  way  14  years 
ago  now  developed  into  one  of  the  prominent  indus- 
tries of  Moline.  (See  sketch  of  the  factory  else- 
where in  this  work.) 

Mr.  Lancashire  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at 
Moline,  June  9,  18S4,  with  Miss  Letitia  A.  Brett. 
She  was  born  in  New  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lan- 
cashire are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  In 
political  views  Mr.  Lancashire  is  an  independent. 


£3 


&b,  B.  Kinyon,  M.  D.,  residing  at  Rock  Is- 
\f  land,  came  to  this  city  in  1878.     He  is  a 


son  of  James  N.  and  Mary  A.  (Benedict) 

®&    Kinyon,  and    was   born    in  Walworth  County, 

,J^     Wis.,  Jan.  6,  1851.     Thefather  of  Dr.  Kinyon 

s       was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  the   son  was 

reared  in  Wisconsin  upon    the    farm,  alternating  his 

labors  thereon  by  attendance  at  the  common  schools 

of  his  n.itive  county.   He  remained  at  home  assisting 

in  the  maintenance  of  the  family  until  he  was  about 

21  years  of  age,  when  he  attended  and  graduated  at 


the  State  University  of  Illinois.  He  studied  medi- 
cine at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  then  went  to  the  New 
Homeopathic  College  at  Chicago,  where  he  matricu- 
lated and  followed  the  curriculum  of  that  institution, 
and  from  which  he  graduated  in  1878.  He  then 
came  to  Rock  Island  city,  and  at  once  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  by  constant  atten- 
tion to  business,  and  honest,  straightforward  dealings 
with  his  fellow-man,  he  has  built  up  a  very  good 
practice. 

Dr.  Kinyon  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Maria  Walden,  April  25,  1878,  The  issue  of  their 
unionhas  been  one  child,  Howard  B.  Kinyon,  born 
April  19,  1880.  Dr.  Kinyon  in  his  political  views 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party.  Socially,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Dr.  Kinyon  is  the  oldest  practitioner  of  his  school 
in  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  and  the  large  practice 
which  lie  has  built  up  since  a  resident  of  that  place 
is  due  to  his  competency  as  a  practitioner  and  an 
honest  recognition  of  his  ability.  He  is  a  man  who 
is  always  interested  in  every  project  calculated  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  community  in  which  he 
resides,  and  is  noted  for  his  genial  and  manly  spirit, 
and  for  his  success  in  restoring  his  patients  to  their 
former  strength  and  vigor. 


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'''■  'I ~%\ ]''■■  acoD  C.  Bailey,  carpenter  and  joiner,  cor- 
-  'QZM'C  ner  of  Old  Avenue  and  17th  Street,  South 
Rock  Island,  was  born  in  Trumbull  Co.,  O., 
June  25,  1835.  His  father,  Isaac  Bailey,  was 
a  merchant  in  the  earlier  years  of  his  life  and 
afterward  a  farmer;  lie  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, of  German  descent.  Jacob's  mother,  nee 
Rebecca  Weaver,  is  of  the  same  nativity  and  de- 
scent, and  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  72  years,  in 
Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.  Her  husband,  who  was  born 
Oct.  12,  1806,  died  Dec.  8,  1S77.  In  his  political 
views  he  was  before  the  war  a  Democrat  and  after- 
ward a  Republican.  Both  the  parents  were  con- 
nected with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  fourth  in  a 


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family  of  15  children.  He  lived  at  his  parental  home 
until  he  was  of  age,  being  brought  up  in  agricultural 
pursuits  and  at  the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  20 
he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  native 
county,  under  the  instructions  of  Henry  Earnest.  At 
the  conclusion  of  a  three-years  apprenticeship  he 
was  married,  and  after  a  residence  in  his  native 
county  until  1865  he  came  West,  locating,  Sept.  25, 
in  this  county,  at  once  devoting  his  energies  to  the 
prosecution  of  his  chosen  trade.  In  1871,  he  re- 
moved to  South  Rock  Island,  purchasing  an  acre  of 
ground,  to  which  his  son  afterward  added  two  acres, 
and  on  this  lot  he  built  a  good  and  nicely  finished 
residence.  He  is  still  devoting  his  whole  time  to  his 
trade.  In  his  political  principles  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 

The  marriage  of  Mr  Bailey,  to  Miss  Catharine 
Durst,  took  place  May  18,  1855.  She  was  born  in 
his  native  county  (Trumbull),  March  15,  1832.  Her 
father,  Wm.  Durst,  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  that 
county,  in  1867  ;  and  her  mother,  nee  Catharine 
Roope,  died  in  the  spring  of  187  1.  Mrs.  B.  is  the 
youngest  of  15  children,  and  she  is  now  the  mother  of 
three  children,  namely  :  Frank  L.,  who  was  born 
Nov.  27,  1856;  William  E.,  born  April  15,  1859,  and 
May  L.,  Aug.  20,  i860.  Besides,  she  has  had  the 
care  and  rearing  of  an  orphan  child. 


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,r.  E.  E.  Eogers,  residing  at  Port  Byron,  is 
one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  bus- 
iness men  of  that  place.  He  is  a  native 
j*jiv  of  Plainfield,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  Nov. 
14,  1829.  The  parents  of  Dr.  Rogers  were 
John  and  Margaret  (Williams)  Rogers,  na- 
tives of  Mifflin  County,  Pa.  They  were  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Ohio,  where  they  resided  until  their 
deaths. 

Dr.  Rogers  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Zanes- 
ville  and  Athens,  his  native  State,  and  completed  his 
education  by  a  thorough  and  complete  academical 
course.  At  an  early  age  he  determined  to  adopt  the 
profession  of  medicine  as  the  business  of  his  life, 
and  with  that  end  in  view  he  read  the  standard  text 


i 


books  of  medicine  while  yet  in  his  minority.  When 
he  attained  his  majority  he  came  to  Davenport,  la., 
arriving  there  in  April,  1850.  He  remained  there 
until  the  May  following,  when  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  at  Port  Byron,  hung  out  his  shingle  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession.  The 
county  at  that  time  was  thinly  settled,  entailing  upon 
the  Doctor  long  and  fatiguing  rides  to  visit  patients 
living  in  remote  settlements  ;  but  he  was  possessed 
of  a  stout  and  vigorous  brain  that  has  never  known 
an  hour  of  sickness  during  the  last  35  years.  In 
1855,  realizing  the  importance  of  having  pure  drugs 
in  his  practice,  he  opened  a  drug  store  in  connection 
with  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  business 
he  is  still  connected  with  his  son.  In  187 1,  Dr. 
Rogers  began  the  banking  business  and  established 
the  bank  known  as  the  Bank  of  Port  Byron,  under 
the  firm  name  of  E.  E.  Rogers  &  Sons.  The  bank 
is  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  financial 
circles.  It  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  solid  institu- 
tions of  the  county.  The  volume  of  business  trans- 
acted by  the  bank  has  aggregated  $1,500,000.  Prior 
to  engaging  in  the  banking  business  Dr.  Rogers  com-  \ 
menced  dealing  in  grain,  shipping,  etc.,  and  the  firm  \ 
as  it  now  exists  was  organized  in  1871. 

As  seen  by  the  foregoing,  the  life  of  Dr.  Rogers  ^ 
has  been  one  of  business  activity.  He  belongs  to  < 
that  class  of  Western  men  who  are  noted  for  their 
push  and  enterprise,  good  judgment  and  energy. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  energy,  tact  and  good 
judgment  of  Dr.  Rogers  has  brought  its  reward  in 
wealth  that  ranks  him  among  the  substantial  citizens 
of  Rock  Island  County.  His  accumulation  of  this 
world's  goods  is  attributable  to  none  other  than  his 
own  indomitable  energy,  keen  judgment  and  ener- 
getic endeavor. 

In  December,  1853,  Dr.  Rogers  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Susan  Moore,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
at  Port  Byron.  The  issue  of  their  union  has  been 
two  sons, — Frank  E.  and  Edward  M.  Both  the 
sons  are  partners  in  the  firm  of  E.  E.  Rogers  & 
Sons,  bankers,  grain  dealers  and  druggists  at  Port  A 
Byron. 

Frank  E.  Rogers,  eldest  son  of  the  Doctor,  married    | 
Miss  E.  A.  Maxwell,  and  they  have  two  children,— 
Walter  Harry  and  Hazel.     Edward  M.  Rogers,  sec-  \, 
ond   child   of  the  Doctor,  married    Miss   Eliza  Mc-  ^ 
Call,  and  they  have  one  child,  Bertha  by  name. 

Mis.  Rogers,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  is 


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a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  Socially, 
Doctor  Rogers  belongs  to  Port  Byron  Lodge,  No. 
624,  I.  O.  0.  F.  Politically,  he  comes  from  good  old 
Democratic  stock,  his  first  Presidential  vote  hav- 
ing been  cast  for  Franklin  Pierce  in  1852,  and  since 
that  time  he  has  not  failed  to  cast  his  vote  in  sup- 
port of  the  principles  of  that  party.  Thus,  in  short, 
is  the  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Dr.  Rogers,  and 
thus  we  have  an  exemplification  of  what  push  and 
energy  may  accomplish,  2  He  started  out  in  life  with 
nothing  but  a  strong  determination  to  succeed  and  a 
healthy  constitution,  and  by  his  energy  and  perse- 
verance has  procured  a  competency  and  a  name  and 
reputation  second  to  none  in  the  community  in 
which  he  resides  for  fair  and  honest  dealings  with 
his  fellow-man. 


^-4- £= 


^E^f;'1  annuel  Sloan,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rock 
V.^toai^  Island  County,  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
j[fc*  "'  Co.,  Pa.,  July  25,  1803.  His  father,  Henry 
'j  \\j  Sloan,  was  a  native  of  that  State.  His  grand- 
parents were  from  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  the  17th  century.  His  grand- 
father, Samuel  Sloan,  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  he  had 
the  township  in  which  he  lived  named  in  honor  of 
his  native  county  in  Ireland.  He  built  the  first 
grist-mill  in  the  township  of  Derry,  which  was  the 
first  grist-mill  west  of  the  mountains;  and  subse- 
quently, while  erecting  a  saw-mill,  he  received  a 
fall,  from  the  injuries  of  which  he  died.  The  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  young 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  after  that  event 
went  to  live  with  an  uncle  in  Franklin  County! 
where  he  was  raised.  The  maiden  name  of  the 
mother  of  Samuel  Sloan  was  Elizabeth  Morrison, 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Irish  descent. 
Samuel  Sloan,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.,  receiving  the  training  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon school.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1830, 
to  Mary  Slemmons  who  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  181  r.  After  marriage  he  made  his  home 
with  his  parents  for  about  three  years,  then  managed 


his  sister's  farm  until  1839.  At  this  date,  realizing 
that  there  were  better  inducements  for  procuring  a 
competency  in  the  West  than  in  his  native  State,  he 
started  to  seek  a  home  on  the  wild  prairies  of  Illi- 
nois. His  start  was  made  in  company  with  two 
others  on  horseback  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and  they 
rode  all  the  way  to  this  State,  visiting  McDonough 
County  and  other  points,  but  made  no  claim.  He 
was  well  satisfied  with  the  country,  and  on  his  re- 
turn home  made  a  favorable  report  to  his  brothers  ; 
and  in  the  spring  of  1839,  in  company  with  others, 
started  again  for  Illinois,  accompanied  by  his  family. 
They  came  by  way  of  the  Ohio.  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois Rivers  to  Beardstown,  and  drove  from  there  to 
McDonough  County.  He  there  rented  a  small  farm, 
put  in  a  crop,  after  which  he  came  to  Buffalo  Prairie 
Township  and  entered  land  on  section  33.  He 
rented  a  house  in  Illinois  City,  and  lived  there  until 
the  spring  of  1841,  when  he  erected  a  frame  house 
on  his  land,  and  at  once  entered  vigorously  and 
energetically  upon  the  task  of  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement, and  upon  which  he  has  been  a  constant 
resident  ever  since.  He  has  improved  his  place  by 
the  erection  of  buildings,  barns,  etc.,  and  the  plant- 
ing of  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  until  at  present 
he  has  a  fine  productive  farm  under  a  good  method 
of  cultivation. 

Mrs.  Sloan  died  Feb.  9,  18S0.  Their  union  was 
blessed  with  nine  children — Eliza  J.,  born  Dec.  n, 
1831,  died  May  1 1,  1867  ;  Caroline  M.,  born  May  7, 
1834,  is  the  wife  of  Matthew  Robison,  and  resides 
in  Andalusia  Township;  Sarah  W.,  born  Oct.  14, 
1836,  died  Feb.  13,1851;  Henry  F.,  born  May  23, 
1S39,  died  July  21,  1870;  Martha  was  born  April  23, 
1842,  and  married  Edward  Castle,  a  resident  of 
Mercer  County;  Rebecca  S.  was  born  Nov.  22,  1844, 
and  is  at  present  the  wife  of  Thomas  Vernon,  resid- 
ing in  Mercer  County ;  Thomas  S.,  born  March  12, 
1848,  also  resides  in  Mercer  County;  William  S., 
born  July  13,  185  presides  on  the  parental  home- 
stead; Agnes  A.,  born  Aug.  14,  1854,  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Van  Reeves,  and   resides  in  Edgington. 

Mr.  Sloan  is  the  proprietor  of  160  acres  of  land,  80 
of  which  is  located  in  Mercer  County.  Since  the 
death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Sloan  has  spent  the  summer 
seasons  traveling,  and  has  visited  his  old  home  in 
Pennsylvania,  also  Washington,  D.  C,  Kansas,  Ne- 
braska, Missouri  and  Iowa.  His  son  William,  who 
manages  the  homestead,  has  always  resided  at  home. 


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He  was  united  in  marriage  Feb.  6,  1879,  with  Miss 
Martha  Kirkman,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Sophronia  (Eby)  Kirkman  ;  she  was  born 
in  Rock  Island  County.  Mr.  Sloan  has  been  a 
member  of  .the  Presbyterian  Church  for  over  fifty 
years.  His  wife  was  also  a  member  of  the  same 
Church.  They  held  their  membership  with  the  Buf- 
falo Prairie  Church. 

Mr.  Sloan  has  served  as  Assessor  of  his  township, 
and  also  Commissioner  three  years.  His  first  vote 
for  President  was  cast  for  Andrew  Jackson,  during 
his  first  candidacy.  He  afterwards  joined  the  Whig 
party,  and  voted  with  that  party  until  the  formation 
of  the  Republican  party,  when  he  joined  it.  Mr 
Sloan  is  a  very  intelligent  man  and  a  great  reader. 
Coming  to  this  county  at  an  early  period,  and  realiz- 
ing the  future  of  this  county,  and  entering  upon  the 
task  of  establishing  a  home  in  the  then  wild  and  un- 
developed prairie  land  of  Rock  Island  County,  and 
having  indomitable  energy,  perseverance  and  pluck 
sufficient  to  stick  to  it,  he  has  seen  his  best  judg- 
ment realized,  and  accumulated  a  competency.  It 
may  be  said  that  his  accumulation  of  this  world's 
goods  is  due  to  his  good  judgment,  pluck,  and  fair 
and  honest  dealing  with  his  fellow  man.  The  por- 
traits of  Mr.  Sloan  and  wife  are  shown  elsewhere  in 
this  work. 


— s«- 


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acob  H.  Marshall,  of  Coe  Township,  was 
born  in  the  township  of  Hopewell,  Mercer 
Co.,  N.  J.,  Nov.  28,  1828,  and  is  the  fourth 
son  of  John  and  Charity  (Golden)  Marshall. 
JL  The  parents  were  also  natives  of  that  county, 
and  were  of  German  descent.  They  were  the 
posterity  of  ancestors  who  came  to  America  in  the 
1 8th  century. 

Mr.  Marshall  lost  his  father  by  death  when  he 
was  three  years  old,  and  the  mother  kept  the  family 
together.  In  1842  they  came  to  the  county  of  Rock 
Island,  the  family,  including  seven  children,  travel- 
ing over  land  with  teams,  cooking  and  camping  on 
the  way  through  the  entire  course  of  the  journey, 
which  occupied  six  weeks.  Two  brothers  and  a  sis- 
ter with  her  husband  had  come  previously  and  made 


claims  and  built  a  home.  The  township  was  then 
designated  as  19,  and  the  farm  was  located  on  sec- 
tion 3  :  the  mother  died  there  in  1878. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  manied  when  he  was  24  years 
of  age  to  Sarah  Cain.  She  was  a  native  of  N.  J.  and 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  Cain.  After  marriage  Mr. 
Marshall  bought  40  acres  of  land  on  section  2,  and 
through  his  industry  and  good  management  he  pros- 
pered and  made  further  purchases  of  real  estate  until 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  570  acres  of  land,  which  is  all 
in  advanced  cultivation  except  120  acres  of  timber 
and  [pasture.  His  residence  is  located  on  section  3, 
where  the  other  farm  buildings  are  chiefly  placed, 
and  Mr.  Marshall,  besides  his  general  farming  inter- 
ests, is  also  doing  a  considerable  business  in  raising 
good  stock. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  have  two  children,  Mary 
and  Ruth.  The  oldest  daughter  married  C.  C.  Op- 
dycke,  a  farmer  of  Coe  Township,  and  Ruth  is  the 
wife  of  John  H.  Buckley,  farmer,  and  they  reside  in 
the  same  place.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  belong  to 
the  Baptist  Church  in  Cordova. 


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J.  Collins,  Alderman  from  the 
Fourth  Ward,  Rock  Island,  was  born  in 
|jfc*m  Bowling  Township,  Rock  Island  County, 
Sept.  13,  1850.  His  father  came  from  Eng- 
land, and  his  mother  from  Ireland,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  four  sons.  The  family  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  when  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice  was  about  seven  years  of  age,  and  during  the 
seven  years  Stephen  was  kept  in  that  State  he  ac- 
quired the  rudiments  of  an  English  education.  He 
was  about  16  years  of  age  when  he  began  with  Gray, 
Cropper  &  Co.,  of  Rock  Island  to  learn  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and  with  this  firm  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years. 

Feeling  himself  master  of  the  practical  part  of  his 
trade,  the  drift  of  his  mind  is  shown  in  the  fact  that 
for  the  next  two  years  he  devoted  himself  entirely  to 
the  study  of  architecture.  When  2  r  years  of  age  he 
went  to  Chicago,  and  at  the  end  of  one  year  returned 
to  Rock  Island,  and  was  foreman  for  Hugh  Ralston 
up  to  the  spring  of  r88o.     He  then  began  contract- 


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ing  and  building  on  his  own  hook,  and  at  once  took 
a  front  rank  as  architect,  contractor  and  builder. 
His  first  large  contract  was  taken  in  parnership  with 
a  Mr.  Volk.  This  was  the  Paxton  House,  Omaha, 
Neb.  Since  that  time  he  has  built  many  of  the  finest 
residences  in  Rock  Island  city  and  any  number  of 
public  and  private  buildings,  in  various  other  cities. 
His  largest  job,  probably,  was  the  Iowa  Institute  for 
Feeble-Minded,  at  Glenwood,at  a  cost  of  $75,000. 

Mr.  Collins  was  elected  Alderman  from  the  Fourth 
Ward  in  18S3  and  re-elected  in  the  spring  of  1885. 
He  Is  a  Knight  Templar,  a  memer  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  and  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Votes  the  Republican  ticket  and  sings  campaign 
songs  with  the  celebrated  Rock  Island  Glee  Club. 

Mr.  Collins  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Rock 
Island,  Nov.  30,  1876,  with  Miss  Flora  M.  Taylor, 
and  has  had  born  to  him  five  children :  Ada  C. 
died  in  January,  1885,  aged  seven  years;  Minto  J. 
died  in  January,  1885,  aged  about  five  years.  These 
two  children  died  within  three  weeks  to  a  day  of  each 
other.  Keith,  Herbert,  Stephen,  Will  and  Jennie 
Grace,  are  the  other  children. 


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IjTp^jijathan  C.  Tyrrell,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  was 
JCaiaftl  k°rn  ln  Hancock,  Hillsborough  Co.,  N.  H., 
|jr"S)~"  *•  April  5,  1814,  and  istheson  of  Samuel  and 
■"'I' JJP  Anna  (Cram  Tyrrell.  He  was  educated  in 
iG  the  common  schools  of  his  day,  and  for  awhile 
was  a  student  in  the  same  school-house  where  Presi- 
dent Franklin  Pierce  received  his  primary  education. 
In  1837  Mr.  Tyrrell  came  to  Grand  De  Tour,  Ogle 
County,  and  while  here  was  employed  in  the  manu- 
facture of  lumber,  and  also  operated  a  ferry  across 
Rock  River  three  years.  In  1850  he  came  to  Moline 
and  worked  for  Deere  &  Co.  one  year,  and  in  1852 
engaged  in  saw-mill  work  until  1863  with  S.  H. 
White. 

He  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  1863,  in  the  100- 
days  service,  and  became  a  member  of  Co.  H,  13 2d 
111.  Inf.,  and  served  150  days.  On  his  return  from 
the  war  he  resumed  work  in  the  saw-mill  on  Rock 
Island  until  the  mill  was  taken  in  possession  by  the 
United  States  Government,  when  he  engaged  in  the 


plow-shop  again.  He  next  entered  the  Government 
service  on  the  Island,  where  he  served  as  foreman 
and  guard  four  years.  Next  he  was  Sexton  of  the 
Riverside  Cemetery  one  and  a  half  years.  In  the 
spring  of  [873  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  has  been  re-elected  each  succeeding  term  since, 
having  held  the  office  continuously  for  12  years. 

Mr.  Tyrrell  was  an  original  Abolitionist,  and  vot- 
ed for  J.  G.  Birney  for  President  in  1840,  for  Fremont 
in  1 85 6,  and  for  Lincoln  in  i860.  Since  then  he 
has  voted  regularly  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
has  also  been  a  constant  temperance  man.  While 
he  voted  for  Blaine  and  Logan  in  the  late  election, 
he  now  thinks  the  time  has  come  for  temperance 
men  to  pull  together,  and  henceforth  he  is  a  Prohi- 
bitionist. 

Mr.  Tyrrell  united  with  the  Congregational 
Church  when  17  years  of  age,  was  elected  a  Deacon 
at  Grand  De  Tour  in  1839,  held  that  office  while  a 
resident  there,  and  was  elected  to  the  same  position 
in  the  Congregational  Church  at  Moline,  on  coming 
to  this  city. 

Mr.  Tyrrell  was  united  in  marriage,  at  Grand  De 
Tour  in  1840,  to  Miss  Margaret  Stumbles,  an  English 
girl,  who  died  without  issue  in  1859.  Mr.  Tyrrell 
was  again  married  in  the  same  year  to  Mrs.  Marga- 
ret Russ,  widow  of  Nathan  Russ  and  a  daughter  of 
Jefferson  Taylor.  Mrs  Tyrrell  was  born  in  Groton, 
Mass.,  and  the  issue  of  their  union  was  six  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living,  namely :  Mary,  a  teacher, 
Nathan  E.  and  Benjamin  B.  Mr.  Tyrrell's  entire 
family  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


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$''H «lf  ra  Crawford,  an  energetic  and  progressive 
"^ILpfc  farmer,  who  has  retired  from  the  active  la- 
Ms*[P  borsof  life  and  resides  on  section  9,  Hamp- 
^jJ  ton  Township,  came  to  this  county  in  October, 
/">  1855.  He  was  born  in  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y., 
1  June  11,  181 1.  Mr.  Crawford  received  a  good 
common-school  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
county  and  worked  on  the  parental  homestead  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  16  years.  He  then  engaged 
to  learn  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  and  followed  that  vo- 
cation until  1855.     At  that  period  in  his  life's  history, 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


realizing  that  the  prairie  land  of  Illinois  offered  better 
inducements  for  the  replenishing  of  an  exchequer 
and  the  accumulation  of  a  competency,  he  deter- 
mined to  come  to  this  county  and  procure  a  home. 
He  accordingly  came  to  Hampton  village,  where  he 
lived  until  1870.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  in  Coe 
Township,  consisting  of  120  acres.  This  he  rented 
for  three  years  and  subsequently  sold  and  purchased 
i  15  acres  on  section  29,  Hampton  Township,  on 
which  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  a  good  farm 
under  excellent  cultivation,  with  fine  residence,  good 
barn  and  substantial  outbuildings. 

Mr.  Crawford  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Sallie  A.  Newbury  in  1833.  She  was  a  native 
of  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she  was  born  April  5, 
1813.  They  have  four  children  living, — Mary,  born 
Sept.  24,  1836;  George,  Oct.  21,  1843;  James  W., 
Nov.  21,  1845;  and  Georgiana,  Dec.  18,  1850.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  in  1861,  mourned  as  a  loving 
wife,  a  kind  mother  and  a  generous  and  respected 
neighbor.  Mr.  Crawford  was  again  united  in  mar- 
riage in  1863  with  Hannah  Fuller,  a  native  of  Orange 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  which  State  she  was  born  Aug.  8, 
1 83 1.  Politically,  Mr.  Crawford  is  a  believer  in 
the  tenets  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  Supervisor,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Com- 
missioner of  Highways,  Constable  and  Collector,  and 
was  the  first  man  who  served  under  the  organization 
as  Constable  and  Collector.  He  collected  every 
cent  on  real  and  personal  property  in  the  township, 
which  was  the  first  and  last  time  that  it  was  ever 
done.  He  is  one  of  the  respected  and  esteemed 
citizens  of  the  county  and  is  noted  for  his  frank, 
honest  and  straightforward  manner  of  dealing  with 
his  fellow-man. 


^OOOS 


H.   Dibbern,  dealer    in    hardware, 
tinware,   stoves,   agricultural   implements, 


,;     [  t-"<1\  hiirlrs 

|)fP^    etc.,  at  Milan,  was  born  in  Kiel,  Holstein, 

|ife     Germany,  Oct.  15,   1840.     His    father,  Claus 

y|?      Dibbern,  was  also  a  native  of  Holstein,  Ger- 

\        many,  a  wagon-maker  by  calling,  and  came  to 

America  in  1847,  when  Charles  was   seven   years  of 

age,  locating  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  became 

a  farmer,  and  four  years  afterward  removed  to  Ma- 


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line,  111.,  and  established  a  hotel,  which  he  conducted 
for  about  r2  years.  He  is  now  living  in  Moline,  re- 
tired from  business,  at  the  advanced  age  of  8  r  years, 
having  been  born  June  4,  1804.  The  mother  of 
Charles  H.,  whose  maiden  name  was  Christine  Paul- 
sen, died  in  Davenport  in  1849,  aged  about  47  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Charles  H.  Dib- 
bern, attended  the  German  schools  at  Davenport 
for  one  year,  then  the  public  schools  at  Moline  until 
i860,  when  he  'set  out  into  the  world  for  himself. 
Sept.  r,  i86i,Mr.  Dibbern  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  66th 
Reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  of  sharpshooters.  The 
company  was  commanded  by  Captain  Conkling,  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  He  fought  with  his 
regiment  at  Corinth,  Atlanta,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh 
and  in  many  skirmishes.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Chattanooga,  Term.,  Sept.  n,  1864,  hav- 
ing served  three  years.  After  returning  from  the 
army  he  took  a  course  of  study  at  the  commercial 
school  at  Davenport,  where  he  graduated.  He  after- 
ward became  book-keeper  for  Sears  &  Sons,  millers 
at  Moline,  who  have  since  removed  to  Milan.  Mr. 
D.  was  with  this  firm  for  six  years.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  bakery  business  for  about  six  months. 
In  September,  187  1,  he  established  a  hardware  store 
in  Milan,  at  the  same  time  adding  a  department  of 
agricultural  implements,  etc.  He  also  established 
branch  stores  at  Reynolds  and  Joslin,  this  county. 
He  had  various  partners  from  time  to  time,  until 
January,  188 1,  when  he  began  independently,  and 
since  then  has  enjoyed  brilliant  success.  The  total 
amount  of  his  stock  in  the  three  different  places  is 
valued  at  about  $20,000.  He  also  owns  the  store 
building  and  lot  in  Reynolds  and  two  lots  with  the 
building  in  Milan. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  D.  sympathizes  with  the 
Republican  party. 

At  Moline,  Feb.  2,  1865,  Mr.  Dibbern  was  married 
to  Miss  Maggie,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Da- 
vis. Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  of 
German  ancestry,  and  farmers,  who  moved  from 
their  native  State  to  St.  Clairsville,  Ohio,  where  Mrs, 
D.  was  born,  Feb.  3,  1842.  She  came  West  when  a 
little  girl  with  her  parents,  who  settled  in  Moline, 
where  she  was  brought  up  and  educated,  and  where,  : 
from  the  age  of  16  until  her  marriage,  she  taught 
school.  Her  father  enlisted  in  the  Civil  War,  was  *. 
captured  in  a  skirmish  in  Kentucky,  confined  in  the 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Andersonville  prison  and  died  there.  Her  mother  is 
still  residing  in  Moline.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  liave 
one  child,— Henry  S.,  who  was  born  Aug.  7,  1865. 


on.    Holmes    O. 

born  at  Jamaica, 


Sleight,  deceased,  was 
L.I.,  Aug.  7,  r828.  When 
17  years  of  age  he  came  to  the  West  and 
located  at  Geneseo,  111.,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  business  with  his  brother,  J.  D.  K.  Sleight. 
He  was  married  Dec.  5,  1855,  to  Miss  Emma 
Ray,  daughter  of  Guy  Ray,  Esq.,  at  Portland,  White- 
side Co.,  111. 

During  his  residence  in  Geneseo  he  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  an  earn- 
est worker  in  the  Sunday-school.  He  was  elected 
County  Treasurer  of  Henry  County  in  i860,  and  was' 
re  elected  and  served  until  187  1,  when  he  resigned, 
after  having  served  the  county  ten  years,  during 
which  time  he  resided  at  Cambridge,  the  county  seat, 
where  he  was  soon  recognized  as  a  leading  spirit  in 
everything  relating  to  advancement  of  religious  sen- 
timent. By  the  impulse  given  the  cause  by  his  earn- 
est and  vigorous  efforts,  the  society,  which  had  been 
badly  in  debt  and  consequently  depressed,  was  re- 
lieved of  its  burden  and  made  self-sustaining.  Mr. 
Sleight  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school,  which  prospered  under  his  management  to  a 
remarkable  degree.  During  the  late  war  his  patriotic 
zeal  encouraged  enlistments,  aided  in  organizing  sani- 
tary or  soldiers'  aid  societies,  which  contributed 
liberally  to  the  sanitary  commission. 

Mr.  Sleight  removed  from  Cambridge  to  Moline  in 
187  1,  where  he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  31,  1884.  He  purchased  an  in- 
terest in  the  Dimock,  Gould  &  Co.  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment, with  which  he  was  connected  four  years. 
He  was  then  elected  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the 
Union  Malleable  Iron  Company,  which  position  he 
held  until  he  retired  from  active  business  in  1881. 
He  was  appointed  and  served  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Equalization  for  six  years,  and  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  of 
Henry  and  Rock  Island  Counties.  He  had  a  wide 
circle  of  acquaintances  throughout  the  State,  among 


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the  leading  men,  and  was   influential   in  Republican  ^ 
circles. 

Though  not  a  college  graduate,  yet  he  was  well 
educated, — largely  by  self-instruction.  He  was  well 
read  in  general  literature,  science  and  political  econ-  vf^ 
omy.  Socially,  he  was  a  great  favorite ;  his  great 
fund  of  general  information  and  facility  of  expres- 
sion added  a  charm  to  his  conversation.  He  was  a 
warm  friend  to  every  enterprise  or  undertaking  that 
was  for  the  general  welfare.  While  a  resident  of 
Moline  he  was  prominently  identified  with  Church 
and  Sunday-school  work,  and  for  seven  years  served 
as  an  officer  of  the  Church,  besides  being  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  several  years.  When 
he  was  called  away  he  left  a  wife,  an  estimable  lady, 
and  one  child,  named  Edward  H.  The  son  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Dimock,  Gould  &  Co.  manufac- 
turing business  and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  enter- 
prise. He  married  Florence  E.,  the  only  child  of  D. 
C.  Dimock. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Sleight  as  a  pioneer,  promin- 
ent citizen  and  public  man  is  such  as  to  demand  a 
facial  likeness  of  the  honored  gentleman  in  this  Al- 
bum; and  accordingly  it  is  here  given,  as  a  most  ap- 
propriate accompaniment  to  the  foregoing  sketch. 


C3 

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W.  Spencer,  a  life-long  resident  of  Rock 
Island,  having  been  born   here  Sept.   20, 
vaVzT  i83S>  a"d  having  resided  here  constantly 

!§£  ever  since,  except  about  four  years  spent  at 
the  Rock  River  Seminary  and  two  years  at  the 
Northwestern  University  at  Evanston,  this 
State.  He  has  witnessed  the  growth  of  Rock  Island 
from  a  hamlet  to  the  thriving,  prosperous  city  of  to- 
day, and  also  witnessed  the  development  of  the  coun- 
try from  its  natural  condition  to  the  broad  and 
beautiful  fields  that  are  presented  on  every  hand  as 
the  traveler  passes  through  the  county. 

Mr.  Spencer  opened  business  in  Rock  Island  in 
1865,  engaging  in  the  stove  and  hardware  trade  on 
the  north  side  of  Second  Avenue.  Soon  thereafter 
he  removed  to  the  south  side  of  Second  Avenue,  and 
his  business  has  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  to- 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


dealer  in  his  line  inside  the  corporate  limits  of  Rock 
Island.  He  is  a  gentleman  not  only  respected  for 
his  business  ability,  but  for  the  interest  he  has  taken 
in  the  city  that  witnessed  his  birth,  and  which  in- 
terest has  been  appreciated  by  the  citizens  to  the  ex- 
tent of  electing  Mr.  Spencer  their  Alderman  from 
the  Third  Ward.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  religiously  a  member  of  the  Meth.  Epis.  Church. 
His  business  is  a  constantly  increasing  one,  made  so 
by  his  honest,  straightforward  and  gentlemanly  ways 
of  dealing  with  his  fellow  man ;  and  the  accumula- 
tion which  he  may  possess  of  this  world's  goods  is 
attributable  to  his  good  judgment  and  energetic  effort, 
combined  with  the  attributes  aforesaid. 

Mr.  Spencer  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Lura  J.  Cantine,  a  native  of  New  York,  in  1863, 
and  they  have  five  surviving  children, — John  W., 
Eliza,  George  W.,  Julia  H.  and  Lura. 

John  W.  Spencer,  Sr.,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
biographical  notice,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
passed  through  this  county  in  1828.  He  carried  the 
news  of  General  Jackson's  election,  by  mail,  to  the 
lead  mines  at  Galena  two  months  after  the  election 
of  "Old  Hickory."  He  originally -came  from  Ver- 
mont to  this  State,  in  1820,  and  resided  in  Greene 
County,  when  he  came  to  this  county  and  entered 
160  acres  of  land.  He  resided  on  the  latter  until 
Feb.  20,  1S78,  the  date  of  his  death.  (See  sketch  of 
Judge  J.  W.  Spencer.) 


ewis  D.  Dunn,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  Moline,  was 
born  in  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  Sept.  18,  1834, 
and  is  the  son  of  Ferrel  and  Lydia  (Fleming) 
Dunn.  His  parents  were  among  the  early  pi- 
oneers of  this  State.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  at  Tiskilwa,  111.,  in  1849,  and  subsequently 
took  a  regular  course  at  the  University  of  Vermont  at 
Burlington,  which  was  followed  by  a  course  at  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  where  he  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1857.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Tiskilwa,  111.,  and  continued  his  profession 
there   until    1875,  when    he    removed    to    Moline, 


since    which    time    he   has  practiced    here  continu- 
uously. 

Mr.  Dunn  was  united  in  marriage  at  Ottawa,  111., 
May  14,  1857,  to  Miss  Julia  N.  Mills,  daughter  of 
Harry  Mills.  Mrs.  Dunn  was  born  in  Pennsylva- 
nia. They  have  had  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living,  Clara  M.  and  Mariam  D.  Their  only 
son,  Lewis,  died  aged  two  years.  Dr.  Dunn  has 
served  in  the  City  Council  from  the  Fourth  Ward,  and 
is  a  Republican.  He  has  held  the  position  of  As- 
sistant Surgeon  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pa- 
cific Railway  for  the  past  eleven  years,  and  bears  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  skillful  surgeons 
as  well  as  one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  in 
the  three  cities.  He  is  President  of  the  Moline  Pub- 
lic Library  Board,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  since 
1878.  He  was  Examining  Surgeon  for  Pensions  at 
Tiskilwa  for  two  years,  until  he  resigned. 


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oseph  Starkey,  engaged  in  the  small-fruit 
[J-  business  and  in  general  farming  on  section 
9,  Bowling  Township,  was  born  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire, England,  in  the  Isle  of  Ely,  May 
yC  1,1839.  His  father,  Thomas  Starkey,  was  a 
native  of  the  same  shire,  and  a  farmer.  He 
married  Fanney  Gotobed,  and  died  in  1854,  at  the 
age  of  44  years.  His  widow  afterward  married  Wil- 
liam Bradley,  and  is  still  living  on  her  native  island, 
Ely,  now  being  78  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Joseph  Starkey  is  the  youngest  but  one  of  a 
family  of  four  children.  He  remained  an  inmate  of 
his  parental  home  until  he  was  17  years  of  age,  when 
he  emigrated  alone  to  the  United  States,  stopping  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  for  seven 
years  as  a  car-repairer.  During  this  period,  May  6, 
i860,  he  married  Miss  Matilda  Kirk,  who  was  also 
born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  about  1840,  and 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  15  years 
old.  They  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Elyria,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  the  father,  Charles,  died,  and  where 
her  mother  is  still  living,  over  82  years  of  age  ;  her 
maiden  name  was  Lane.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Starkey  are  four  in  number,  viz. :  Thomas  J., 
who  married  Florence  E.  Ball  and  resides  in  Bowl- 


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ing  Township,  on  his  father's  homestead  ;  Fanny  M., 
who  married  Henry  Daniels,  and  resides  on  a  farm 
in  this  township,  and  has  one  child, — Minnie  G.; 
Brutus  F.,  who  has  been  educated  at  Davenport,  and 
still  resides  at  home;  and  Charles  K.,  yet  a  member 
of  the  paternal  home.  The  two  first  mentioned  chil- 
dren were  educated  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa. 

In  1864  Mr.  Starkey  left  Cleveland  and  came  to 
this  county,  purchasing  a  farm  of  80  acres  in  Bowl- 
ing Township,  and  beginning  at  once  to  cultivate 
small  fruits  and  raise  a  nursery.  He  is  now  the  pro- 
prietor of  600  acres  of  land,  all  in  this  county,  and  it 
is  divided  into  seven  farms.  He  has  a  vineyard  of 
ten  acres,  which  produces  annually  25,000  pounds 
of  fruit,  and  which  is  sold  in  the  markets  of  the 
Northwest.  Most  of  his  land  is  fenced  and  under 
an  advanced  method  of  cultivation.  He  has  lately 
turned  his  attention  to  stock-raising. 

In  his  views  of  national  policy  Mr.  Starkey  stands 
upon  the  Democratic  platform.  He  has  served  sev- 
eral years  as  School  Director  in  his  district.  He  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  any  political  position,  but 
has  preferred  to  make  his  mark  as  a  model  farmer 
and  fruit-grower,  and  his  old  home,  as  well  as  his 
present  residence,  shows  many  evidences  of  refine- 
ment ;  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  adornment  of  the 
lawns  at  his  home  surpasses  anything  in  the  town- 
ship, and  equaled  by  but  few  places  in  the  county. 


-43= 


i  orter  Skinner,  a  retired  citizen  of  Rock  Is- 


=J&  land  County,  residing  in  Rock  Island  city, 
jra^  came  to  this  county  in  1S56,  from  Hones- 
jjfi^  dale,  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  born  in  New 
Jlf*  Berlin,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  10,  1810. 
His  early  education  was  acquired  in  the  common 
schools,  and  he  remained  with  his  parents,  Joseph 
and  Honor  (Kinney)  Skinner,  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  14  years.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  his  father  died  in  1824. 

After  attaining  the  age  of  r4  years,  Porter  Skin- 
ner, subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  went  forth  to 
fight  the  battles  of  life  alone,  and  the  first  labor  that 
he  did  for  his    own  individual   benefit  was  that  of 


working  on  a  farm,  for  which  he  received  the  valua- 
ble remuneration  of  $5  per  month  for  seven  months. 
The  next  year  he  went  to  Bridgewater,  where  his 
wages  were  doubled  ($10)  for  another  space  of  seven 
months.  He  then  went  to  Sangersfield,  Oneida  Co., 
in  his  native  State,  and  worked  in  a  distillery  for 
about  five  months,  after  which  he  worked  at  differ- 
ent jobs  and  engaged  in  different  business,  until  the 
winter  of  1832-3,  at  which  time  he  drove  stage  from 
Montrose  to  Carbondale,  Pa.  It  was  known  at  that 
time  that  through  that  region  there  was  not  another 
stage  driver  except  Mr.  Skinner,  that  did  not  use 
intoxicating  drinks,  and  he  not  only  received  the  en- 
comiums of  the  passengers  but  also  the  praises  of  his 
employer.  He  continued  in  the  vocation  for  about 
five  months,  and  during  that  time  was  never  known 
to  taste  a  drop  of  intoxicating  liquor.  Relinquishing 
the  position  he  held  as  stage-driver,  he  went  to 
Honesdale  and  hired  out  to  D.  P.  Mapes  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  with  whom  he  remained  for  nearly  a 
year.  In  1835,  Mr.  Skinner  engaged  in  boating  and 
lumbering  on  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal.  He 
bought  the  horses  and  hired  the  men,  six  in  number, 
to  man  two  boats,  and  was  engaged  in  that  business 
for  five  years. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Skinner  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, and  ran  his  lumber  in  the  different  Eastern 
markets,  and  followed  that  business  for  15  years, 
in  which  he  met  with  fair  financial  success.  In 
1856,  having  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  East,  and 
realizing  that  better  advantages  were  offered  in  the 
West  for  accumulating  a  competency,  he  came  to 
Moline,  this  county,  and  engaged  with  J.  S.  Keator 
in  the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors,  etc.  The  co- 
partnership existed  for  seven  years,  when  Mr.  Skin- 
ner sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and  moved  to  Rock 
Island,  in  r864.  On  arriving  at  the  latter  place  he 
bought  a  lumber  and  saw  mill,  and  engaged  in  run- 
ning it.  Taking  into  partnership  his  son,  the  firm 
firm  name  became  P.  Skinner  &  Son,  which  partner- 
ship lasted  for  five  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  Mr.  Skinner  sold  out,  and  has  since  resided  in 
Rock  Island,  retired  from  the  active  labors  and  bus- 
iness cares  of  life.  He  is  at  present  one  of  the  Di- 
rectors and  Vice-President  of  the  Moline  National 
Bank,  and  also  a  Director  of  the  First  National 
Bank. 

Mr.  Skinner  bought  the  first  Government  bonds 
that    were  ever   brought  to    Rock    Island    County, 


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purchasing  $7,000  from  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Davenport  in  1863. 

Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  "  old 
Hickory."  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church. 

Mr.  Skinner  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  1836 
with  Martha  Cook.  Of  their  union  two  children 
were  born.  One  died  in  infancy.  Charles  W.,  the 
surviving  son,  was  born  in  May,  1839.  The  wife 
and  mother  died  Oct.  23,  1839,  and  Mr.  Skinner  was 
married  the  second  time  to  Emily  Morse,  Aug.  26, 
1840.  She  died  Nov.  22,  1884.  Charles  W.,  son 
of  the  former  union,  married  Julia  Murfield,  and  they 
have  five  sons:  James,  Charles  P.,  Albert,  Stanley 
and  Albert  Skinner.  He  resides  in  Geneseo,  111.,  and 
has  likewise  retired  from  the  active  business  cares  of 
life. 


%  uther  S.  Pearsall,  Chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  of  Rock  Island  County  in 
1885,  and  a  resident  of  the   township  of 

Coe,  is  the  third   son    of  Deacon  William  C. 

and  Jane  (Elingham)  Pearsall,  and  he  was  born 

in  the  city  of  Chicago,  March  17,  1848.  He 
was  still  in  extreme  infancy  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Rock  Island  County.  He  was  brought  up 
in  Coe  Township,  and  educated  primarily  in  the 
district  schools.  He  studied  two  years  at  Knox  Col- 
lege. Later,  he  entered  the  Freshman  class  in  the 
University  at  Grinnell,  Iowa.  When  he  was  16  he 
taught  a  term  of  school  in  the  district  where  he  re- 
sided, and  after  leaving  college  he  again  engaged  in 
the  same  vocation,  teaching  in  all,  six  terms. 

In  the  fall  of  187  1  he  went  to  Nebraska,  and  spent 
one  year  in  Antelope  County,  where  he  pre-empted 
land  on  which  he  started  a  nursery;  but  his  hopes 
and  plans  came  to  grief  in  common  with  those  of 
ohers  whose  prospects  were  ruined  by  the  grass- 
hopper plague.  He  abandoned  his  purposes  in  that 
direction,  and  returned  home.  He  was  married  in 
September,  1873,  to  Charlotte  Wake,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Maria  Wake,  and  soon  after  that  event 
he  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  section  14  in  Coe  Town- 
ship, containing  80  acres,  and  has  become  the  owner, 


by  later  purchase,  of  an  additional  80  acres,  and 
owns  80  acres  on  section  23,  adjoining,  having  in  all 
240  acres,  which  is  in  excellent  tillage.  His  resi- 
dence, which  is  represented  by  a  full-page  view  in 
this  Album,  is  located  on  section  14,  and  the  farm 
is  fitted  with  good  and  suitable  buildings  for  farm 
purposes. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Pearsall  died  in  March,  1878, 
aged  29  years.  She  left  two  children — Charles  R. 
and  Percy.  Mr.  Pearsall  was  again  married  Jan.  5, 
1881,  to  Ella,  daughter  of  Mark  and  Mary  Ashdown, 
and  of  the  second  union  two  children  have  been 
born — Phebe  and  Rose. 

Mr.  Pearsall  was  first  elected  Supervisor  in  1881, 
and  he  has  since  been  his  own  successor.  He  be- 
longs to  Philo  Lodge,  No.  436,  Order  of  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Barrett  Chapter,  No.  18,  R.  A.  M.,at  Port  Byron, 
and  also  to  Everts  Commandery,  at  Rock  Island. 
He  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party  in  politi- 
cal connection. 

Mr.  Pearsall  is  interested  in  raising  fine  stock. 
One  of  his  magnificent  horses,  De  Lesspe,  is  shown 
in  the  view.  It  is  engraved  from  a  photograph  and 
is  a  good  likeness  of  the  animal.  The  handsome 
school-house  on  his  farm  is  also  shown  in  the  view. 
Much  credit  for  the  excellence  of  the  home  school 
is  due  to  Mr.  Pearsall.  He  is  a  thoroughly  enter- 
prising nan,  and  is  always  foremost  in  every  enter- 
prise looking  to  the  welfare  of  the  community. 


^ 


ohn  Park.     Among  the  numerous  and  re- 
'a7  spected  citizens  of  Coal  Valley  Township, 
lllp5^       who  are  of  foreign  birth,  is  Mr.  John  Park, 
'  V     a  farmer  on  section  23.     He  is  the  son  of  An- 
j£     drew  and  Agnes  (Irvin)  Park,  natives  of  Scot- 
|       land.     Karly  in  life  they  came  across  the  Atlan- 
tic and  located  in  Nova  Scotia,  where  the  mother  died 
1850,  aged  51  years.     The  elder  Park  came  to  Rock 
Island  in  1852,  where,  on  the  30th  day  of  January, 
1859,  he  died.     Hewasbornin   1797. 

John,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  ihe  sec- 
ond child  of  a  family  of  ten  children  born  to  his 
parents.  His  native  place  is  also  Scotland,  where 
he  was  born  April  13,  1820.     When  17  years  of  age 


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he  came  to  the  Western  Hemisphere  with  his  par- 
ents, and  lived  in  Nova  Scotia  until  185  1,  being  en- 
gaged in  mining.  During  that  year  he  came  to 
Rock  Island  County,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  mining  and  farming.     He  is  the  owner  of 

<f  97  acres  of  land,  most  of  which  is  under  cultivation. 
Our  subject  was  married  July  27,  1843,  in  Nova 
Scotia,  to  Charlotte  Hillier.  She  was  born  in  Glou- 
cestershire, Dec.  23,  1820.  To  them  have  been  born 
the  following  children  :  Sarah,  born  May  24,  1844; 
Agnes,  March  31,  1846;  Andrew,  Jan.  20,  1848; 
George,  March  22,  1852,  died  Sept.  12,  1852.  John 
H.,  born  April  23,  1854;  George  W.,  April  27,  1857  ; 
Charlotte  E.,  Nov.  19,  1859;  David  E.,  July  18, 
1862;  Margaret  A.,  May  18,  1865;  Sarah  married 
David  Grant,  and  they  have  nine  children :  Duncan, 
Ella  and  Gertie  are  deceased.  Those  living  are 
Charlotte,  John  P.,  Thomas,  Sally,  Agnes  and  Da- 
vid. Agnes  married  John  Sommerson.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  five  children,  namely  :  Rob- 

.  ert,  Charlotte,  John  H.,  Burt  and  David.  John  H. 
is  deceased.  Andrew  married  Mary  Calahan,  and 
they  have  had  seven  children  :  Ellen,  John,  Richard, 
George,  Charlotte,  Agnes  and  Andrew.  Of  these 
John  is  deceased. 

Mrs.  P.  is  a  member  of  the  Primitive  Methodist 
Church.     In  politics,  Mr.  Park  is  a  Democrat. 


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illiam  Ketcham,  of  Cordova,  was  born  in 
%£HL  Hopewell,  Mercer  Co.,  N.  J.,  July  4,  17 91 . 
£-  '  His  parents  were  Richard  and  Rebecca 
(Bryant)  Ketcham,  both  natives  of  the  same 
State.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
town,  being  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
married  Sarah  Johnson,  also  a  native  of  the  same 
State,  of  Warren  County,  born  Jan.  16,  1816.  The 
They  had  13  children,  only  four  of  whom  are  living, 

viz.:     Rebecca,  the  widow  of Johnson,  and  now 

living  in  Cordova;  Charity,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Carr, 
and  residing  also  in  Cordova;  John  J.,  who  manages 
the  farm  ;  Nathaniel,  living  in  Marshall  town,  Iowa. 
Mrs.  Ketcham  died  March  16,  1845,  and  Mr.  K. 
was  married  a  second  time  Feb.  2,  1850,  to  Mary  A. 


Fergus,  who  was  born  in  Ringoes,  Hunterdon  Co., 
N.J. 

After  residing  in  New  Jersey  until  1852,  Mr. 
Ketcham  emigrated  to  this  county,  purchasing  a 
farm  on  section  8,  where  he  has  made  his  home. 
He  is  now  in  his  94th  year,  and  still  enjoys  good 
health. 


-*-#§*-*- 


fflfimothy  Merriman,  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  old  settlers  of  Moline,  111.,  having  set- 
T  *  tied  there  in  1848-9,  when  the  town  boasted 
of  about  100  inhabitants,  formerly  owning  a 
residence  where  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  freight  depot  now  stands. 
He  was  born  in  Brunswick,  Me.,  Nov.  16,  1786,  and 
during  his  boyhood  attended  school  in  and  about  his 
native  town,  as  was  customary  in  nearly  all  families 
in  those  days. 

During  his  younger  days  he  removed  to  Chester- 
ville,  Me.,  but  in  1838  he  removed  to  Richland 
Grove,  111.,  remaining  there  until  making  his  home 
in  Moline.  His  business  while  in  Maine  was  that 
of  ship-joiner,  but  he  naturally  drifted  into  farming, 
when  he  reached  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  in  and 
around  Richland  Grove,  but  had  retired  from  active 
business  when  he  settled  in  Moline.  He  entered 
the  service  of  the  Government  during  the  War  of 
i8r2,  and  was  with  Commodore  Perry  during  the 
conflict  on  Lake  Erie,  renowned  in  history. 

January  23,  1812,  Mr.  Merriman  formed  a  matri- 
monial alliance,  at  Brunswick,  Me.,  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Dunning,  and  their  home  has  been  blessed  with 
a  large  family  of  children,  consisting  of  Albert  D., 
born  Nov.  7,18(2;  Almira,  March  15,  1815;  Thomas, 
April  23,  1817  ;  David  D.,  May  12,  181 9;  Joseph  M., 
Feb.  1,  1822;  Elizabeth  M.,  June  7,  1824;  Timothy 
D.,  Jan.  11,  1827;  Ira,  Sept.  25,  1829,  and  Thirza 
A.,  Jan.  14,  1833.  Almira  died  Jan.  22,  1863,  and 
Elizabeth,  July  29,  1849.  Mrs.  Merriman's  demise 
occurred  Oct.  15,  1853,  and  20  years  later  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  passed  away,  when  87  years  of  age. 

All  of  the  family  originally  settled  in  Mercer  Co., 
111.,  but  all  are  now  scattered  about  the  West.  Thirza 
still  resides  in  Moline,  and  Jan.  1,  1861,  she  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Robinson  Nye,  an  architect 


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carpenter  and  contractor,  who  also  came  from  Maine 
and  settled  in  Moline  30  years  ago.  Of  their  union 
have  been  born  four  children,  viz.:  Mary  E.,  born 
Dec.  25, 1863  ;  Robert,  born  Nov.  7,  1867  ;  Willfried, 
born  Jan.  1,  187  1,  and  Carl  M.,  born  March  8,  1874. 
Mr.  Nye,  his  wife  and  daughter  Mary,  are  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church.  David  D.,  son 
of  Timothy,  was  married  Aug.  29,  1844,  to  Phcebe 
Hibbard,  by  whom  he  had  two  children — Freeman, 
who  still  survives,  and  a  baby,  who  died  soon  after 
its  birth.  Mrs.  Phcebe  Merriman  died,  and  in  1850 
or  185 1  Mr.  David  D.  again  entered  the  matrimo- 
nial relation,  with  Mary  Love,  and  she  became  the 
mother  of  seven  children,  namely  :  Florence,  Nelson, 
Perry,  Charles,  George,  Frank  and  Fannie.  Perry 
resides  in  Moline.  He  attended  school  and  finally 
entered  the  plow  shops  of  Deere  &  Co.,  where  he 
labored  for  some  years  as  plow-fitter,  but  has  recently 
started  out  for  himself  with  a  wagon  as  wholesale 
dealer  in  notions — a  sort  of  "  Yankee  notion  "  outfit 
— where  he  is  meeting  with  fine  success. 

He  was  married  Aug.  12,  1879,  to  Miss  Jennette 
Kerns,  and  they  have  two  children — Fred.  S.,  born 
Dec.  28,  1880,  and  Richard  P.„  Jan  6,  1883. 


ames  L.  Small,  D.  D.  S.,  with  dental  rooms 
m$t   1,518,   3d   Avenue,   was  born    in    Bangor, 


Me.,  Nov.  30,  1839,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  G.  and  Harriet  (Mitchell)  Small.  He 
was  educated  at  the  State  University  of 
Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  graduated  as 
Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery  at  the  State  University  of 
Iowa. 

He  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  Company  H,  nth 
Iowa  Inf.,  and  served  three  years.  After  his  return 
from  the  war  he  located  at  Chicago,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  dentistry  until  1877.  He 
then  went  to  Iowa,  and  was  engaged  in  the  same 
business  until  May,  1885,  when  he  came  to  Moline, 
and  in  June  of  this  year  opened  his  present  dental 
parlors. 

Dr.  Small  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Sche- 
nectady, N.  Y.,  Nov.  30,  1869,  with  Miss  Mary  D., 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  John  W.  Veeder.     Mrs.  Small 


was  born  in  that  city,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  children  :  Louis  D.,  born  Oct.  16, 
187  1  ;  and  Ida  L.,  born  Jan.  19,  1876. 

Mrs.  Mary  Small  died  in  December,  1879,  and  the 
Doctor  was  again  married,  in  August,  1882,  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  to  Miss  Kittie  Leverette.  Mrs.  Small 
was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.  They^tave  one  child,  a 
son,  bom  in  July,  1885,  named  Horatio  Leverett. 
The  Doctor  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 


■HftftH 


oseph  Albrecht,  a  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 20,  Hampton  Township,  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  Dec.  4,  1820.  His  par- 
ents, Joseph  and  Christina  (Hege)  Albrecht, 
gave  him  an  education,  such  as  the  common 
schools  afforded,  attending  the  same  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  14  years,  when  he  went  to  learn 
the  baker's  trade  and  served  two  years.  He  after- 
wards worked  at  the  same  for  four  years  before  com- 
ing to  the  United  States.  At  the  age  of  20  years 
he  emigrated  to  America,  and  locating  in  New 
York  engaged  at  the  trade  of  a  baker  for  five  years, 
then  started  for  Hampton  Township,  where  he  is  at 
present  residing. 

Mr.  Albrecht  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Rosenia  Arculareus  in  New  York  city,"March 
9,  1844,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  three 
children,  namely:  Elizabeth,  born  March  9,  1846; 
Henry  R.,  Aug.  27,  1848;  and  Franklin,  Aug.  16, 
1853.  Elizabeth  married  George  Bothell,  and  has  four 
children:  Joseph,  Franklin,  Susie  and  Robert.  Henry 
married  Miss  Sarah  Wolf,  and  one  child  has  blessed 
that  union  :  Harry  W.  Henry's  wife  died  Dec.  22, 
1876,  and  he  married  Louella  Palmer  in  1877. 
They  have  two  children :  Maud  and  Stephen. 
Franklin  married  Bessie  Gould  in  1878.  Their 
four  children  are  Rosanna  I.,  Nellie  May,  Joseph 
and  Frank  Leroy. 

Mrs.  Albrecht  died  in  T855,  and  Mr.  Albrecht  was 
again  united  in  marriage  on  the  22d  of  May,  1838, 
to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Hall,  a  native  of  New  York  city, 
at  Rock  Island.  Their  home  circle  has  been  blessed 
with  six  children:  Sarah  J.,  born  Feb.  18,  1859; 
Samuel,  Aug.  11,  1861  ;  Adeline  A.,  Jan.   4,   1863; 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Joseph,  April    19,  1865  ;    John   H.,  April  r8,  1867  ; 
and  Caroline,  Sept.  17,  1S75. 

Mr.  Albrecht  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views, 
and,  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  Mr.  A.  has  held  various  positions; 
*  was  Supervisor  and  School  Trustee  for  15  years,  and 
also  School  Director.  He  is  considered  one  of  the 
substantial,  leading,  representative  citizens  of  Hamp- 
ton Township. 


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I  illiam  F.  Schroeder,  who  was  elected 
Alderman  in  Rock  Island  by  the  Seventh 
jifijSf*  Ward  Republicans  in  the  spring  of  1884, 
ASP  is  a  native  of  Holstein,  Germany,  where  he 
was  born  June  ra,  1839,  and  from  whence 
he  came  to  America  with  an  older  brother  in 
the  year  1856.  Going  immediately  to  Minnesota  in 
search  of  wealth,  he  halted  first  at  Stillwater,  where 
his  impression  of  the  romance  of  accumulating  riches 
in  America  received  such  a  shock  by  being  driven  to 
the  necessity  of  going  to  labor  on  a  farm  for  $4  a 
month,  that  if  he  had  purchased  a  round-trip  ticket 
before  leaving  the  old  country  he  would  probably 
never  have  seen  Rock  Island. 

As  is  customary  in  Germany,  he  was  kept  pretty 
steadily  at  school  until  about  16  years  of  age,  so  that 
when  he  left  home  he  was  possessed  of  a  very  fair 
education.  His  father  was  a  musician,  and  from  him 
William  gathered  quite  a  proficiency  in  instrumental 
music,  an  accomplishment  that  proved  very  benefi- 
cial to  him  in  after  years.  A  few  months  of  corn- 
husking  midst  the  frosts  of  Minnesota  satisfied  his 
ambition  in  that  direction,  and  he  moved  with  his 
valise  into  Stillwater  proper,  and  while  he  learned  to 
make  cigars  he  added  to  his  exchequer  by  playing 
the  fiddle  in  the  band. 

He  had  been  in  the  United  States  about  five  years 
when  the  shrill  notes  of  the  fife  and  the  rat-a-tat-tat 
of  the  drum  suggested  to  him  that  if  he  enjoyed 
liberty  any  length  of  time,  even  in  America,  he  must 
fight  for  it.  So,  April,  1861,  saw  him  rigged  out  in  a 
blue  uniform  with  very  bright  buttons,  and  a  knap- 
sack with  blankets  and  clothing  enough  to  load  a 
pack-mule,    and    a    heavy    S^ingfield    rifle   on    his 

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shoulder,  as  a  private  in  Co.  B,  1st  Minn.  Inf., 
heading  for  the  goriest  battle-fields  that  ever  figured 
in  history,  and  all  for  a  country  that  so  far  as  he  had 
seen  had  nothing  to  offer  but  eight  months  winter  out 
of  every  12  ;  $4  per  month  for  husking  corn  ;  30  cents 
per  thousand  for  making  cigars  and  $2  a  night  for 
rasping  "  cat-gut  "  in  the  Stillwater  band!  His  first 
enlistment  was  for  three  months  ;  but  he  was  soon 
mustered  in  for  three  years,  and  when  we  know  that 
he  participated  in  the  one-sided  affair  at  Bull  Run, 
and  the  bloodier  Balls  Bluff,  and  the  doubtful  West 
Point  and  Fairfax  Court-House,  and  McClellan's 
seven-days  battle  in  front  of  Richmond,  it  would  not 
be  surprising  if  he  thought  he  was  earning  all  the 
liberty  he  should  ever  live  to  enjoy.  He  was  'aken 
sick  in  front  of  Richmond  and  in  February,  1863, 
was  discharged  from  the  service  an  invalid.  He  re- 
turned to  Minnesota,  and  from  that  time  up  to  1868 
worked  at  cigar-making  at  Stillwater,  Davenport  and 
Rock  Island. 

After  firing  an  engine  two  years  on  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway  he  manufactured  ci- 
gars rr  years  in  Rock  Island  and  in  1879  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  has  since  followed. 
Sept.  r5,  1 S67 ,  he  was  married  at  Rock  Island  city 
to  Miss  Margaret  Miller,  and  has  had  born  to  him 
five  children:  William,  Mary,  Emma,  Walter  and 
William  F.  Mr.  Schroeder  devotes  his  time  to  busi- 
ness and  the  returns  therefrom  have  been  highly 
satisfactory  to  himself. 


■Conn  H.  Wilson,  member  of  the  Moline  Bug- 
^^jfe"  gy  Company,  Vice  President  of  the  Rock 
r^*  Island  National  Bank,  Superintendent  of 
the  Banner  Coal  Company,  and  President  of 
the  Black  Hawk  Paper  Company,  of  Milan, 
was  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  22,  1 8 r 7 . 
Mr.  Wilson,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness and  merchandising  at  Clarksville,  Pa.,  which  he 
continued  until  the  spring  of  1865,  when  he  came  to 
Rock  Island,  111.,  and  purchased  the  coal  lands  of 
the  Banner  Coal  Company  of  that  city,  of  which  he 
is  now   superintendent  and   principal  owner.     The 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


company  lands  embrace  about  1 ,800  acres  in  Rock 
Island  County.  Mr.  Wilson  has  also  an  interest  in 
the  Black  Hawk  Paper  Company  of  Milan,  of  which 
he  is  President.  He  is  a  large  stockholder  in  the 
Rock  Island  National  Bank,  of  which  he  is  Vice- 
President. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  in  Erie  Co., 
Pa.,  in  1850,  to  Miss  Susanna  A.  Hoxie,  and  three 
children  have  been  born  of  this  union  :  Clara  J.  is 
the  wife  of  George  W.  Krelzinger,  an  attorney  of 
Chicago;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  F.  A.  Head,  a  banker  of 
Clay  Center,  Iowa  ;  and  Nettie,  wife  of  W.  A.  Poss, 
formerly  of  the  Moline  Buggy  Company,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Rock  Island.  Mrs.  Wilson  died  in  1882, 
and  Mr.  W.  married  again  in  the  fall  of  1884  Mrs. 
Ella  Case,  daughter  of  Marvin  Loomis  and  widow  of 
Dr.  Case,  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  man  of  con- 
servative business  habits,  and  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful in  acquiring  property.  In  political  opinion, 
he  is  an    earnest  Republican. 


4 — 


si 

\  nomas  S.  Silvis,  farmer  and  coal  operator  in 
Hampton  Township,  and    Deputy    Sheriff 
*  of  Rock  Island  County,  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son Co.,   Pa.,  March   17,  1841.     His  parents, 
John  and  Elizabeth  Silvis,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, came  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  settled  in 
Hampton  Township,  where  they  lived  up  to   1880, 
going  thence  to  Vernon  Co.,  Missouri. 

Thomas  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  when  the 
weather  was  unfit  for  outdoor  labor,  was  sent  to  the 
common  schools.  However,  he  was  not  of  that  class 
of  men  that  have  to  have  learning  pounded  into 
them  with  a  club  ;  he  knew  he  was  destined  to  work 
for  a  living,  and  that  if  he  acquired  any  education  it 
would  be  by  improving  such  opportunities  as  he  had. 
This  was  philosophy,  and  there  has  been  a  good 
deal  of  that  valuable  commodity  displaying  itself  in 
him  from  time  to  time  through  life. 

In  1859,  in  company  with  others,  he  started  for 
Pike's  Peak;  but,  before  petting  half  way  from  their 
starting  point,  Mr.  Silvis  found  that  with  his  com- 
rades the  "gold  fever"  was  waning,  so  he  accepted 


employment  with  some  parties  bound  for  the  Pacific 


slope,  and  accompanied  them  into  Utah  Territory. 
Returning  home  through  Nebraska,  he  bought  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  that  Territory,  and  held  it  until  its 
natural  appreciation  in  value  made  it  desirable.  In 
1862  he  was  at  Coaltown  in  the  grocery  business, 
which  he  abandoned  a  year  or  two  later  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  his  old  township,  and  for  the  suc- 
ceeding ten  years  was  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil.  In  1874  the  Democrats  surprised  them- 
selves by  electing  their  man  for  Sheriff,  and  Mr. 
Silvis  was  immediately  brought  down  from  the  coun- 
try and  installed  in  the  office  as  First  Deputy.  In 
1876,  in  convention  assembled,  the  Democratic  party 
by  acclamation  tendered  him  the  nomination  for 
Sheriff.  For  satisfactory  reasons,  probably  the  greater 
interests  of  his  farm,  he  declined.  Such  unanimity 
of  sentiment  in  his  party,  and  coming  right  upon  the 
latter  end  of  his  two  years  deputyship,  was,  to  say 
the  least,  flattering;  but  he  sought  no  office  and  re- 
turned to  his  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  1883  his  party  was  again  successful,  and  the 
first  thing  that  Sheriff  Reticker  did  after  being  in- 
ducted into  office,  was  to  impress  Mr.  Silvis  into  his 
service  as  Chief  Deputy.  This  brief  recital  of  simple 
facts  requires  no  comment  at  the  hands  of  his  bi- 
ographer.    Conclusions  are  left  to  the  readers. 

Mr.  Silvis  has  served  his  neighbors  six  years  as 
their  Commissioner  of  Highways,  one  term  as  Town- 
ship Collector,  three  terms  as  Supervisor,  and  as 
School  Director  for  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Doric 
Lodge,  No.  319,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

Feb.  27,  1862,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  at  Mo- 
line, to  Miss  Margaret  Greer,  and  their  children  are 
named  respectively  :  Henrietta,  Sarah,  Louisa  (Mrs. 
Ralph  Babcock),  Richard  S.,  John  C.  and  James  M. 


w.  ames  E.  Johnston,  President  of  the  Rock 
aSV  Island  County  Brush  Electric  Light  Com- 
pany, came  to  Rock  Island  in  1854  and 
entered  the  employ  of  Biddeson,  Gilmore  & 
Biddeson,  lumber  dealers,  as  book-keeper,  a 
f  position  he  filled  for  four  years.  His  father 
died  in  1835,  leaving  a  wife  and  five  small  children 
somewhat  to  the  mercy  of  the  world,  and  James  be- 
ing next  to  the  eldest  of  the  children,  was  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  at  a  very  early  age.     He  was 


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born  in  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  9,  1824;  thus  when 
his  father  died  he  was  only  1 1  years  of  age.  His 
schooling  was  meager,  but  he  improved  every  oppor- 
tunity for  learning,  and  by  the  time  he  had  attained 
his  majority  the  college  graduate  had  but  little  ad- 
vantage of  him. 

At  the  age  of  T4  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  went 
to  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and  clerked  in  a  mercantile 
establishment  two  years.  Returning  to  Pennsylva- 
nia, he  worked  his  mother's  farm  two  seasons  and 
then  again  tried  his  hand  at  mercantile  business. 
Stopping  two  years  at  Wilkensburg,  Pa.,  he  made 
his  way  to  Hanging  Rock,  Ohio,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed by  an  Iron  Furnace  Company  as  shipping 
and  receiving  clerk,  acting  in  the  meantime  as  Depu- 
ty Postmaster.  He  remained  here  about  a  year,  and 
taking  a  stock  of  goods  for  an  uncle  from  Steubenville 
to  New  Brighton,  Pa.,  he  spent  two  years  in  closing 
them  out,  and  then  once  more  entered  the  Allegheny 
County  farm  and  tilled  the  same  up  to  1854.  Since 
coming  to  Illinois  he  has  served  the  people  of  Rock 
Island  two  terms  as  Assessor  and  four  years  as  City- 
Clerk.  Beginning  in  1868,  he  carried  on  a  success- 
ful mercantile  business  in  the  Negus  Block,  Market 
Square,  for  13  years.  He  is  a  Director  in  the  Rock 
Island  &  Milan  Street  Railway  Company;  a  member 
of  the  Public  Library  Board,  and  has  been  a  Notary 
Public  continuously  since  1865. 

Mr.  Johnston's  first  wife,  Mary  McGahey,  to  whom 
he  was  married,  at  New  Brighton,  Pa.,  in  1849,  died 
at  Rock  Island  in  1869,  leaving  two  children, — Re- 
becca (Mrs.  E.  D.  F.  Fisher)  and  James  W.,  now  a 
citizen  of  California.  June  3,  1872,  Mr.  Johnston 
was  united  in  marriage  at  Bethel,  Conn.,  to  Miss 
Mary  L.  Taylor,  the  accomplished  lady  now  (June, 
1885)  presiding  over  his  domestic  affairs. 

In  politics,  Mr.  J.  has  been  for  40  years  an  ar- 
dent, uncompromising  Democrat.  In  religion  he  is 
more  liberal. 


r.  James  S.  Matthews,  physician  and  sur- 
geon, Milan,  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Pa.,   Jan.    1,    1826.      His    parents,    Robert 
and  Prudence  (Downer)  Matthews,  were  also 
natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  he  of  Irish  and 
she  of  German  parentage.     The  Doctor's  grand- 
ather,  also  named  Robert   Matthews,  was  a  farmer 


and  died  in  the  Western  Reserve,  in  Ohio.    Both  the 
parents  of  our  subject  are  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  but  six  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  but  1 2  years  old  when  his 
mother  followed  to  the  other  world.  Both  her  grand- 
parents were  German,  their  names  being  Downer 
and  Saltzman.  They  settled  in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa. 
in  what  was  then  known  as  the  Forks  of  "  Yough," 
when  that  section  of  the  country  was  new,  and  "took 
up  "  a  "  tomahawk  claim,"  which  was  done  by  blaz- 
ing trees  around  the  land,  that  was  still  further  west 
in  what  is  now  Washington  County.  They  were 
farmers  and  died  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

Our  subject  was  the  fourth  son  and  fourth  child  of 
a  family  of  five  children.  After  the  death  of  his  pa- 
rents, he  lived  on  the  old  homestead  with  his  brothers 
and  sisters,  three  of  whom  were  older  than  he.  After 
receiving  a  liberal  education  in  the  higher  branches 
by  private  teachers,  and  able  to  earn  his  own  liveli- 
hood, he  entered,  in  1S45,  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  Mar- 
tin, at  Candor,  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
a  medical  student  two  years.  He  then  went  to 
Beverly,  Washington  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  placed 
himself  under  the  instruction  of  an  old  practitioner, 
with  whom  he  practiced  about  a  year,  then,  returning 
to  his  former  preceptor,  remained  under  his  instruc- 
tion about  a  year.  He  next  pursued  his  studies  at 
the  Ohio  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati,  during  one 
session,  and  at  the  same  time  attended  the  com- 
mercial hospital,  and  then  practiced  under  the  super- 
vision of  his  first  preceptor,  until  his  removal  to 
Pittsburg.  Dr.  Matthews  continued  to  practice  at 
Candor  until  about  1853,  when  he  came  to  Mercer 
County,  this  State,  locating  at  Pre-emption,  where  he 
practiced  five  years.  Next  he  was  engaged  in  his 
profession  at  Lecompton,  Kan.,  two  and  a  half  years, 
whe  he  returned  to  Pre-emption,  111.  In  1864,  he  re- 
moved to  Black  Hawk  Township,  this  county,  where 
he  purchased  a  200-acre  farm,  on  which  he  lived  and 
made  improvements,  still  continuing  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  until  1885.  In  the  spring  of  this  year, 
he  moved  into  the  village  of  Milan,  where  he  now 
lives  and  has  a  successful  practice  and  an  increas- 
ing patronage.  Both  himself  and  Mrs.  M.  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  society  he 
has  been  Trustee  at  two  different  times.  He  also 
served  as  Township  Trustee  of  Schools.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 

Dr.  Matthews  was  united  in  marriage,  Sept.   14, 


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1848,  in  his  native  town  and  county,  in  Pennsylvania, 
with  Miss  Mary  J.  Willson,  a  niece  of  the  wife  of  his 
preceptor,  Dr.  Martin,  and  daughter  of  Thomas 
Willson,  a  farmer  of  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  She  was 
born  Aug.  18,  1829,  and  lost  her  parents  when  she 
was  about  nine  years  of  age;  she  afterward  lived 
with  her  uncle,  Dr.  Martin. 

Thomas  Willson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Martin, 
was  also  a  native  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
born  Dec.  25,  1791.  His  father's  name  was  Samuel 
Willson,  and  his  mother's  name  prior  to  her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Willson  was  Miss  Espy.  They  were  both 
natives  of  Ireland  and  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
They  both  emigrated  to  this  country  at  an  early  day 
(probably  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War)  and  set- 
tled on  Chartier's  Creek;  the  place  where  they  lo- 
cated was  about  eight  miles  from  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and 
there  Mr.  Willson  became  the  proprietor  of  a  large 
landed  estate.  In  their  religious  faith  this  branch  of 
the  Willson  family  belonged  to  the  Scotch  Presby- 
terians. The  elder  Willson  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  man  and  womanhood,  married  and  reared 
families;  two  of  the  sons  became  ministers — -one  a 
Presbyterian  and  one  a  Baptist  clergyman.  Another 
son  became  a  lawyer.     The  other  sons  were  farmers. 

Thomas  Willson,  as  indicated  above,  was  born 
near  Pittsburg,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  in  his  neighborhood.  On  the  3d  of  June, 
18 1 3,  he  married  Miss  Jane  Kiddoo,  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Tidball)  Kiddoo.  Mrs.  Willson  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Scotch  parentage. 
As  the  fruits  of  that  union  they  had  eight  children, 
seven  sons  and  one  daughter  (the  latter  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Martin).  Thomas  Willson  and  wife  were  both 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  for 
several  years  he  held  the  office  of  Elder.  His  occu- 
pation was  that  of  a  farmer.  His  death  occurred 
about  the  year  1839.  His  wife  died  about  three 
years  prior  to  that  date. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews  are  the  parents  of  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 
The  living  are:  Thomas  Kiddoo  Willson,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  this  county,  and  David  Willson, 
who  is  also  married  and  resides  in  Black  Hawk 
Township.  The  deceased  were  named  Clarence  and 
Wilhelmina  B. 

Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews  are  given  in 
this  Album  in  connection  with  this  personal  narrative. 


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oshua  Norrish,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of 
the  Moline  Stove  Company,  is  a  native  of 
Canada  West,  and  was  born  Dec.  21, 
1848.  His  parents,  Joshua  and  Eleanor  (Bar- 
ter) Norris,  were  natives  of  England.  Mr. 
Norrish  learned  the  molders'  trade  at  Paris, 
Canada,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1868.  He 
made  his  home  at  Moline,  although  he  worked  as  a 
journeyman  molder  in  various  cities  till  1874,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  E.  B.  Beers  in  the 
manufacture  of  stoves  at  Moline,  under  the  firm  name 
of  E.  B.  Beers  &  Co.  On  the  incorporation  of  the 
company  under  the  title  of  "  The  Moline  Stove 
Company,"  in  July,  r88i,  he  was  chosen  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  and  has  held  that  position  continu- 
ously since.  (See  history  of  the  company  in  the 
industries  of  Moline,  elsewhere  in  this  work.) 

Mr.  Norrish  was  united  in  marriage  at  Moline, 
May  27,  1S74,  with  Miss  Sarah  Roseborough,  daught- 
er of  Thomas  Roseborough.  She  was  born  at  Rock 
Island.  The  issue  of  their  union  has  been  two  chil- 
dren, Eleanor  and  William. 

Mr.  Norrish  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and 
liberal  in  his  views  on  religion.  Residence,  No. 
1,119  Eighth  Street. 


^OOOfe 


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t  saac  Wainwright,  deceased,  a  former  resi- 
dent of  Coe  Township,  came  to  the  county 
in  1852.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
Feb.  22,  1835,  and  was  the  third  son  of  Isaac 
and  Rachel  (Devinney)  Wainwright.  He  was 
brought  up  in  Indiana  County,  in  the  State  of 
his  nativity,  and  his  parents  came  to  Illinois  in  the 
year  named  as  that  in  which  the  son  became  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county.  The  family  settled  in  Hampton 
Township. 

Mr.  Wainwright  continued  a  member  of  the  pa- 
rental home  until  he  became  himself  the  head  of  a 
family.  He  was  married  Sept.  20,  1S64,  to  Jane 
Ann  Torpin.  She  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co., 
Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Richard  and  Jane  (Crow- 

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ley)  Torpin,  of  whom  an  account  is  given  below. 
After  the  event  of  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wainwright  located  in  Hampton  Township,  but  their 
residence  there  continued  but  one  year.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  they  removed  to  the  township  where 
they  established  their  permanent  home  and  where 
Mr.  Wainwright  died,  Sept.  29,  1882.  In  1870  he 
bought  the  farm  which  has  since  been  the  family 
homestead.  It  is  situated  on  section  16.  Mrs. 
Wainwright  still  resides  on  the  place,  which  is  in 
good  agricultural  condition  and  is  supplied  with  all 
necessary  farm  fixtures.  She  and  her  husband  were 
both  members  of  the  Fairfield  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Richard  Torpin  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
Dec.  ri,  1805.  He  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Ann 
Torpin,  and  his  parents  were  both  natives  of  the 
same  shire  in  which  their  son  was  born.  The  latter 
was  reared  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  in  his  native 
land,  and  in  1829  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
He  located  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  27  years.  He  came  to  Rock  Island 
County  in  18156  and  purchased  a  farm  on  section  16 
in  Coe  Township.  There  was  a  small  house  on  the 
place,  in  which  his  family  resided  until  their  pros- 
perity enabled  them  to  construct  a  more  commodious 
and  larger  house.  This  was  burned  April  19,  1884, 
and  the  father  has  since  resided  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Wainwright. 

Mr.  Torpin  was  married  Feb.  1,  1835,  to  Jane  A., 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Wilson)  Crowley. 
She  was  born  in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  and  became  the 
mother  often  children, — Richard,  who  lives  in  Phil- 
adelphia; Lizzie,  wife  of  George  Allen;  Susan  (Mrs. 
Jacob  Flickinger) ;  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Kansas  ; 
Henry,  a  contractor  on  a  railroad;  Jane  Ann,  widow 
of  Mr.  Wainwright;  J  Lambert,  of  Biggsville,  111.; 
and  Louisa,  who  married  William  Allen,  of  Polk  Co., 
Iowa. 


ohn  Pears,  plow-fitter  at  the  Moline  Plow 
Company  shops,  was  born  in  Sweden,  Dec. 
10,  1844.     Emigrated  to  America  in  1S60, 


H 

%h     coming   direct    to    Mohne,  111.,  where    he    en- 
it      gaged  to  work  at  once  for  Deere  &  Co.,   at  the 
age  of  17  years.     He  enlisted  in   March,  1S65, 
as  a  private  of  Co.  I,  28th  Regt.  111.  Inf.,  and  served 


■»- 


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one  year.  On  his  return  from  the  army  he  began  » 
work  for  the  Moline  Plow  Company  (1866)  and  has  I 
continued  in  their  service  continually  since. 

Mr.  Pears  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at  Prince- 
ton, 111.,  June  7,  186S,  to  Miss  Hilda  Anderson.  Mrs. 
Pears  was  born  in  Sweden,  and  came  to  America  in 
1866.  They  have  had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living.  The  eldest,  Alma,  was  born  Aug.  19,  1869, 
and  died  aged  14  months.  The  second,  Robert  J. 
A.,  was  born  Jan.  22,  1871  ;  Arthur  F.,  born  June 
19,  1873;  Hilda  R.  W.,  born  Oct.  2,  1876,  died  aged 
four  weeks;  Hilda  E.,  born  Aug.  23,  1881. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pears  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Pears  is  a  Republican,  and  his  residence  is 
732  Thirteenth  Street. 


l^lihu  Turner,  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes, 
No.  i,7r2,  2d  Avenue,  came  to  Rock  Isl- 
and in  the  spring  of  1838,  and  has  conse- 
jgSp.  quently  witnessed  47  years  of  growth  of  that 
city.  He  was  born  in  West  Chester  Co.,  N. 
J  Y.,  April  1,  1815,  and  previous  to  the  age  of  16 
years  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
ty, and  worked  on  the  farm.  On  attaining  the  age 
mentioned,  he  engaged  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  shoe- 
maker, to  accomplish  which  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  five  years. 

After  learning  his  trade,  Mr.  Turner  engaged  in 
business  for  himself,  in  which  he  remained  one  year, 
when  he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York  and  worked 
at  his  trade  for  another  year.  At  this  date  in  his 
life's  history,  concluding  that  there  were  better 
openings  in  the  West,  and  hoping  to  add  to  his  ex- 
chequer by  a  removal  from  the  busy  East  to  a  new 
country,  he  came  to  Rock  Island.  On  arrival  in 
that  city  he  started  the  boot  and  shoe  business,  in 
which  he  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  a  large  store,  well  stocked,  on  2d  Avenue,  and 
does  an  extensive  and  constantly  increasing  busi- 
ness. By  his  straightforward  and  honest  manner  of 
doing  business,  making  no  false  representations  to 
his  customers,  and  turning  out  good  work,  he  has 
built  up  a  trade  second  to  none  in  Rock  Island  city, 


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and  has  added,  at  the  same  time,  to  his  finances. 
Since  coming  to  Rock  Island  he  has  erected  a  good, 
substantial  store  building  on  Second  Avenue  in  Pal- 
ace Row,  and  has  built  also  a  fine  residence  on 
Second  Avenue. 

Mr.  Turner  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Anna  Tracy  in  Rock  Island  Oct.  24,  1838. 
She  is  a  native  of  Count)'  Limerick,  Ireland,  where 
she  was  born  May  23,  1821.  The  family  household 
has  been  increased  by  the  addition  of  six  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner.  Their  record  is  as 
follows:  Ellen  C,  born  Oct.  30,  1841  ;  George,  born 
Nov.  6,  1845  ;  Ida  Mabel,  born  June  27,  1855  ; 
Mary,  born  June  T5,  1849  !  ar>d  Charles  E.,  born  Jan. 
25,  1862  ;  Joseph  H.,  Aug.  1,  1847.  Ellen  C.  is  the 
wife  of  John  Bromley,  a  resident  of  Rock  Island; 
George  married  Julia  Sullivan,  and  resides  at  Colum- 
burg,  Nev.;  Ida  married  Thomas  A.  Neil,  who  re- 
sides at  Moberly,  Mo. 

Politically,  Mr.  Turner  belongs  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  socially,  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Ma- 
sonry, belonging  to  a  lodge  located  in  this  city.  He 
is  a  worthy  gentleman,  and  an  energetic  business 
man  of  Reck  Island  city. 


-1= 


gnatz  Huber,  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  of  Rock  Island  city,  engaged 
in  the  brewing  business,  came  to  this  place 
in  1851,  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  was  born 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  Feb.  1,  1826,  and  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  1849.  His 
younger  days,  until  the  age  of  18  years,  were  spent 
in  school  in  his  native  country.  It  was  in  that  coun- 
try also  that  he  first  learned  the  trade  of  brewer,  be- 
sides working  on  a  farm.  His  father  followed  the 
same  vocation  in  life  (that  of  a  brewer),  and  it  was 
in  his  brewery  that  Mr.  Huber,  subject  ofthis  notice, 
first  learned  the  secrets  of  that  business. 

Coming  to  the  United  States  in  the  year  named, 
Mr.  Huber,  having  expended  what  little  money  he 
had,  and  being  of  that  disposition  which  would  not 
allow  him  to  pass  his  days  in  idleness,  even  had  he 
the  competency  of  a  "  Vanderbilt,"  he  engaged  to 
work  on  a  farm  for  the  "  magnificent  "  wages  of  62% 
cents  per  day  for  the  first  month!  Leaving  the  farm, 
he  engaged  to  work  in  a  brewery  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 


and  followed  that  vocation  for  ten  months ;  then 
worked  at  the  same  business  in  Cincinnati  one  year. 

At  this  point  of  Mr.  Huber's  history,  he  came  to 
Rock  Island  city,  and  engaged  in  the  brewing  busi- 
ness for  one  month,  when  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  August  Lettig,  which  partnership  existed  until 
April  1,  1S54,  when  Mr.  Huber  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  his  partner  and  has  since  continued  in  the 
business  alone,  coveiing  a  period  of  31  years.  Since 
that  time  he  has  spent  over  <§roo,ooo  in  improvements. 
He  employs  some  16  men  and  four  teams  on  the 
road.  He  also  owns  the  beer-bottling  establishment 
on  Third  Avenue,  and  also  his  large  brewery  on  Elm 
Street,  besides  property  in  Milan  and  Moline.  He 
is  a  director  in  the  People's  Bank,  and  has  been 
such  since  its  organization.  Coming  to  Rock  Island 
city  when  that  village  was  in  its  infancy,  and  locating 
there  with  a  firm  belief  in  the  future  development 
not  only  of  the  city,  but  also  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, and  remaining  as  he  did,  and  meeting  with  the 
success  he  has,  the  latter  can  be  but  attributed  to  his 
good  judgment,  energetic  determination  and  active 
co-operation  of  his  good  helpmeet.  The  extensive 
brewing  establishment  and  malt-house  of  Mr.  Hu- 
ber is  shown  in  the  view  accompanying  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Huber  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cather- 
ine Koehler,  a  native  of  Germany.  Their  children 
are  Amelia,  Lillie  and  Otto,  all  of  whom  are  living  at 
home. 

Politically,  Mr.  Huber  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  one 
of  those  men  of  whom  it  can  be  said  he  takes  an  in- 
terest in  any  movement  calculated  to  benefit  the  city 
and  community  in  which  he  resides,  and  that, 
although  he  has  met  with  success  in  his  accumula- 
tions, none  can  attribute  to  him  any  degree  of  self- 
ishness. He  has  a  beautiful  residence  on  Third 
Avenue  between  23d  and  24th  Streets,  where  he 
owns  a  half  block  of  land. 


*►» 


illiam  C.  Thede,  dealer  in  boots  and 
^s  shoes,  1508  Third  Aveline,  Moline,  estab- 
»JVv<p  lished  his  present  business  in  November, 
jljni^  1883.  Carries  a  stock  of  an  average  value  of 
\i  $4,000.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Pontiac,  Michigan,  Nov.  27,  1856,  and  is  the  son 
of  C.  F.  and  Laura  A  (Herbst)  Thede.     He  came  to 


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Moline  with  his  parents  while  an  infant,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  in  the  city  schools.  He  left 
Moline  in  r86o.  and  made  his  home  in  New  Boston, 
111. ;  from  there  he  went  to  Aledo  and  from  Aledo  re- 
turned to  Mount  Clemens,  Mich,  (his  native  city). 
He  was  engaged  as  salesman  in  a  boot  and  shoe 
store  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  and  subsequently  in  the 
same  line  in  other  cities  in  Michigan.  In  i88r  he 
returned  to  Moline  and  was  employed'  as  salesman 
for  George  Herbst,  boot  and  shoe  dealer,  until  he 
began  his  present  business  in  November,  1882. 

Mr.  Thede  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  this 
city,  May  14,  1883,  with  Miss  Eva  Smith.  Mrs. 
Thede  was  born  at  Rock  Island,  111.  They  have 
become  the  parents  of  one  child,  a  son,  named  Hen- 
ry, born  Feb.  28,  1884.  Mrs.  Thede  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Thede  is  liberal  in  his 
religious  views,  and  in  political  sentiment  is  an  inde- 
pendent. 


oel  B.  Hampton,  who  follows  the  vocation 
of  a  farmer  on  section  28,  Drury  Town- 
ship, where  he  resides,  was  born  in 
Buffalo  Prairie  Township,  Rock  Island  Co., 
Aug;.  13,  1S38.  He  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
county,  and  has  always  followed  the  occupation  of 
agriculturist,  and  has  resided  in  Rock  Island  County 
all  his  life.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive,  as  well  as 
energetic  farmers  of  Rock  Island  County,  and  is  the 
owner  of  610  acres  of  land  in  Drury  Township. 
He  has  a  good  residence  on  his  farm,  together  with 
a  substantial  barn  and  outbuildings,  and  the  major 
portion  of  his  acreage  is  under  an  advanced  state  of 
cultivation. 

Mr.  Hampton  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
March  12,  1S58,  with  Emeline  Irwin,  in  Mercer 
County.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  July  12, 
1840.  The  issue  of  their  union  has  been  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  survived:  Parmelia,  born 
Feb.  4,  1865  ;  Henry,  born  Sept.  15,  1866,  and 
Mary,  born  Dec.  6,  1867  (she  is  the  wife  of  Frank- 
lin Blanchard).  Ella  was  the  wife  of  Charles 
Frisel ;  at  her  death  she  left  one  son,  now  three  years 
of  age,  who  lives  with  grandparents;  and  Evart  is 
also  deceased. 


Mr.  Hampton  has  been  School  Director  of  his 
district,  and  politically  he  is  a  believer  in  and  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican 
party. 

Two  of  his  brothers,  William  and  James  T.,  were 
in  the  army  during  the  late  war.  The  former  was 
•killed,  and  the  latter  died  from  exposure. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Hampton  were  Henry  and 
Parmelia  (Brown)  Hampton,  natives  of  Kentucky 
and  Indiana  respectively.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  Joel,  subject  of  this  no- 
tice, was  third  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Hampton  is 
a  gentleman  who  has  accumulated  largely  of  this 
world's  goods,  and  to  which  accumulation  he  can  at- 
tribute his  own  indomitable  energy,  perseverance  and 
good  judgment,  and  fair  and  honest  dealings  with 
his  fellow  man. 


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feenry  O.  Whipple,  manager  of  the  Moline 
§  Co-operative  Association,  was  born  at 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  March  9,  1844,  and  was 
the  son  of  Ralph  and  Helen  (Davenport)  Whip- 
ple. His  father  was  the  leading  partner  in  the 
stove  foundry  of  Whipple  &  French,  noted  in 
those  days  as  a  prosperous  and  energetic  concern. 
Mr.  Whipple  died  in  1847.  A  sketch  of  his  wife  is 
given  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Henry  Whipple,  our  subject,  left  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
in  1857  (where  he  had  regularly  attended  boarding- 
school),  and  went  to  Richfield  Springs,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  lived  for  one  year  with  his  uncle,  James  Daven- 
port. Leaving  the  latter  place,  he  went  to  Aurora, 
N.  Y.,  to  attend  school  for  a  year,  after  which  lie 
went  to  Manlius,  same  State,  stopping  there  but  a 
few  months.  Thence  he  drifted  to  Moline,  111.,  in 
1859,  and  went  to  school  at  that  place  for  a  winter. 
In  the  winters  of  1862  and  1863,  he  was  engaged  in 
the  pork- packing  business,  but  on  March  9,  1864,  he 
entered  the  employment  of  J.  W.  Battis,  who  carried 
on  a  grocery  business  on  Wells  Street,  Moline,  oppo- 
site James  Shaw's,  having  charge  of  the  store. 

In  1S65  the  grocery  partnership  of  Worden  & 
Whipple  was  formed,  which  was  in  existence  for  one 
year,  when  Mr.  Worden  sold  out  to  Chas.  Margraf, 
and  the  firm  became  Whipple  &  Margraf,  continuing 
as  such  until  December,  1866,  when  the  concern  sold 


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out  to  Vesey  &  Francis.  In  September,  T867,  the 
partnership  of  Whipple  &  Velie  was  organized  and 
continued  in  prosperous  operation  until  March  1, 
1868,  when  Mr.  Whipple  bought  out  Mr.  James 
Velie,  on  account  of  the  illness  of  the  latter,  thus 
embarking  in  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
continued  in  the  grocery  business  with  varying  suc- 
cess for  ten  years,  and  then  gave  up  that  line  of 
trade  and  for  18  months  traveled  as  salesman  for  a 
tea  house.  In  1S80  he  opened  a  grocery  in  the 
building  at  the  corner  of  Nineteenth  Street  and  Sixth 
Avenue,  Moline,  remaining  there  until  1S82,  when 
he  sold  out.  During  the  years  of  1875-6  he  repre- 
sented the  Fourth  Ward  in  the  City  Council. 

In  January,  r884,  he  assumed  charge  of  the  gro- 
cery of  the  Moline  Co-operative  Association,  located 
in  McKinnie's  Block,  on  Fifteenth  Street,  where  he 
still  remains  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  his  patrons,  an 
able,  popular  and  energetic  business  man. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1875,  ne  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ella  M.  Carey,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Helen  C.  Whipple,  born  May  20,  1876.  Mr. 
W.  is  a  Mason,  and  in  political  sentiment  is  and  al- 
ways was  a  Republican. 


f?>jnfi3j  Charles  E.  Ainsworth,  of  the  firm  of  Dim- 
4_yGli    ock,  Gould  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  tubs, 
l-HScrf*1        pails,  washboards  and  lumber,  at  Moline, 
E  -3     was   born   in  Williamstown,  Orange  Co.,  Vt., 
$      Feb.  11,  1829,  his   father's   name   being  Cal- 
(        vin.  his   mother's  Laura  (Lynde)   Ainsworth. 
He  attended  the  ordinary  country  school  of  the  day 
a  little,  in    his   native  town,  until    19    years  of  age, 
when  he  came  to   Rock  Island,  111.,  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  here,  until  September,  1856, 
remaining    here,  however,  until  i860,  when  he   re- 
moved to  Edgington,  111.,  and  kept  a  general  store 
there  until  1S64.    Next,  he  emigrated  to  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the  business  of  making  plows 
until  1869,  when   he  came  to  Moline,  111.,  and  be- 
came a   member  of    the   firm  of  Dimock,  Gould  & 
Co.,  manuufacturers  of  tubs,  pails,  washboards  and 
lumber.     Since  February,  1885,  he  has  been  Vice- 
President   of    that   extensive    concern,    previous    to 


which  he  held  the  office  of  Treasurer.     In  politics 
he  is  Republican,  serving  one  term  as  Alderman. 

Dec.  22,  1853,  at  Rock  Island,  111.,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  E.  Cook.  His  children  are  Lucy,  born 
in  November,  1854;  Calvin,  born  in  May,  1856; 
Charles,  born  in  November,  1858;  and  Emma,  in 
March,  1S62.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 


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ichael  G.  Field,  a  general  stock -raiser,  but 
devoting  his  atlention  more  exclusively 
to  breeding  Norman  horses,  resides  in 
South  Rock  Island  Township.  He  was 
",?  born  in  Middlesex  Co.,  Conn.,  June  29,  1834. 
His  father,  Danforth  C.  Field,  was  a  native  of 
the  same  county,  and  the  oldest  son  of  Edmond 
Field,  who  was  also  born  in  Middlesex  County,  of 
Irish  ancestry,  and  a  genuine  type  of  the  old  New 
England  farmer.  He  died  some  years  ago  at  the 
same  place  he  was  born.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  born  Sept.  22,  1805,  and  also  followed  farming. 
He  moved  to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  April  4,  1836, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  and  is  at  the  present 
time  80  years  of  age.  His  mother,  Lucretia  Gris- 
wold.  was  also  born  in  Middlesex  County,  of  New 
England  parentage.  She  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son,  J.  R.  C.  Field  (see  sketch),  in  South  Rock 
Island  Township,  Jan.  18,  18717. 

Our  subject  was  the  third  child  of  a  family  of  13 
children,  nine  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  resided 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  attained  his  major- 
ity, when  he  started  out  in  life  to  obtain  an  inde- 
pendent livelihood.  On  the  6th  of  June,  1868,  he 
left  the  home  of  his  nativity  and  came  to  Rock 
Island,  two  of  his  brothers  having  previously  come 
to  that  city.  He  became  at  once  connected  with 
the  sale  of  Yankee  notions,  and  he  drove  their 
wagon  from  1868  to  1879,  and  afterward  worked  for 
Mr.  Hull,  successors  to  Field  Brothers,  for  three 
years.  Jn  1875  he  purchased  property  in  South 
Rock  Island,  consisting  of  a  little  more  than  two 
acres,  upon  which  was  a  good  residence  and  bam. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  breeding  Norman  horses 
for  some  time,  from  the  sire  named  "Prince." 

Mr.  Field  was  married  Dec.  21,  1864,  at  Guilford, 


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Conn.,  to  Miss  Augusta  E.  Rossiter,  a  native  of  New- 
Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  where  she  was  born  April  17,  1838. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  a  New  England  farmer,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  her  native  county,  and  taught 
school  until  her  marriage.  She  is  the  mother  of  four 
children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living:  Eddie,  born 
Sept.  7,  1874.  Those  deceased  are  Frank  C,  born 
April  10,  1867,  died  March  26,  18S2  ;  Elmer  W., 
born  Aug.  20,  1868,  died  April  1,  1883;  Hattie,  born 
March  3r,  1849,  died  July  21,  1880. 

Mrs.  Field  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  politically  Mr.  Field  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  now 
serving  as  Road  Commissioner. 


-~wg2SS  tew>- 


I  ffe^onrad  F.  Grantz,  proprietor  of  the  "City 

^|JFg?r  Meat  Market."     This  market  was   estab- 

§&?        lished  in  1854  by  Henry  Schumaker,  sub- 


$ta"  sequently  the  step-father  of  the  subject  of 
pS*  our  sketch.  He  was  succeeded  by  A.  &  C. 
Grantz  (brothers),  who  conducted  the  busi- 
ness until  the  spring  of  186S,  when  Mr.  Conrad  F. 
Grantz,  the  present  proprietor,  bought  out  his  brother 
and  has  since  carried  on  the  business  alone.  Mr. 
Grantz  has  the  leading  market  in  the  city,  and  keeps 
a  general  assortment  of  fresh,  salt  and  smoked 
meats  of  the  best  to  be  had  ;  and  as  he  has  had  a 
life-long  experience  in  the  business,  he  understands 
it  fully  and  can  always  satisfy  any  reasonable  cus- 
tomer. 

Mr.  C.  F.  Grantz  was  born  in  Eutin,  Germany, 
July  23,  1846,  and  is  the  ?on  of  August  and  Helen 
(Heyer)  Grantz.  He  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents in  1852,  the  family  coming  directly  to  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  where  they  remained,  however,  but  a 
few  months,  when  they  returned  to  Le  Claire,  Iowa, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1853  removed  to  Moline 
and  made  this  city  their  permanent  residence. 
His  father  died  here  in  1854,  and  his  mother  mar- 
ried Henry  Schumaker,  the  proprietor  of  the  "  City 
Market."  Conrad  began  assisting  his  step-father  in 
his  business  in  1861. 

Mr.  C.  F.  Grantz  was  united  in  marriage  Sept.  13, 
1868,  at  Moline,  to  Miss  Margaretta  C.  Schlotfieldt, 
daughter  of  Henry  H.  and    Margaretta  Schlotfieldt. 


Mrs.  Grantz  was  born  near  Keil,  Germany,  and  came 
to  America  in  the  spring  of  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grantz  came  to  the  United  States  via  New  Orleans, 
and  came  up  the  Mississippi  River  in  the  same  boat, 
unknown  to  each  other.  He  was  a  child  of  six 
years,  and  she  an  infant  in  arms.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  nine  children,  eight  sons  and  one  daughter  : 
Conrad  F.,  born  July  13,  1869;  Henry  W.,  born  Oct. 
22,  1870  ;  August  C,  Dec.  7,  1872  ;  Albert  R.,  Nov. 
16,  1874;  Robert  O.,  born  May  5,  1877,  and  died 
Jan.  24,  r879;  Bertram  J.,  Oct.  17,  1881  ;  Minnie 
H  ,  March  13,  1879;  Ralph  G.  and  Marcus,  twins, 
born  Dec.  1 1,  1884. 

Mr.  Grantz  has  held  various  local  offices  of  honor 
and  trust.  He  was  elected  and  served  as  City 
Treasurer  in  1880  and  1881.  Was  elected  Alderman 
to  fill  vacancy  one  year,  and  afterwards  elected  for 
one  full  term  in  the  Third  Ward.  Mr.  Grantz  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Concordia  Germania  Turn- 
verein,  Moline  Grove,  No.  26,  U.  A.  O.  D.  He  is 
President  and  Director  of  the  Moline  Building,  Sav- 
ings and  Loan  Association,  also  President  and  Di- 
rector of  the  Moline  Associated  Charities.  He  is 
liberal  in  his  religious  views,  and  believes  in  "  doing 
right  and  fearing  nobody."  In  political  opinion  he 
is  out  and  out  a  Republican. 


I 


^FSli  eorge  Vincent,  M.  D.,  the  oldest  physician 
•  (*MSl[  of  Hamilton,  and  one  of  the  old  and  lead- 
"wJSp  K  ing  physicians  of  the  county,  like  many 
?y$  >  of  the  citizens  of  this  county,  is  a  native 
of  Vermont.  He  was  born  in  Montpelier  in 
1823,  and  until  he  attained  his  16th  year  he 
attended  school.  At  that  time  he  began  to  teach 
school  during  the  winter  season,  and  worked  on  a 
farm  during  the  summer.  During  the  spring  and 
autumn  he  attended  an  academy  until  1845,  when 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  and  at- 
tended Castleton  Medical  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1S47.  He  hung  out  his  shingle,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Lunenburg, 
Essex  Co.,  Vt.  He  remained  there  for  a  period  of 
five  years,  when  he  sold  out  his  practice,  and  in 
1852  came  to  Port  Byron,  this  county,  where,  how- 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


ever,  he  remained  only  six  months,  when  he  came  to 
Hampton,  where  he  continued  to  practice  his  chosen 
profession.  In  an  early  day  the  Doctor  had  consid- 
erable practice  across  the  river,  in  Iowa,  and  went 
far  and  near  through  his  section  of  the  county. 

Shortly  after  Dr.  Vincent's  arrival  in  Hampton,  he 
erected  a  building,  and  embarked  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness, which  he  carried  on  in  connection  with  his 
practice.  He  has  also  been  agent  for  several  com- 
panies, and  held  the  office  of  School  Treasurer.  He 
has  a  fine  residence  in  Hampton,  where  he  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  commun.ty. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  In  r<S5o  he  was 
married  to  Eliza  G.  Gates,  who  died  in  1S53.  The 
Doctor,  for  his  second  wife,  married  Mary  L.  Thomas, 
in  1857,  who  is  the  motherof  six  children,  as  follows  : 
Stella  B.,  Alice  S.,  George  I.,  Carroll  H.,  Ethel  M. 
and  Philip  D.  Flora  T.,  the  only  child  by  his  first 
wife,  was  married  to  Isaac  A.  Vihols,  of  West  Liberty, 
Iowa.     Mildred  is  their  only  child. 


I 


.ohn  W.  Graham,  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick  in  South  Rock  Island  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug. 
\f  20,  1837.  He  was  the  eldest  son  in  order  of 
birth  of  a  family  of  eight  children.  His  father, 
Mayberry  Graham,  was  a  teacher  by  profes- 
sion, and  came  West  in  1854,  when  John  W.  was  but 
17  years  of  age,  locating  in  Rock  Island,  where  he 
died  in  1854,  the  same  year  of  his  arrival,  aged  78 
years.  The  mother,  Mary  (Smith)  Graham,  now  re- 
sides in  South  Rock  Island  Township,  and  is  78 
years  of  age. 

John  W.  Graham,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, was  educated  in  his  native  State,  and  followed 
the  brick-making  business  nearly  all  his  life,  from 
the  age  of  15  to  the  present  time,  except  the  period 
during  which  he  was  engaged  in  fighting  for  his 
country.  Soon  after  the  news  had  flashed  across  the 
continent  that  the  Rebel  guns  had  fired  on  Sumter, 
and  the  President  had  called  for  brave  hearts  and 
strong  arms  to  defend  the  Unio.  ,  Mr.  Graham  en- 
listed in  Co.  H,  37th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Sept.  5,  1S61.  His 
company  was   commanded  by-  Capt.   H.   Wolfertze, 


and  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Frontier.  He 
enlisted  as  a  private  and  was  promoted  as  Corporal. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  where  he 
was  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  a  minie  rifle  ball. 
He  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove  and 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  then  went  to  Texas,  and 
participated  in  the  campaign  of  the  Gulf,  having 
again  enlisted  in  the  same  company  and  regiment. 
He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Blakely,  the  last 
battle  of  consequence  of  the  war  in  that  section  of 
the  country.  He  received  his  discharge  at  Houston, 
Tex.,  May  15,  1866,  having  served  nearly  five  years. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  he  returned  again  to 
Rock  Island,  and  engaged  in  the  occupation  of 
brick-making,  which  vocation  he  has  continued  until 
the  present  time.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Rock  Island  City,  Jan.  28,  1873,  with  Miss  Rebecca 
Dunlap,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Adolphus 
Dunlap  (see  sketch).  Mrs  Graham  was  born  in 
Edgington  Township,  April  9,  1852.  She  came  to 
in  1854,  when  but  a  child,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  school  of  that  city.  She  has  been  the  mother 
of  six  children  by  Mr.  Graham,  one  of  whom  is  de- 
ceased :  Clara  and  Carrie  (twins)  were  born  Nov.  29, 
1874,  and  the  latter  died  Dec.  2,1874;  Ella,  born 
July  9,  1876;  John  W.,born  Dec.  20,  1879;  Estella, 
born  Feb.  6,  1S82;  and  Carroll  D.,  born  May  13, 
1885. 

Since  their  marriage  they  have  resided  in  South 
Rock  Island  Township,  and  have  three  acres  of  land, 
with  a  brick-kiln,  and  a  good  and  commodious  resi- 
dence. Mr.  Graham  has  also  over  25  acres  in  this 
township.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  Na- 
tional Greenback  party. 


9 

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Joseph  Huntoon,  a  pioneer  of  Rock  Island 
County,  of  1840,  who  has  experienced  the 
trials  and  difficulties  incident  to  the  settle- 
ment  of  a  new  country,  was  born  in  the  town  <2- 
of  Hanover,  Grafton  Co.,  N.  H.,  April  17,  181 2, 
and  is  the  son  of  Rebecca  (Califf)  Huntoon. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  reared  on  a  farm,  re- 
ceiving the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  that  day,  and  when  22  years  of  age  re-  , 
moved  to  Massachusetts.     From  the  latter  place  he  ^ 


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1, 


came  to  Illinois,  and  located  at  Andover,  Henry 
Co.,  remaining  only  until  the  fall  of  that  year.  Then 
moving  to  Mercer  County,  he  bought  a  farm  in  Rich- 
land Grove,  and  continued  at  that  place  until  1840, 
when  he  came  to  Moline  and  engaged  in  brick- 
making.  He  and  his  sons  manufactured  brick  ex- 
tensively near  Moline  until  1877,  covering  a  period 
of  29  years,  during  which  time  they  made  a  large 
portion  of  the  brick  that  has  been  used  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  city  of  Moline. 

Mr.  Huntoon  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  at 
Sugar  Grove,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  with  Miss  Sylvia  Ten- 
ney,  daughter  of  Sampson  Tenney.  Mrs.  Huntoon 
was  born  in  Ipswich,  N.  H.,  in  the  autumn  of  1822. 
The  issue  of  their  union  was  six  children,  namely  : 
Edgar  N. ;  Joseph  C,  who  married  Maria  Sarmist; 
George  H.,  who  married  Mary  Stephens ;  Mary  L.'; 
Delia,  died  aged  three  years,  and  Frances  E.  Mr. 
Huntoon's  children  are  all  residents  of  Moline.  His 
sons  are  proprietors  of  the  well-known  Moline  Pump 
Works.  Mr.  Huntoon  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Huntoon 
has  been  Deacon  for  30  years.  Father  and  sons 
are  Republicans. 


V 


ohn  S.  Gillmore,  Cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
f  tional  Bank  of  Moline,  111.,  was  born  at 
Athens,  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  April  12, 
1832.  His  parents,  John  and  Ann  (Culver) 
Gillmore,  were  natives  of  Vermont,  and  prob- 
ably of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  They  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  youngest 
of  the  family.  The  Gi'lmores,  wherever  they  are 
found,  date  their  ancestry  back  to  the  early  New 
Englanders.  The  immediate  branch  of  that  family 
from  which  our  subject  descends  settled  first  at  Lon- 
donderry, N.  H. 

In  1822  John  Gillmore  emigrated  with  his  family 
from  Vermont  to  Ohio,  and  settled  at  Athens,  where 
he  remained  until  1836,  coming  then  to  Knox 
County,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  for 
about  six  years.  In  1842  he  removed  to  Geneseo, 
in  Henry  County,  the  same   State,  and  that  he  was 


one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  county  is  proven  by  the 
fact  that  his  was  one  of  the  eight  families  comprising 
the  town  of  Geneseo.  Here  he  farmed  until  1846, 
with  such  success  as,  added  to  his  previously  good 
husbandry,  enables  him  to  retire  from  active  business 
with  a  competency.  In  1849  he  removed  to  Rock 
Island  city,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying 
in  1858,  at  the  age  of  73  years. 

At  the  Geneseo  Academy  John  S.  Gillmore  re- 
cieved  a  fair  English  education,  which  formed  a 
good  base  upon  which  his  intuitive  mind  could  build 
with  the  experiences  incident  to  a  business  life. 
After  a  few  years'  clerical  service  in  a  general  store  at 
Rock  Island,  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  and  re- 
tail grocery  business,  which  he  followed  successfully 
until  1856.  Succeeding  this,  he  had  three  years'  ex- 
perience at  "merchant  milling."  We  then  hear  no 
more  of  him  until  the  spring  of  1861,  when  we  find 
him  in  California  recuperating  his  health — a  thing 
altogether  necessary,  as  he  was  naturally  not  of  very 
robust  constitution.  He  spent  a  year  and  a  half  on 
the  Pacific  coast,  and  later  on,  a  season  in  the  moun- 
tain's of  Colorado.  In  1866  Mr.  Gillmore  accepted 
a  position  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Moline,  and 
in  January,  1867,  became  cashier  of  that  institution, 
a  position  he  has  since  filled. 

Before  coming  to  Moline  he  was  Clerk  of  the  City 
of  Rock  Island  one  term,  and  since  his  residence  in 
Moline  he  has  served  the  city  three  terms  as  its 
Treasurer.  Before  the  war  he  was  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  in  i860  he  was  that 
party's  candidate  for  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Rock  Island  County,  and  though  defeated,  he  ran 
1,400  ahead  of  his  ticket.  Since  the  outbreak  of  the 
Rebellion  he  has  stood  firmly  by  the  Republican 
party. 

Mr.  Gillmore  was  united  in  marriage  at  Geneseo, 
Oct.  13,  1866,  to  Miss  Jennie  K.  Sleight,  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  and  a  sister  of  the  late  Hon.  H.  O. 
Sleight.  (See  sketch.)  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mr.  Gill- 
more is  Treasurer  of  the  Doric  Lodge,  No.  319,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  a  position  he  has  held  for  several  years. 

Mr.  Gillmore  is  an  excellent  type  of  a  thorough- 
going American  business  man,  as  this  brief  outline  of 
his  life  portrays.  He  possesses  good  judgment,  keen 
foresight,  clear  and  sensible  business  ideas,  is  enter- 
prising, and,  above  all,  has  that  unfaltering  integrity 
of  character  which  is  so  essential  in  a  man  occupy- 


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ing  the  responsible  positions  he  holds  and  has  held 
for  years.  The  confidence  of  the  community,  as  well 
as  the  officers  and  stockholders  of  his  bank,  may  be 
safely  reposed  in  him.  As  a  representative  and  es- 
teemed citizen  of  this  county,  we  present  Mr.  Gill- 
more 's  portrait  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


eymour  L.  Stafford,  merchant  of  Coal 
Valley,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Abigail 
Ij^1  (Sergeant)  Stafford,  who  settled  in  Boone 
l^V,  Co.,  111.,  in  the  early  day.  He  was  born  in 
Rutland,  Vt.,  Dec.  25,  1843,  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  and  in  1S64  came  to 
Coal  Valley,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  the  coal  business  for  16 
years,  and  in  1S78  opened  a  general  store,  where  he 
is  enjoying  a  successful  trade.  He  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  his  fellow  citizens,  as  they  have  elected 
him  to  the  office  of  Village  Trustee,  School  Director, 
etc.  His  political  views  are  Republican.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  fraterni- 
ties, and  also  of  the  G.  A.  R.  In  1861  Mr.  S.  en- 
listed in  the  13th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  over  three 
years. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Rock  Island 
in  the  spring  of  1864,  with  Margaret  J.  Jones,  a  na- 
tive of  Wales.  They  have  had  seven  children,  two 
of  whom  survived — George  and  Lewis  J. 


("ames  W.  Atkinson,  of  Moline,  was    born 
~  at  Union  Grove,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  Aug. 
26,  1S39,  and  is    a    son   of  Joshua  T.  and 
Emeline    (Little)  Atkinson,  the    former   a  na- 
if    tive  of  Newburyport,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  of 
i       Suncook,    N.    H.,    both   being  of  English  de- 
scent.    They  were  pioneers    here,    coming   West  as 
early  as  1835. 

James    W.,  whose   name    heads   this    sketch,  at- 
tended school  at  TJnion    Grove,    at    Galesburg,  111., 


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and  at  Denmark,  Iowa,  until  he  was  about  16  years' 
of  age,  when  he  began  to  assist  in    the  maintenance' 
of  the  family  by  working  on  his  father's  farm,  which, 
he  continued  to  do  for   three    years.     In    1868  he 
came  to  Moline,  and  from    that   time  until   1S74  he.g: 
was  with  his  uncle,  Mr.  Charles  Atkinson,  as  clerk  in 
his  real-estate   business,    and    in    the   office   of  the 
Water-Power  Company,  of  which  his  uncle  is   Presi- 
dent.    After  that  he  was  traveling  salesman  for  two 
years  for  the  Moline    Wagon  Company,  and    during 
the  year  r876  was   in   the   insurance   business.     In 
1877  he  became  manager  and  secretary  of  the  Deere 
&  Mansur  Company's  Corn-Planter  Works,  a  position 
which  he  still  holds.    He  has  seen  the  business  grow 
during  his   connection  with  it  until  the  company  lias 
become  one  of  the  largest  corporations  and  occupies 
and  owns  one  of  the  finest  corn-planter  works   in  the 
country. 

Mr.  Atkinson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  June 
3,  r874.  at  Morrison,  111.,  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Savage,  - 
and  they  have  one   child,  George  L.,    born  July   7, 
1877. 

In    politics,   Mr.    Atkinson  is  a  Republican,  butt=a 
his  mind  runs  entirely  in  business,  not   in    political,1^ 

channels.  o 

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3  athan  Swain    came  to  Rock    Island    city 
from  Minnesota  in  1S73.     He  was  born  in 
Fleming  County,  Ky.,  Nov.  23,   1819,  and 
lived  there  until  the  year  1842.     His  parent! 
were  Nathan  and  Nancy  (Nolan)  Swain,  native 
of  Maryland.     Nathan    Swain,  subject  of  thi 
notice,  remained  on  the  parental  homestead  until  h 
attained  the  age  of   22  years,  receiving  a  good  com- 
mon school  education  and  assisting  his  father  on  the 
farm.     After  leaving  home  he  rented  a  farm  in  Ken-  I 
tucky  and  cultivated  the  same  for  one  year,  when  he 
went  to  Indiana  and  was  occupied  in  the  same  vo- 
cation for  two  years.     He  then  engaged  in  teaming  v 
and  was  occupied  in  that  business  for  four  years,  in* 
the  same  State,  after  which  he  rented  a   farm  and-J..' 
followed  farming  for  another  two  years.  Leaving  therf^ 
farm  he  went  to  Cartersburg,  same   State,  and  en 
gaged  in  the  hotel  business,  which  he  conducted   fo 
one   year  at   that  place,  and   then  ran   a  hotel   a 

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ooresville  for  one  year.     He  then   moved  back  to 
/-Cartersburg   and  remained  for  two  months,  when  he 
^ame   West  to  Danville,  Ind.,  and  opened    a   feed 
•;  stable,  which  business   lie  conducted  for   one  year. 
^Abandoning  it,  he  began  the  butchering  business  and 
^followed  that  business  for  seven  years.     Soon  after 
the  news  was  flashed  across  the  wires  of  the  firing  on 
Sumter,  Mr.  Swain  enlisted    in  Co.  H,  Seventh  Ind. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  wounded  in  the  first  day's  fight  of 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  which  proved  of  such  a 
damaging  character  that  he  has  never  been  able  to 
do  manual  labor  since.     He  was  in  the  service  three 
"years,  when  he  was  discharged  and  returned   home. 
In  1865  he  engaged  in  butchering  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  embarked  in  the  hotel  business  at  Carters- 
burg    and  remained  a  year.     He    then   removed  to 
Ladoga,  Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.,  and  kept  a  hotel  at 
that  place  for  one  year.     He  then  went  on  a  farm  in 
that  vicinity  and  remained  two  years,  after  which  he 
removed    to    Chatfield,   Fillmore    Co.,    Minn.,  and 
>workedout  for  a  living  until  he  moved  to  Rock  Isl- 
'\nd.     Since  his  coming  here   he  has  been  variously 
;.  -Jsccupied,  and  at  this  time  has  retired  from  the  active 
'/{labors  of  life. 

Mr.  Swain  was  united  in  marriage  to  Huldah  Cay- 
\  Iwood  in  1841,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  nine  living  children,  namely  : 
Thomas  N.,  born  Dec.  21,  1842  ;  Sarah  E.,  born  Aug. 
4,  1846;  George  W.,  Aug.  1,  1844;  Julia,  Dec.  4, 
1852;  Lawrence  S.,  Nov.  9,  1848;  Marion,  May  27, 
1858;  Nancy,  Feb.  2,  1856;  Eva,  Feb.  7,  i860; 
Even  B.,  July  1,  1862;  Carrie  M.,  June  1,  1867. 
Two  of  the|children  are  married, — Sarah  E.  and  Law- 
rence S.      Politicallv,  Mr.  Swain  is  a  Democrat.     He 


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.resides  at  816  Second  Avenue. 

^oooe 


|E  rank  A.  Johnson,  of  the  firm  of  Samuel- 
jij|'~'|    son  &    Johnson,    upholsterers,  manufact- 
ure'  urers  of  and  dealers  in  furniture.     Sales- 
^  rooms,  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Fifteenth 
'    Street;    workshops   on    Fifth    Avenue.      This 
firm    was     established     in     September,     1880. 
They  have  the  leading  house  in  their  line  in  Moline, 
i)  and  carry  an  average  stock  of  $6,000  value. 
^      Mr.  Johnson,  the  junior  partner,  was  born  in  Swe- 


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,^r  and  five  daughters, — progeny  of  Robert  and 
Eliza  (Burbidge)  Bennett, — was  born  Oct.  i, 
1847,  and  came  to  America  in  1870.  Two  of 
his  sisters  had  preceded  him  to  this  continent,  and 
his  parents  and  the  rest  of  the  family  then  living 
followed  a  year  later.  The  family  located  in  Johns- 
town, N.  Y.,  where  Robert  Bennett,  Sr.,  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life,  dying  in  the  year  1885,  aged  about 
82  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  learned  the  stone-cutter's  trade 
in  the  old  country.  Soon  after  arriving  in  New  York 
he  made  his  way  to  Ro:k  Island,  where  he  worked  a 
short  time  at  marble-cutting,  and  in  the  year  187  1 
began  work  for  the  United  States  Government  on 
the  island,  where,  with  the  exception  of  two  years 
spent  in  the  civil-engineer  department  on  the  Des 
Moines  Rapids  improvement,  he  worked  almost 
uninterruptedly  until  the  fall  of  1884. 

Mr.  Bennett's  gentlemanly  deportment  under  all 
circumstances  drew  around  him  many  warm  friends, 
who  have  thrice  attested  their  high  appreciation  of 
his  merits  by  electing  him  (1881)  and  re-electing 
him  (1883)  Alderman  from  his  Ward  to  the  Rock 
Island  City  Council ;  and  to  the  office  of  Police 
Magistrate  in  the  spring  of  1885. 

His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  "  Labor 
party,"  but  in  all  his  candidacies  he  has  received  a 
large   support  from  people  of  every  political  faith. 


V£ 


den,  Sept.  3,  1857,  and  is  the  son  of  Swan  Johnson. 
He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1868,  and 
resided  in  Chicago  until  after  the  great  fire  of  Octo- 
ber, 187 1,  when  they  were  burned  out  and  removed 
to  Moline,  of  which  place  they  have  been  residents 
since.  F.  A.  Johnson  learned  the  trade  of  orna- 
mental painter,  at  which  he  was  employed  until 
1879,  when  he  took  a  regular  course  at  the  Bryant 
&  Stratton  Business  College  of  Davenport,  Iowa, 
and  in  September,  1880,  formed  the  existing  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  John  Samuelson.  Mr.  Johnson  is  in 
politics  a  Republican. 


j  obert  Bennett,  Esq.,  Police  Magistrate, 
Rock  Island,  and  a  native  of  Dorsetshire, 
Eng.,  eldest  of  eight  children,  three  sons 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


The  tenure  of  his  present  incumbency  expires  in  the 
spring  of  1S89.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Order  of  "  Knights  of  Labor,"  being  Treasurer  of  the 
local  and  Master  of  the  State  Assemblies.  He  is 
also  a  Past  Master  in  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  an  untiring  worker  in  the  Sabbath- 
schools.  Studious  at  all  times,  honorable  and  up- 
right in  his  dealings,  conscientious  in  his  convictions, 
Justice  Bennett  merits  and  receives  the  fullest  con- 
fidence of  the  people  among  whom  he  resides. 

April  24,  1866,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
at  Yeovil,  Eng.,  with  Miss  Mary  Jane  Dade,  and  his 
children  are  named  respectively, — Annie,  born  at 
Yeovil,  Eng.,  Dec.  1,  1868;  Robert,  Feb.  24,  1871  ; 
Charles,  Dec.  23,  1875  ;  William,  Dec.  22,  1877  ; 
Luella,  April  21,  1880;  Nettie  and  Leila,  May  10, 
1884.  All  except  the  eldest  were  born  at  Rock 
Island,  111. 


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PP|§»zra  Smith,  a  resident  of  Molirie,  retired 
from  active  business  May  23,  1885,  having 
been  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade  at 
Moline,  which  he  sold  out  to  B.  H.  Quick,  at 
the  time  mentioned  above.  He  is  a  quiet,  con- 
servative, but  practical  businessman  and  a  rep- 
resentative citizen.  He  was  born  at  Half-Moon,  N. 
Y.,  June  12,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Sa- 
rah (Vincent)  Smith.  His  father's  demise  occurred 
in  New  York,  Feb.  12,  1877,  aged  85  years,  the 
mother  dying  several  years  earlier.  They  reared 
seven  children,  Ezra  being  the  fourth  child  in  order 
of  birth. 

Ezra,  our  subject,  left  Clinton  Park,  N.  Y.  (near 
his  birth-place),  Dec.  24,  1855,  and  arrived  in  Mo- 
line, 111.,  Jan.  2,  1856.  He  labored  on  his  father's 
farm,  alternating  his  labors  thereon  with  attendance 
at  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town,  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  18  years,  when  he  entered  a  shop 
and  served  a  three-years  apprenticeship  as  carpen- 
ter and  joiner,  following  that  business  faithfully  and 
energetically  until  1870.  In  1857  he  joined  A.  S. 
Wright  at  Dennison,  Iowa,  and  there  the  two  built 
the  first  dwellings  and  the  court-house  in  that  place, 


now  a  thriving  and  growing  town.  When  their  con- 
tracts were  closed  at  that  place,  Mr.  Smith  returned 
to  Moline  and  in  the  fall  of  1870  he  became  a  part- 
ner in  the  pump  firm  of  Wright,  Hillhouse  &  Co., 
but  sold  out  his  interest  in  that  concern  in  1875,  and 
in  the  fall  of  that  year  bought  out  the  hardware  bus- 
iness of  Charles  Edwards  in  Moline.  In  this  line  of 
business  he  continued  until  May  23,  1885,  then  sell- 
ing out  to  B.  H.  Quick  and  himself  retiring  from 
business.  Being  a  man  who  attended  closely  to 
business,  he  consequently  accumulated  for  himself 
and  family  some  of  this  world's  goods.  He  is  the 
possessor  of  a  small  but  valuable  dairy  farm  of  40 
acres,  about  one  and  one-fourth  miles  from  the  river 
and  within  the  Moline  city  limits. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Vanderburgh,  with  whom  Mr.  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  Dec.  27,  1848,  at  Clifton 
Park,  N.  Y.,  was  born  at  that  place,  January,  1828. 
Her  father,  a  farmer  near  that  town,  came  to  Moline 
in  April,  1857,  remaining  there  until  the  year  1873, 
when  he  returned  to  Half-Moon,  N.  Y.,  and  there 
died  in  1S84.  Her  parents  were  Nicholas  and  Sa- 
rah (Althouse)  Vanderburgh.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
have  but  one  child,  Sadie,  born  Aug.  21,  1861. 

Mrs.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  he,  though  not  a  member,  is  orthodox  in 
religious  sentiment.  In  politics  he  is  strongly  Dem- 
ocratic, but  not  given  much  to  airing  his  opinions. 
His  vote,  however,  always  falls  in  favor  of  that  party. 


i 


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ty"ffjj! (pillar d    Colgrove,  a   prominent    farmer  of 

^-=&!a :,    Hampton   Township,  residing    on  section 

22,  is  one   of  the    numerous  pioneers  of 


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W^)  °f  Rock  Island  County  who  came  from  the 
Eastern  States.  He  was  born  in  Windham, 
County,  Vt.,  Sept."  7,  1820.  His  parents,  Thomas 
and  Abigail  (Ashcraft)  Colgrove,  were  also  natives 
of  the  Eastern  States. 

Early  in  life,  indeed,  when  only  a  boy  of  14  years 
of  age,  Mr.  Colgrove  left  the  parental  roof  and  went 
to  work  for  Joseph   Jacob,  with  whom   he  remained 
until  he  reached  his  majority,  when  he  received$ioo.  ^ 
He  then  spent  one  year  working  on  a   farm,  after   i 
which  he  spent  one  winter  at  school.     He  was  then  «; 

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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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a  young  man  ready  to  embark  in  life,  and  with  many 
others  looked  to  the  great  and  growing  West  for  a 
place  to  locate.  Accordingly,  he  set  out  for  Illinois, 
and  May  6,  1843,  he  arrived  in  Hampton  Township 
and  in  company  with  a  cousin,  Ira  Weatherhead,  he 
purchased  67  acres  of  land.  He  subsequently  made 
other  purchases,  and  at  the  present  time  has  320 
acres  and  has  become  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
the  township.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  at 
present  is  one  of  the  Directors  of  his  school  district. 
In  1850,  February  28,  Mr.  Colgrove  and  Miss 
Nancy  Drake  were  united  in  marriage.  His  wife  is 
a  native  of  Oxford  County,  Maine,  and  the  mother  of 
n  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  three  de- 
ceased,— Elmina,  Elizabeth  and  Albert.  Those  liv- 
ing are  William,  Lewis,  Izora,  Harriet,  Birton,  Nor- 
man, Merit  and  Milton.  Of  these  four  are  married, 
as  follows  :  William,  to  Amanda  Beals,  who  has 
borne  him  two  children, — John  and  Hattie  ;  Lewis 
was  married  to  Edith  Devinney.  Carroll  and  Olive 
are  the  names  of  their  children.  Izora  is  the  wife  of 
Leonard  Brown  and  the  mother  of  one  child,  Elmer; 
and  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  William  Switzer.  Mrs. 
Colgrove  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


A     A 


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jtenry  Vierieoh,  general  grocer,  established 
J\  his  present  business  in  1875.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Holstein,  Germany,  and  was  born 
March  1,  1845.  He  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  in  1857,  and  reached  Davenport,  Iowa, 
July  1 2th  of  that  year.  They  spent  only  a 
month  in  that  city,  and  then  came  to  Moline,  where 
he  has  since  continued  to  reside.  Mr.  Vieriech 
served  his  time  at  the  tinner's  trade,  but  did  not  pur- 
sue that  occupation  on  account  of  his  health.  He 
worked  with  Dimock,  Gould  &  Co.  in  their  tub  and 
pail  factory  for  some  years.  He  also  spent  several 
months  in  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  but  made  Moline 
his  home.  He  was  also  employed  in  Rock  Island 
some  time  just  prior  to  beginning  his  present  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Vieriech  was  married  in    Rock  Island,  Sept. 


20,  1868,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Wagner,  daughter  of 
Christ  and  Barbara  Wagner.  Mrs.  Vieriech  was  born 
on  shipboard  Feb.  12,  1848,011  the  English  coast, 
after  the  vessel  on  which  her  parents  were  passen- 
gers was  wrecked.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vieriech  are  the 
parents  of  five  children,  three  boys  and  two  girls, 
namely:  Freddie,  born  June  10,  1869;  Albert,  Jan. 
J7>  '873;  Philip,  March  29,  1876;  Lilla,  April  23, 
1879;  Rosa,  Jan.  17,  1882.  Mr.  Vieriech  is  the 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  County  of  Rock 
Island.  He  was  elected  Assistant  Supervisor  and 
served  during  1882  and  1883,  and  as  Chairman  for 
the  years  1884  and  1885.  He  makes  an  efficient  and 
popular  officer.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Orders  of 
Masons  and  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  politics  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  has  a  well-stocked  store  in  his  line, 
at  1524  Third  Avenue. 


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/.  J  (Q.^feaniel  Hains,  a  gentleman  who  is  respected 

?-;Es!SMji    for  his  integrity  and  fair  and  honest  deal-    1 

°i  k ->i®-,"o    ...  .  . 

*f<J?r        ings  with  his   fellow-man,  residing  on  sec- 

rj«V  tion  12,  South  Moline  Township,  where  he  is 
(t  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  is  a  son  of 
*  Samuel  and  Mary  Hains,  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  New  Jersey  respectively.  The  parental  fam- 
ily comprised  11  children,  namely  :  Rebecca,  Eliz- 
abeth, Phcebe,  Daniel,  Jemima,  Catherine,  Mary  A., 
Henry,  Julia  A.,  Abigail  and  Lucy  A. 

Daniel  Hains,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  in  Washington  County,  Ind.,  March  27, 
1816.  He  resided  on  the  parental  homestead  in  his 
native  State,  alternating  his  labors  thereon  with  at- 
tendance at  the  public  schools  until  1837.  During 
that  year  he  came  to  this  county  and  remained  for 
about  six  months,  when  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Washington  County,  Ind.  Remaining  at  the  latter 
place  nearly  a  year,  he  spent  some  time  in  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  when  he  again  returned  to  his  native 
county  and  remained  for  another  year.  He  next 
spent  about  two  years  in  traveling,  and  then  came 
to  Moline  Township  and  built  the  first  house  in  Coal 
Town,  and  in  June,  1840,  he  purchased  80  acres  of  ', 
land,  on  which  he  is  at  present  residing.  Shortly  af-  ( 
I   terwards  he  again  returned  to  his  father's  homestead, 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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where  he  remained  for  about  six  years  and  then  went 

to  Mexico  and  resided  there  for  one  year,  when  he 
once  more  returned  to  Indiana.  Remaining  in  the 
latter  State  for  a  few  months,  he  came  again  to  this 
county  on  horseback  and  located  on  his  land  in 
Moline  Township,  on  which  he  has  resided  until  the 
present  time.  He  subsequently  added  to  his  origi- 
nal purchase  until  he  at  present  is  the  proprietor  of 
163  acres  of  land  in  Moline  Township,  which  is  in 
an  advanced  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Hains  was  united  in  marriage  in  Jay  County, 
Ind.,  June  6,  1S57,  with  Miss  Hannah  Johnson,  the 
accomplished  daughter  of  Enoch  M.  and  Hannah 
(Perry)  Johnson,  natives  of  Maryland  and  Virginia 
respectively.  Mrs.  Hains  was  born  in  Ohio,  May 
31,  1822.  Mr.  H.  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  en- 
ergetic farmers  of  his  county.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  Commissioner  of  Highways  and  others  of  minor 
import.  Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic 
party,  and  religiously  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church;  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War, 
holding  the  position  of  Orderly  Sergeant,  Second  Ind. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  one  year,  participating  in  the 
memorable  battle  at  Buena  Vista. 

Mr.  Hains'  uncle,  Isaac  Kirby,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  at  the  battle  of  Trenton 
he  secured  a  regulation  British  coat  from  the  battle- 
field, which  coat  Mr.  Hains  now  possesses  and 
which  is  a  valuable  souvenir  of  that  memorable  time. 

As  a  man  who  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  his  fellows  and  one  who  may  be  justly  termed  a 
representative  citizen,  the  publishers  take  pleasure 
in  presenting  with  this  sketch  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Hains. 


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si  illiam  Payne,  farmer,  stock-buyer  and 
yi;!h  shipper,  residing  on  sections  22  and  23, 
«yy^v*  Zuma  Township,  was  born  in  Scott  Co., 
jt&P  Iowa,  March  8,  1841.  His  parents  were 
Jeremiah  and  Leticia  (Orr)  Payne,  and  were 
natives  of  New  York  and  Ohio  respectively. 
In  1837  they  moved  to  Iowa  and  located  on  Spencer 
Creek,  Pleasant  Valley  Township,  Scott  County.     In 


1 85  1  they  removed  to  Hampton  Township,  in  Rock 
Island  County. 

William  Payne,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
remained  under  parental  instruction  and  resided  on 
the  old  homestead,  alternating  his  labors  thereon  by 
attendance  at  the  common  schools,  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  18  years.  Arriving  at  that  age  in  life,  he 
left  the  parental  home  and  was  engaged  in  breaking 
prairie,  which  was  the  first  labor  he  did  for  his  own 
individual  benefit.  In  1859  he  attended  school  at 
Quincy  College,  Quincy,  111.,  and  added  to  his  accu- 
mulation of  knowledge  obtained  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  in  i860  taught 
school  in  Posey  Co.,  Ind.,  during  the  summer  of  that 
year.  In  the  winter  of  the  year  last  named  he  again 
attended  the  Quincy  College,  and  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  following  (1 861)  he  again  taught  school,  this 
time  in  Adams  Co.,  111. 

At  this  period  in  the  history  of  the  life  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice,  the  rebel  guns  thundered  forth 
their  shot  and  shell  against  Sumter  and  the  wires 
flashed  the  news  throughout  the  country,  calling  on 
brave  hearts  and  strong  arms  to  enlist  in  the  defense 
of  the  cause  of  justice  and  Union,  and  Mr.  Payne 
concluded  to  respond.  He  consequently  enlisted  in 
Co.  D,  13th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Colonel  Wyman,  command- 
ing, and  served  for  three  years  and  two  months  in 
the  war.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  in  which 
his  company  engaged,  prominent  among  them  being 
Vicksburg  (two  battles),  Jackson,  Miss.,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Ringgold  and  Madison 
Station,  and  many  others  of  less  importance,  and  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge.  After  receiving  his 
discharge  he  spent  a  year  in  Texas  and  the  Gulf 
States,  then  returned  to  Hampton  Township,  Rock 
Island  County,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  and 
clerked  in  stores,  after  which  he  attended  Commer- 
cial College  at  Chicago  and  clerked  in  the  County 
Treasurer's  office  in  Rock  Island,  then  filled  the 
same  position  in  a  mercantile  establishment  in  that 
city  until  1866.  During  this  year  he  was  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  this  county,  which  position  he  held  for  four 
years.  In  1870  he  was  elected  Sheriff  and  re-elected 
in  1872,  holding  the  office  for  four  years. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Payne  purchased  250  acres  of  land, 
located  on  sections  22  and  23,  Zuma  Township,  to 
which  he  added  by  subsequent  purchase  320  acres 
more,  and  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  570  acres, 
all  located  in  Zuma  Township,  this  county.     Politi- 


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V7 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


4^&SY§|; 


cally,  he  is  a  believer  the  tenets  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Masonry.  His  accumulations  are  attributable  to 
his  indomitable  energy,  pluck  and  perseverance, 
coupled  with  good  judgment  and  the  hearty  co- 
operation of  his  good  helpmeet.  He  is  devoting 
a  portion  of  his  time  to  the  stock  business  and 
has  his  acreage  so  arranged  as  to  make  it  profitable. 
Mr.  Payne  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  Oct.  26, 
1870,  with  Miss  Jennie  Wilson,  daughter  of  Maj.  F. 
and  Asenath  Wilson,  of  Rock  Island.  The  issue  of 
their  union  has  been  four  children:  Frank,  born 
July  1,  1874;  Benjamin,  born  Sept.  20,  1876;  Lucy, 
born  Sept.  30,  1879;  and  Mabel,  born  Nov.  12, 
1883. 

*--**e§4Ha*-i 


ioung  Ewing  McClendon,  eldest  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Pratt)  McClendon,  natives 
respectively  of  the  States  of  North  Carolina 
and  Kentucky,  and  of  Scotch  and  English  ex- 
traction, was  born  in  Henderson  Co.,  Ky.,  July 
14,  1 8 15.  The  McClendon  was  an  agricultural 
family,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  devoted  proba- 
bly 30  years  of  his  life  to  that  vocation.  Reared  in 
an  age  and  country  unknown  to  public  schools, 
young  McClendon  had  little  opportunity  for  obtain- 
ing an  education.  His  father  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  "  Jackson's  Purchase,"  and  whilst  the  sons 
of  other  men,  more  favorably  environed,  were  at- 
tending institutions  of  learning,  he  was  performing 
manual  labor  or  roaming  through  the  unbroken  for- 
ests in  search  of  game. 

It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that,  when  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  had  attained  his  majority  and  was 
thrown  out  upon  the  world  to  battle  for  existence,  he 
possessed  no  knowledge  of  letters.  Notwithstanding 
this  fact,  we  find  him  in  his  ripe  old  age  a  man  filled 
with  useful  information,  and  possessing  a  knowledge 
of  the  current  and  past  history  of  the  country  superior 
to  a  large  majority  of  men  whose  early  opportunities 
were  much  greater.  At  the  age  of  22  years  he  re- 
moved to  Vanderburg  Co.,  Ind.,  and  began  life  for 
himself  as  a  farmer.  In  this  his  efforts  were  re- 
warded with  more  or  less  success,  and  in  1856  he 
accepted  employment  from  W.  H.  Crawford,  of  Louis- 


ville,  as  agent  to  buy  grain  in  Vanderburg  County 
and  vicinity,  a  position  he  filled  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  profit  to  his  employers  about  nine  years. 
In  1865,  he  closed  out  his  business  arrangements  in 
Indiana,  and  removed  to  Moline,  where  he  has  had 
the  good  judgment  since  to  live  a  life  of  retirement 
and  in  the  peaceful  enjoyment  of  a  competency  so 
well  earned  in  his  younger  days. 

Jan.  18,  1848,  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  Van 
derburg  Co.,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Louisa  Daman,  a  na 
tive  of  New  York,  an  estimable  lady,  whose  good 
sense  and  womanly  instincts  are  at  once  recognized 
in  and  about  the  elegant  cottage  home  over  which 
she  presides.  Mr.  McClendon  has  been  the  recip- 
ient of  no  legacy  or  gifts.  What  he  has  of  this 
world's  goods  has  been  acquired  by  his  individual 
effort  and  industry. 

His  religion,  like  that  of  Abou  Ben  Adhem,  may 
be  written  as  of  "  one  who  loved  his  fellow  man." 
It  is  not  tallest  spires,  nor  cushioned  pews,  nor  writ- 
ten tenets,  nor  mitered  priests  that  change  the  hearts 
of  men.  Religion  is  a  personal  matter  between  man 
and  his  God.  Do  right  in  this  world ;  be  honest 
and  just  with  your  fellow  man,  especially  so  with 
yourself,  and  the  God  of  all  nature,  that  leaves  not 
with  you  voice  or  choice  as  to  your  coming  into  this 
world,  will  take  you  to  himself  in  the  next.  This  is 
the  religion  of  Y.  E.  McClendon. 


fw^avid  W.  Thompson,  manager  for  Taylor 
I     Williams   in    his    store    at    Rapids    City, 
'Wr^*     Hampton   Township,   was   born    in    that 
township   and  in   that  village,  July  12,  1846. 
■    His  parents  were  William  and  Maria  (Keyport) 
Thompson,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and   came 
to  Hampton  Township  in  1842. 

David  W.  Thompson  remained  at  home  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  16  years,  when  he  succeeded  in 
enlisting  in  Co.  H,  19th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  for 
three  years  fighting  in  the  Union  army.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  the  following  battles:  Stone  River,  Buzzard 
Roost,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Dalton  and 
Resaca;  and  during  his  entire  engagement  in  the 
army,  although  he  participated  in  all  the  battles  and 
skirmishes  in   which  his  company  was  engaged,  he 


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never  received  even  a  flesh  wound  or  was  take 
prisoner,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  expi- 
ration of  the  term  of  his  enlistment.  Returning 
home  he  remained  for  a  time,  when  he  went  to 
Johnsonville,  Tenn.,  and  was  there  engaged  as  mili- 
tary storekeeper  for  the  Government  for  six  months. 
He  then  accepted  the  position  of  Superintendent  of 
Quartermaster's  department  at  Eastport,  Miss.,  and 
was  thus  engaged  for  six  months,  when  he  went  with 
another  Quartermaster  for  six  months.  He  then 
came  to  Moline  and  engaged  with  the  Government 
on  the  river  improvement,  where  he  was  occupied 
two  and  a  half  years.  He  afterwards  became  en- 
gaged in  the  construction  department  of  the  Chica- 
go, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railway  and  was  with  that 
company  for  two  years.  Leaving  the  latter  company, 
he  went  to  Rapids  City  and  engaged  his  services 
with  Case  &  Co.  on  the  river  improvements  and  re- 
mained with  them  for  two  years  and  a  half.  He  then 
entered  the  services  of  Taylor  Williams,  with  whom 
he  has  been  connected  for  15  years,  and  for  the  last 
five  years  has  had  charge  of  Mr.  Williams'  store  at 
Rapids  City,  which  position  he  is  filling  at  this  writ- 
ing (1885). 

Mr.  Thompson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Harriet  M.  Blish  in  187  1  at  Port  Byron.  Politically, 
Mr.  Thompson  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  at  present 
School  Directorj  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
the  Order  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
the  Good  Templars.  He  owns  his  residence  at  Rap- 
ids City  and  is  one  of  the  leading  representative  citi- 
zens of  that  place. 


^JpfjR  ohn  Samuelson,  senior  partner  of  the  firm 


•  :tMJ^  of  Samuelson  &  Johnson,  manufacturers  of 
and    dealers  in    furniture,  428    Fifth  Ave- 


nue, was  born  in  Sweden,  Dec.  13,  1S29. 
He  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  at  the  cab- 
inet-making trade  in  his  native  country  and  fol- 
lowed that  vocation  until  1869,  when  he  emigrated 
to  America. 

Mr.  Samuelson  came  direct  to  Rock  Island,  where 
he  remained  a  year,  and  in  1870  came  to  Moline,  en- 


gaged at  his  trade,  and  in  1880  formed  the  existing 
partnership  with  Mr.  F.  A.  Johnson. 

Mr.  Samuelson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Sweden,  Aug.  14,  1867,  with  Miss  Charlotte  M.  John- 
son. They  have  become  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  daughter.  Ida  Mary  was  born  Dec. 
r,  1870;  Alvin  E.,  born  April  8,  1883  :  both  born  in 
Moline.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuelson  are  members  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  S.  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  political  opinion. 


eorge  D.  Toothaker,  President  of  the 
Northern  Mining  and  Railway  Com- 
pany, residing  at  Moline,  was  born  in 
Maine,  March  23,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Eliza  (Staples)  Toothaker,  natives  of 
Maine,  and  farmers  by  occupation.  George  is 
the  second  child  of  a  family  of  six  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living  but  two. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  26  years,  enjoying  the  advan- 
tages afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  that  day. 
After  leaving  home  he  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  hat  and  bonnet  bleachery  business, 
which  he  continued  three  years,  then  sold  out  and 
proceeded  to  Fredericksburg,  Va.  At  the  latter 
place  he  made  a  purchase  of  325  acres  of  land  and 
engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  which  he 
continued  to  follow  for  two  years,  when  he  sold  the 
farm  and  returned  to  the  State  of  his  nativity.  Lo- 
cating at  Auburn,  Maine,  for  the  period  of  four 
years,  he  determined  to  start  for  Bangor,  where  he 
thought  possibly  he  could  better  himself,  and  at  the 
last  named  city  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness, remaining  but  one  year.  Mr.  Toothaker  then 
traveled  two  years,  and  in  18S1  went  to  Oakland,  la., 
where  he  engaged  in  the  drug  trade,  also  carrying 
on  the  stock  business  at  the  same  time,  buying,  sell- 
ing and  shipping,  and  followed  this  until  September; 
1884.  He  then  came  to  Hampton  and  purchased  a 
one-third  interest  in  the  Hampton  Coal  Mines,  called 
the  Northern  Mining  and  Railway  Company,  of 
which  he  is  at  the  present  time  the  President.  It 
was    incorporated   in    October,    1884,    making    Mr. 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


539 


Toothaker  President,  S.  Heagy  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer and  A.  R.  Stoddard  Superintendent.  The 
company  provide  houses  for  its  miners,  as  these 
coal  mines  are  five  miles  from  Hampton.  There  are 
dry-goods,  grocery  and  clothing  stores  in  Hampton, 
from  which  they  supply  their  200  miners  with  goods. 
Mr.  G.  D.  Toothaker  formed  a  matrimonial  alli- 
ance in  1882  with  Miss  Susan  Upham.  She  is  a 
native  of  Fonda,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Toothaker  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party  and  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic Order.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Rock  Island 
County,  and  for  the  time  of  his  residence  one  of  the 
best  known  in  the  county. 


-K3- 


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Ifichard  Torpin,  a  settler  of  Rock  Island 
^m!  County  of  1856,  is  a  native  of  Yorkshire, 
England,  where  he  was  bom  Dec.  it, 
1805,  his  parents  being  Joseph  and  Ann  Tor- 
pin,  both  also  natives  of  the  same  shire.  He 
was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  na- 
tive land  until  1829,  when  he  emigrated  to  America, 
landing  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  found  employment 
on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  until  1856.  He  then  came 
to  this  count}',  which  he  had  visited  in  1853,  when 
he  bought  a  tract  of  land  and  built  a  small  house 
upon  it.  Into  this  he  removed  with  his  family  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  1S73,  when  he  rented 
the  place  and  moved  into  another  residence  which 
he  had  erected.  In  April,  1884,  his  dwelling  was 
burned,  and  since  that  time  he  has  lived  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Wainwright. 

Mr.  Torpin  was  married  Feb.  1,  1835,  to  Miss 
Jane  A.  Crowley,  who  was  born  in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa., 
the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Wilson) 
Crowley.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  have  lived  together  now 
more  than  50  years,  and  at  their  advanced  age  they 
still  enjoy  good  health.  They  have  eight  children, 
as  follows:  Richard,  who  lives  in  Philadelphia; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Allen,  of  Port  Byron; 
Susan,  wife  of  Jacob  Fleckinger,  of  Coe  Township; 
Joseph  resides  in  Kansas;  Henry  is  a  railroad  con- 
tractor and  is  a  resident  of  Coe ;  Jane  A.  is  the 
widow  of  Isaac  Wainwright,  and  is  a  resident  also  of 


Coe;  J.  Lambert  resides  in  Briggsville,  111.;  and 
Louisa  is  the  wife  of  William  Allen  and  resides  in 
Polk  Co.,  Iowa. 


-^*##M- 


illiam  Caldwell,  a  most  reliable  citizen, 
self-made  man  and  one  of  the  progressive 
and  energetic  farmers  of  Rural  Township, 
residing  on  section  16,  is  a  son  of  Robert 
and  Mary  (Ball)  Caldwell,  who  were  natives 
of  New  Jersey.  After  marriage  they  settled  in 
Ohio,  where  they  lived  together,  sharing  each  other's 
joys  and  sorrows,  successes  and  reverses,  for  about 
28  years,  when  they  moved  to  the  State  of  Indiana 
and  there  resided  until  their  death.  They  had  a 
family  of  T3  children. 

William  Caldwell,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  the  tenth  child  in  order  of  birth  of  his  parents' 
family.  He  was  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  4, 
1813.  He  assisted  in  the  maintenance  of  the  family, 
attending  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county, 
and  resided  at  home  until  he  attained  the  age  of  15 
years,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana. 
In  the  latter  State  he  engaged  to  learn  the  cooper's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  15  years,  and 
which,  in  connection  with  farming,  occupied, his  time 
in  Indiana  until  185  1.  In  the  spring  of  that  year, 
hoping  to  better  his  financial  condition  in  life,  he 
came  to  this  county  and  purchased  a  farm  in  what  is 
now  Rural  Township,  located  on  section  31,  on 
which  he  settled  and  entered  vigorously  and  ener- 
getically upon  the  task  cf  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment. He  lived  on  this  farm  12  years,  and  then 
purchased  more  land,  in  Mercer  County,  where  he 
removed  and  resided  for  20  years,  in  the  meantime 
improving  and  cultivating  his  land.  In  the  spring 
of  1883,  Mr.  Caldwell  purchased  the  place  known  as 
the  James  Doneldson  farm,  in  Rural  Township,  con- 
sisting of  445  acres,  on  which  he  settled  and  is  at 
present  residing.  He  has  come  to  be  ranked  among 
the  large  land-owners  of  the  county,  being  the  pro- 
prietor of  665  acres  in  Rock  Island  County,  and 
240  in  Mercer  County.  He  is  a  gentleman  who 
started  in  life  with  nothing  but  his  own  indomitable 
energy,  and  his  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods  is 


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attributable  to  his  good  judgment  in  predicting  the 
future  development  of  the  country,  and  consequently 
the  enhanced  price  of  real  estate,  combined  with  the 
active  co-operation  of  his  wife.  His  word  in  busi- 
ness transactions  is  considered  as  good  as  his  bond, 
and  he  is  justly  recognized  as  one  of  the  energetic 
and  representative  farmers  of  Rock  Island  County. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  united  in  marriage  in  Rural 
Township,  June  3,  i860,  with  Mrs.  Lydia  (Wilson) 
Halley,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  William  and 
Rachel  Mills  Wilson,  and  widow  of  Henry  Halley. 
Mrs.  Caldwell  had  five  children  by  her  first  marriage, 
— Mary  C,  Robert  C,  Hannah  M.,  Isaac  N.,  Will- 
iam H.  ;  and  of  her  union  with  Mr.  Caldwell  two 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Jerome  W.,  Jan. 
25,  1861;  and  Frank  H.,  born  Aug.  5,  1862.  Mrs. 
Caldwell  died  in  Rural  Township,  Aug.  16,  1884. 

Mr.  Caldwell  has  held  several  of  the  minor  offices 
of  the  township.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party. 

As  a  citizen  of  the  community  in  which  Mr.  Cald- 
well has  so  long  lived  and  been  so  active,  he  is 
highly  respected  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his 
neighbors,  and  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  excellent 
business  judgment.  He  is  an  excellent  representa- 
tive man  of  Rural  Township,  and  as  such  we  place 
his  portrait  in  this  Album  in  company  with  the  lead- 
ing and  representative  men  in  various  parts  of  the 
county.  Accompaning  his  portrait  we  give  that  of 
Mrs.  Caldwell. 


^ 


heodore  D.  Wheelock.  foreman  in  the  Iron 
Department  of  the  Moline  Plow  Company's 
Works,  Moline,  111.,  was  born  in  Holland, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  3,  1840,  and  is  the  son 
of  William  and  Catharine  (Morey)  Wheelock. 
He  lived  on  a  farm  until  the  spring  of  1858, 
when  he  came  to  Moline,  111.,  and  engaged  as  a 
teamster,  which  he  followed  during  that  summer  and 
fall,  going  to  school  during  the  winter  of  1859-60. 
He  engaged  with  Williams,  Heald  &  Co.,  founders 
and  machinists,  April  2,  i860,  and  continued  with 
that  company  until  the  summer  of  1861,  when  he 
left  to  enter  the  army,  and  enlisted,  June  10,  i86i,as 


a  private  in  Co.  H,  19th  Regt.  111.  Inf.,  and  served 
until  the  9th  of  July,  1864,  when  he  was  mustered 
out  as  Corporal,  afterward  following  the  occupation 
of  machinist  for  four  years,  when  (1868)  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Moline  Plow  Company,  as  engi- 
neer, which  position  he  filled  two  years,  and  then 
(1870)  he  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Thomas  &  Wheelock.  After 
following  that  for  three  years  he  engaged  with  the 
Moline  Scale  Company,  April,  1SS3,  filling  the  posi- 
tion of  Superintendent  for  six  years,  and  was  then 
(1881)  employed  as  foreman  in  the  iron  department 
of  the  Moline  Plow  Company. 

Mr.  Wheelock  was  united  in  marriage  in  Hamp- 
ton, Rock  Island  Co.,  Nov.  29,  1866,  to  Miss  Camilla 
C.  Thomas,  daughter  of  H.  F.  and  Alice  H.  Thomas. 
Mrs.  Wheelock  was  born  in  Tremont,  Tazewell  Co., 
111.,  March  20,  1845.  They  have  five  children — 
three  boys  and  two  girls,  viz. :  Lucy  G.,  born  Sept. 
9,  1867;  Stillman  W.,  Aug.  16,  1S69;  Alice  H.,  Aug. 
23,  1873;  Theodore  Morris,  Oct.  28,  1876;  Henry 
T.,  June  16,  1 88 1. 

Mr.  Wheelock  is  a  Republican  in  political  senti- 
ment, and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  A.  O.  U.  W. 


N.  Beal,  a  farmer  residing  on  section  18, 
|^g«L  Zuma  Township,  and  one  of  the  early  pio- 
neers of  Rock  Island  County,  coming  here 
in  1834,  was  born  in  Peacham,  Caledonia 
fc  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  5,  1815.  His  parents  were  Sam- 
uel and  Rachel  (Wells)  Beal,  natives  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. D.  N.  Beal,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
left  an  orphan  when  but  five  years  old  and  found  a 
home  among  strangers.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
alternating  his  labors  thereon  by  attendance  at  the 
common  schools.  At  the  age  of  1 9  years  he  left  his 
home  to  fight  the  battles  of  life  single-handed  and 
alone.  He  started  for  the  wild  West  and  for  a  time 
was  engaged  in  driving  horses  on  the  Erie  Canal  to 
Buffalo.  He  then  took  a  steamboat  to  Detroit,  and 
from  there  walked  to  this  county  in  about  two  weeks. 
On  arriving  in  this  county,  Mr.  Beal  for  two  years 
worked  "  around,  "  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  on  section  18,  Zuma 
Township,   on    which  he   located  and  entered  vig- 


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orously  and  energetically  upon  its  improvement  and 
cultivation.  He  has  subsequently  added  to  bis 
original  purchase  until  he  at  the  present  time 
is  the  possessor  of  268  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  has  erected  a  good,  substantial  residence,  bam, 
outbuildings,  etc.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  a  house 
and  two  lots  in  South  Moline,  and  is  one  of  the 
substantial,  progressive  farmers  of  Rock  Island 
County. 

Politically,  Mr.  B.  is  a  believer  in  the  principles 
advocated  by  the  Republican  party.  Although  not 
a  man  seeking  office,  he  has  held  the  office  of  Asses- 
sor 12  years,  Supervisor  four  years,  School  Trustee 
20  years  and  Road  Commissioner  three  years,  which 
offices  have  been  given  him  by  the  people  without 
any  effort  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Beal  to  procure  them. 
Mr.  Beal  was  married  Sept.  18,  1836,  to  Miss  Bet- 
sey Spencer,  a  native  of  Vermont,  in  which  State  she 
was  born,  Jan.  1,  1S17.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  four  children.  Lucius  W.  was  born 
Jan.  20,  1838;  Samuel  S.  was  born  Jan.  2,  1843; 
Albert  M.  was  born  Oct.  31,  1853;  and  Eunice  C. 
was  born  Nov.  5,  1858.  Lucius  VV.  married  Miss 
Lizzie  S.  Drum,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four 
children, — Albert  R.,  Lucy  W.,  Edna  G.  and  Maud 
M.  S.  Mrs.  Lucius  Beal  died  Dec.  9,  1883.  Sam- 
uel S.  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Wainwright, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely : 
Gertrude,  Nettie,  Bessie,  Allie,  Sadie  and  Spencer. 
Milton  married  Henrietta  Thompson,  and  their  home 
circle  was  blessed  with  one  child,  Mamie.  Mrs.  Mil- 
ton Beal  died  Nov.  13,  1880,  and  Mr.  Beal  was  again 
married  to  Carrie  Middlekoff,  and  of  the  latter  un- 
ion one  child,  Etta  Grace,  was  born.  Eunice  mar- 
ried Frederick  L.  Cooper,  and  the  issue  of  their  un- 
ion was  two  children, — Sadie  and  Betsey. 


-S      f 


R.   Zeigler,  blacksmith,  Moline,  was  born 
at  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  June  27,  1848.  His 
father's    name    was    Adam,    his    mother's 
Lydia  (Reed)  Zeigler.     N.  R.  is  of  German- 
Scotch  descent.     He   came  to  Port  Byron  with 
(P    his  parents  in  1850,  and  became  a  farmer;  then 
turned  his  attention  to  learning  the  blacksmith 
trade.     The  result  shows    that   he  selected  a  right 


In  1864  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  I,  2d  Iowa 
Cav.  (Capt.  B.  K.  Watson),  and  took  part  in  the 
famous  battle  of  Franklin,  the  hot  fight  at  Nash- 
ville, and  was  in  the  midst  of  various  skirmishes, 
where  his  troops  did  excellent  and  valuable  service. 
In  1866  he  returned  to  farming  for  a  while,  and  then 
invested  his  savings  in  one  year's  term  of  schooling, 
where  he  attended  strictly  to  his  trade.  He  worked 
in  Moline  four  years  at  blacksmithing.  In  1870  he 
opened  a  shop,  and  has  since  been  very  successful, 
exemplifying  Franklin's  doctrine,  "Keep  thy  shop, 
and  thy  shop  will  keep  thee.'' 

He  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.  In  what  is 
called  the  Blue  Lodge  in  Masonry  he  has  occupied 
every  position  except  that  of  secretary  and  treasurer. 
For  one  year  he  was  Assistant  Foreman  of  the  Fire 
Department.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

On  April  18,  187  r,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Josephine  Anderson,  at  Moline,  Rev.  H.  E.  Barnes 
officiating,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  two 
children:  Horace  A.,  born  Aprih,  1872;  and  Jesse 
A.,  Sept.  9,  1878. 


♦^Nsfs^- 


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jfrrin  Skinner,  retired  farmer,  residing  on 
sections  30  and  31,  Hampton  Township,  is 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  re- 
spected men  in  the  community  in  which  he 
resides.  He  is  also  classed  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Rock  Island  County,  having  come  tQ 
the  county  with  his  parents  in  1835,  when  a  lad  of 
15  years,  and  has  made  this  county  his  home  since 
that  time.  He  was  born  in  Orleans  Co.,  Vt.,  March 
5,  1820,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Phebe  (Bears) 
Skinner,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and 
the  latter  of  Connecticut.  They  were  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Northern  Illinois,  coming  to  this 
county  in  1835.  They  settled  on  the  same  land 
their  son  occupies  at  present,  were  prominent  and 
respected  pioneers,  and  resided  here  until  their 
deaths,  the  former  dying  in  1843,  and  the  latter  in 

1845- 

Mr.  Skinner  received  a  good  common-school  edu- 
cation, devoting  much  of  his  attention  to  farm  work, 


branch  of  business,  as  he  is  an  expert  in   that  line 


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which  he  has  made  his  life  occupation.  In  1842  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Betsey  Benson,  a  na- 
tive of  New  York.  They  now  have  seven  children 
living,  and  three  are  deceased  :  Mary  A.,  born  Sept. 
4,  1843;  Julia  B.,  born  Aug.  12,  1844,  died  Dec.  4, 
1846;  William  O.,  born  Dec.  r,  1S46;  Selina  J.,  July 
15,  1848,  died  Nov.  26,  1869;  George  M.,  born 
March  28,  1850;  Julius  C,  Jan.  4,  1852  ;  Nancy  J  ' 
Feb.  26,  1S54;  Carlos  A.,  Jan  8,  1S56;  Horace  G., 
April  19,  1858,  died  May  24,  1858;  and  Flora  A., 
born  Dec.  28,  1859. 

Five  of  these  have  taken  upon  themselves  the  re- 
sponsibility of  rearing  families.  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Ezra  Wilshire,  and  the  mother  of  three  children — 
Mary  A.,  Philip  and  Morris  H.  William,  the  eldest 
son,  married  Catherine  Humberstone,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  three  children — Clayton,  Maude  and 
Roy.  George  married  Clara  A.  Bennett,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  four  children — Flora  A.,  Eugene 
M.,  Edith  M.  and  Cora ;  Flora  and  Cora  are  de- 
ceased. Julias  selected  for  his  wife  Miss  Ellen 
Stephens,  who  has  borne  him  four  children — -Walter 
O.,  Marvin  J.,  Robert  N.  and  Frank.  Nancy  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  K.  Bissell,  and  the  mother  of  five  chil- 
dren— Luella,  Alva,  Frank,  Henry  and  Sarah. 

Mr.  Skinner  is  a  Republican  in  political  views,  and 
with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  While  not  seeking  office,  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  in  several  local  positions. 


'(L  rederiek  Appelquist  was  born  in  Sweden, 


Aug.    16,   1842,  and  came  to  America  in 

August,   1869.      From  Castle  Garden  he 

3  came  West,  and  being  a  glass-blower  by  trade 

3/R  he  naturally  inquired  for  glass  manufacturing 


flPcan 


towns.  This  led  him  to  New  Albany,  Ind., 
where  he  found  employment  for  about  one  year.  In 
June,  1870,  he  came  to  Rock  Island,  where  he  was 
employed  by  the  glass  company  for  the  next  succeed- 
ing five  years.  In  1876  he  engaged  in  the  liquor 
business,  which  he  has  since  made  very  profitable. 

Mr.  Appelquist  is  an  active,  enterprising  citizen, 
with  great  prospects  of  reaping  bountiful  wealth  in 
the  near  future.     He  is  the  owner  of  a  one-half  in- 


terest in  the  Hanson  &  Appelquist  Gang  Plow  and  the 
Street-Car  Coupler  bearing  their  names,  and  of  the 
William  Teller  Patent  Anti-Horse-Motion  Road  Cart. 
Besides  some  valuable  city  property,  he  owns  a  large 
stock  farm  in  Nebraska;  and  a  fact  worth  mentioning 
in  this  connection  is  that  Mr.  Appelquist  landed  in 
this  country  without  a  dollar,  nor  has  he  ever  had  a 
cent  given  to  him. 

He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Improved  Order 
of  Red  Men,  also  of  the  U.  A.  O.  D.,  and  is  a  Sir 
Knight  in  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  Mr.  Appelquist  was 
married  in  Rock  Island  city,  April  9,  1872,  to  Miss 
Pauline  B.  Kleyla,  and  his  six  children  are  named 
respectively  Oscar  U.,  Charles  F.,  Gustave  Jerome, 
Mary  Emma,  Maude  Lou  and  Eddie  A. 


-43- 


— K- 


ienry  W.  Hyde,  Agent  of  the  American  Ex- 
-J\   press  Company  and  Overseer  of  the  Poor 
^^         of  Mohne  City.      With  the  exception  of  two 
and  a  half  years  he   has    been    agent   of  the 
i      American  Express  Company  since  March,  1857. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in   Catta- 
raugus Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  10,  1827,  and  is   the   son  of 
Almeron  and  Sarah  (McBride)  Hyde. 

He  removed  to  Rochester  in  early  youth,  and  from 
there  to  Lockport.  He  learned  the  printer's  trade  in 
the  latter  city,  and  followed  that  vocation  until  he 
was  26  years  of  age.  In  r854  he  came  West  and 
spent  the  summer  of  that  year  in  Chicago,  and  in  the 
fall  engaged  as  brakeman  on  the  Chicago  &  Galena 
Union  Railroad.  He  was  promoted  as  Conductor 
and  continued  with  that  company  until  it  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Northwestern.  He  was  assigned 
to  Nachusa  Station  and  a  year  and  a  half  later  he 
was  transferred  to  DeKalb.  He  was  station  agent 
at  DeKalb  from  the  fall  of  1859  to  1866,  and  was 
appointed  agent  of  the  American  Express  Company 
while  at  Nachusa  and  held  the  same  position  at  De- 
Kalb. 

In  1866  Mr.  Hyde  went  to  Chicago  and  engaged 
in  the  commission  business.  He  continued  in  that 
line  only  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  closed  out  to 
accept  the  Cleveland  Station  on  the  Rockford,  Rock 
Island   &  St.   Louis  Railroad,  where   he  was   again 


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545 


agent  of  the  American  Express  Company.  In  De- 
cember, 187  i,  he  was  transferred  to  Moline,  and  was 
station  agent  on  the  old  Rockford  (later  the  Chica- 
go, Burlington  &  Quincy)  road  until  1879,  when  he 
resigned;  but  continued  as  agent  of  the  Express 
Company,  as  he  had  been  during  all  his  service,  as 
station  agent.  Mr.  Hyde  has  now  been  an  agent 
of  this  company  upward  of  26  years,  and  is  one  of 
their  most  popular  and  trusted  agents. 

Mr.  Hyde  was  married  in  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
20,  1855,  to  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  A.  B.  Van 
Nortwick.  Mrs.  Hyde  was  born  near  Cayuga  Lake, 
N.  Y.  They  have  two  children, — Frank  H.,  born 
Dec.  6,  1855,  in  DeKalb,  111.,  married  J.  Ella  Jack- 
son, resides  in  Moline,  and  is  a  locomotive  engineer 
by  occupation;  Mary  E.,  born  in  Chicago  Aug.  19, 
186S.  Mr.  Hyde  is  serving  his  fourth  term  as  Over- 
seer of  the  Poor.  He  is  an  earnest  Republican,  and 
says  "  he  has  no  use  for  a  Democratic  administra- 
tion;  cyclones,  floods  and  earthquakes  are  not  to  be 
wondered  at  under  the  present  condition  of  things  !" 
On  the  subject  of  religion  his  family  are  in  perfect 
accord  with  himself,  and  they  all  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


-se;- 


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-t9s- 


.yP^f  Judge  John  W.  Spencer,  deceased,  one  of 
^HUpf  the  pioneers  of  Rock  Island  County,  was 
^^^  born  at  Vergennes,  Vt.,  July  25,  i8or. 
His  parents,  Calvin  and  Ruth  (Hopkins)  Spen- 
cer, were  natives  of  the  New  England  Colonies. 
i  The  father  of  Judge  Spencer  was  born  in  Ben- 
nington, Vt.,  and  his  mother  near  Great  Barrington, 
Mass.,  and  were  descended  from  the  Puritan  En- 
glish. They  reared  four  sons  and  a  daughter,  John 
W.  being  the  eldest.  At  this  writing,  the  first  and 
second  generations  here  mentioned  are  long  since 
gathered  unto  the  fathers,  and  only  the  grandchil- 
dren and  great -great-grandchildren  remain  to  per- 
petuate names  made  honorable  in  the  earliest  history 
of  our  county.  From  the  two  families  united  by  the 
marriage  of  Calvin  Spencer  and  Ruth  Hopkins,  in 
the  very  beginning  of  the  present  century,  many  no- 
ble men  have  sprung — men  who  have  adorned  alike 
the  pulpit  and  the  State  ;  and   if  it  were  possible  in 


H'VD^ 


the  space  at  our  command  to  trace  the  genealogy  of 
the  Spencers  and  the  Hopkinses  from  the  days  when 
some  of  their  ancestors  were  enforcing  in  a  judicial 
capacity  the  quaint  old  laws  that  forbade  travel  upon 
the  Sabbath  except  in  a  pious  going  to  and  from  the 
Church  of  God, — laws  that  allowed  no  whistling  or 
other  boisterous  conduct  on  that  sacred  day;  laws, 
indeed,  that  forbade  "  ye  good  man  ye  kissing  of  his 
wife  on  ye  Sabbath  day" — if  it  were  possible,  we  say, 
to  follow  the  history  of  those  families  from  their  peri- 
wigged "  squire-archy" down  to  the  death-bed  scene 
at  Rock  Island,  Feb.  20,  iSjjl*.  from  whence  the 
spirit  of  John  W.  Spencer  took  its  flight,  the  roster 
would  contain  many  names  that  good  people  have 
revered.  But  the  province  of  the  present  biographer 
is  limited  to  a  bare  recital  of  the  more  important 
events  occurring  in  the  life  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  forms  the  caption  of  this  sketch.  The  lives  of 
Spencer,  Davenport,  Wells,  Case  and  Vandruff  are 
all  indelibly  stamped  upon  the  history  of  a  great  , 
State.  Unlike  a  majority  of  men  of  whom  we  write, 
they  made  history;  without  such  men  there  would  /S, 
have  been  no  history  to  write.  What  we  know  of  the 
hills,  the  forests  and  the  streams,  unpeopled  by  the 
hardy  pioneer  and  those  who  followed  them,  would 
be  a  chapter  easily  written.  A  famous  writer  has  said 
that  the  history  of  a  country  is  but  a  story  of  the  lives 
of  the  men  who  make  it.  The  history  of  Rock  Island 
County  from  the  Indian  occupation  down  to  the  time 
when  a  knowledge  of  events  shall  cease  to  be  per- 
petuated in  print,  will  reflect  the  life  of  Spencer, — 
and  that,  loo,  whether  his  biography,  as  such,  were 
ever  written. 

John  W.  Spencer  spent  his  youth  in  his  native 
State  and  at  the  common  schools  acquired  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  education.  In  1820,  driving  a  two-horse  3 
team  for  Mr.  Brush,  he  crossed  the  Alleghany  Moun-  ■ 
tains,  traversed  the  broad  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  and  at  the  end  of  5  1  days  from  the  time 
of  his  leaving  home  landed  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 
The  State  of  Missouri  was  just  then  being  admitted 
into  the  Union,  and  as  negro  slavery  was  by  the 
Constitution  made  legal,  Mr.  Spencer  preferred  to 
cast  his  lot  east  of  the  "  Father  of  the  Waters.''  So, 
in  December  following  his  departure  from  New  En- 
gland, in  company  with  an  uncle  who  had  been  a 
resident  of  Missouri,  he  recrossed  the  Mississippi  j 
and  took  up  a  residence  in  Greene  Co.,  111.  Here  he 
stopped  about  seven  years  and  worked  at  farming 


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In  the  spring  of  1826,  in  search  of  a  location  for  a 
water-mill,  he  ascended  the  Illinois  River  as  far  as 
Ottawa.  Failing  to  discover  any  site  to  his  fancy, 
he  retraced  his  steps  and  the  following  spring  ascend- 
ed the  Mississippi  to  the  Lead  Mines.  On  this  trip 
his  attention  was  attracted  by  the  natural  beauty  of 
Rock  Island  and  the  adjacent  country  on  either  side 
of  the  river ;  and  when  in  the  following  year  he 
learned  that  the  Indians  had  abandoned  the  Rock 
River  territory  he  decided  to  go  at  once  to  Rock  Isl- 
and. He  was  accompanied  here  by  Mr.  Louden 
Case,  Sr.,  whose  daughter  he  afterward  married. 

At  that  period  Galena,  100  miles  distant,  was  the 
nearest  postoffice.  The  Presidential  election  had 
just  taken  place,  but  nothing  was  known  at  Rock 
Island  of  the  result.  For  a  consideration  young 
Spencer  undertook  on  foot  to  carry  the  mail-bags  to 
and  bring  the  election  returns  from  Galena.  The 
river  being  frozen,  he  donned  his  skates  and  set  out. 
His  route  was  through  the  not  altogether  friendly 
Winnebago  country,  but  he  encountered  no  difficulty 
from  that  source,  and  on  Christmas  Day,  1827,  he 
started  on  the  return  trip,  landing  three  days  later 
at  Rock  Island  ;  and  the  people  learned  that  "  Old 
Hickory  "  was  president  elect  of  the  United  States. 
It  must  almost  have  taken  his  breath  away  when  the 
sum  of  $5  was  placed  in  his  hands  in  payment  for  a 
200-mile  run  on  foot  through  a  hostile  Indian  country 
in  the  dead  of  winter! 

In  the  spring  of  1829  he  brought  his  family  from 
Morgan  County  (whither  they  had  removed  the  year 
before  from  Greene)  to  Rock  Island  and  took  pos- 
session of  a  vacant  Ir.dian  wigwam.  From  that 
day  to  the  hour  of  his  death  J.  W.  Spencer  was  a 
citizen  of  Rock  Island.  He  witnessed  the  return  of 
Black  Hawk  from  his  hunting  expedition,  to  find  his 
lodges  occupied  by  the  "pale-faces;"  he  heard  the 
angry  and  reasonable  protests  of  that  great  chief, 
against  the  encroachments  upon  his  natural  rights  ; 
he  heard  his  sorrowful  argument  "Saukie-wigeop- 
saukie-aukie"  repeated  many  times  to  no  purpose, 
and  he  saw  the  great  chief  stride  away  toward  the 
setting  sun,  where  he  told  his  people  that  the  story 
of  the  occupancy  of  their  lands  by  the  white  men 
was  too  true.  He  saw  the  chief  with  his  people  come 
again,  and  in  common  with  other  settlers,  knew  the 
purpose  of  their  coming;  he  knew  the  possibilities  of 
their  discontent,  and  feared  that  the  Indian  was  bent 
upon  revenge.     He  noted  the  first  outbreak  of   their 


savage  insubordination  ;  saw  the  culmination  of  their 
ferocity  as  it  rose  in  lurid  lights  from  burning  cabins, 
and  disturbed  the  elements  with  the  screams  of  butch- 
ered women  and  children.  He  saw  the  swift-footed 
pioneers  as  they  pursued  the  savage  destroyers,  and 
saw  the  strong  arm  of  the  Government  as  it  de- 
scended upon  the  wily  Sac  and  his  warriors  at  Bad 
Axe, — and  he  saw  peace  reign  supreme  in  the  Valley 
of  the  Mississippi.  He  saw  Rock  Island  grow  from  a 
struggling  little  cluster  of  log  cabins  to  a  city  of  thou- 
sands of  industrious  people;  and  he  saw  himself  start 
forth  in  the  world  a  penniless  boy,  to  round  up  a  ripe 
old  age  in  the  possession  of  a  handsome  competency, 
surrounded  yet  by  few  that  had  struggled  with  him, 
and  by  thousands  that  had  known  him  from  their 
infancy. 

In  all  the  struggles  of  the  Rock  Island  pioneers, 
Mr.  Spencer  participated.  During  the  Black  Hawk- 
War,  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  "Rock 
River  Rangers,"  in  which  company  he  held  the  rank 
of  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  Rock  Island  County  Commissioners,  and 
held  the  office  12  years.  He  was  the  first  Judge  of 
the  Rock  Island  County  Court,  and  as  such  perform- 
ed the  first  marriage  ceremony  in  the  county.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Illinois  State  Constitutional 
Convention  in  1847,  and  in  this  body  he  was  a  con- 
spicuous factor.  Though  public-spirited,  he  had  no 
ambition  for  office-holding,  his  only  experience  in  that 
line  being  confined  to  a  time  when  his  country  act- 
uallv  needed  and  demanded  his  services.  In  1841 
he,  with  David  B.  Sears,  Spencer  H.  White,  and 
Ainsworth  &  Lynde,  merchants  at  Rock  Island,  built 
the  first  dam  erected  at  Moline,  and  developed  the 
great  water  power  at  that  place.  At  the  death  of 
Capt.  J.  Wilson,  the  father  of  his  second  wife,  in  1852, 
he  succeeded  to  a  controlling  interest  in  the  Rock 
Island  and  Davenport  ferry,  a  most  valuable  proper- 
ty, a  large  revenue  from  which  still  goes  to  the  fam- 
ilv.  Mr.  Spencer  died  as  he  lived,  a  conscientious 
Christian.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  brought  his  children  up  to  a 
strict  observance  of  that  faith.  One  of  his  sons,  the 
Rev.  William  Anson  Spencer,  is  Presiding  Elder  of 
Dixon  District,  Rock  River  Conference,  Illinois. 

The  first  Mrs.  Spencer,  nee  Miss  Louisa  Case,  died 
in  1833,  leaving  one  son,  John  C.  Spencer,  who  died 
Ian.  r6,  1871.  In  1834,  Judge  Spencer  married  Miss 
Eliza  Wilson,  of  New  Haven,  Vt.     She  was  the  ac- 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


complished  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Wilson,  deceased, 
and  in  her  pleasant  home  at  the  head  of  Nineteenth 
Street,  Rock  Island,  she  resides  at  this  writing  (Oc- 
tober, 1885)  dispensing  a  liberal  hospitality  at  once 
the  joint  pleasure  of  herself  and  husband,  in  a  way 
that  impresses  all  who  meet  her  with  the  fact  that  she 
indeed  was  the  worthy  companion  of  a  worthy  man. 
Of  the  six  children  three  only  are  living:  Edward 
W.,  Julia  S.  (Mrs.  D.  T.  Robinson)  and  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Anson  Spencer,  of  the  Dixon  District.  John  C.  is 
deceased.  Their  son  Charles  H.  was  acci- 
dentally drowned  when  eighteen  years  of  age  in 
Rock  River,  and  their  youngest  born,  Roswell  G., 
died  when  about  three  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Spencer 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  A 
portrait  of  Judge  Spencer  appears  on  page  544.  A 
view  of  his  late  residence  is  shown  on  page  269. 


(f 


illiam  G.  Davis,  manager  of  Charles  H. 
Dibbern's  branch  hardware  and  agricul- 
tural store  at  Reynolds,  was  born  in  Mo- 
$  line,  this  county,  Jan.  11,  1854.  His  father, 
named  also  William,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  came  West  in  an  early  day,  set- 
'^  tling  in  Moline ;  but  before  his  emigration  he 
married,  in  his  native  State,  Miss  Mary  Elrick,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  When  the  Na- 
tion made  her  first  call  for  troops  to  defend  her  flag, 
Mr.  Davis,  the  senior,  enlisted  in  the  37  th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  General  Black  commanding,  and  he  served  in 
the  army  for  three  years  ;  then  re-enlisted  in  the  16th 
111.  Cav.,  and  was  soon  afterward  taken  prisoner  and 
was  confined  for  a  time  in  Libby  Prison  and  also  in 
the  horrible  den  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  for  five 
months,  where  he  died.  He  was  in  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  his  regiment  participated  up  to  the 
time  ot  his  capture.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  still  living,  in  Moline,  at  present  with 
one  of  her  sons,  Perry  H.,  and  is  now  about  63  years 
of  age. 

William  G.,  our  subject,  was  the  fourtli  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  six  children.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Illinois  Soldiers'  College,  at  that  time  located 
at  Fulton,  and  since  July,  1870,  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  Mr.  Dibbern,  and  for  some  time   he  has 


been  manager  of  his  branch  store.     In  his  political 
views,  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Democrat. 

March  24,  18S0,  in  Edgington  Township,  this 
county,  Mr.  D.  was  married  to  Miss  Grace  Wait,  who 
was  born  in  that  township  Oct.  6,  i860,  the  daughter 
of  William  and  Lucinda  (Gray)  Wait.  There  are 
two  children  in  Mr.  Davis'  family,  viz. :  Mary,  who 
was  born   Dec.  15,  18S0;    and  Perry,  Feb.  20,  1881. 


-*--wv.^gp--i{g^'w~- 


I ;'■§  f\  lbort  Wells, deceased,  formed)  a  prominent 
f,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  residing  on  section 
30,  Zuma  Township,  and  the  owner  of 
nearly  1,000  acres  of  land,  was  an  early  pio- 
neer of  this  county.  He  came  here  in  1830 
and  participated  in  the  Black  Hawk  War. 
His  brother,  Samuel,  was  killed  by  the  Indians  dur- 
ing an  engagement.  He  finally  settled  in  Zuma 
Township,  locating  there  as  early  as  1836.  He  was 
a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  having  been 
born  there  June  15,  18 10. 

Mr.  Wells  remained  under  the  parental  roof-tree, 
receiving  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  country,  and  assisting  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family  until  he  arrived  at  the 
age  of  majority.  On  becoming  his  own  man  he  left 
home,  and  was  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  cattle. 
He  afterwards  kept  a  trading-post  at  Portage,  Colum- 
bia Co.,  Wis.  In  1838  he  settled  down  to  an  active 
business  life,  and  was  chiefly  occupied  in  buying 
cattle  and  farms,  and  speculating  on  them.  He  was 
a  stirring,  active  business  man  all  his  life  long,  and 
died  July  16,  1847,  leaving  a  wife,  four  daughters 
and  a  very  large  circle  of  friends  to  mourn  his  loss. 

Mr.  Wells  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss 
Jane  M.  McNeal  June  14,  1S3S.  She  was  a  native 
of  Detroit,  Mich.,  where  she  was  born  Nov.  3,  1821. 
The  issue  of  their  union  were  four  children,  all 
girls:  Eliza  was  born  Dec.  24,  1839;  Eunice  L. 
Aug.  8,  1841;  Antonett  M.,  Nov.  16,  1843;  and 
Louise  Dec.  31,  1847.  Eliza  A.  married  John  E. 
Babcock,  and  they  have  six  children,  namely  :  Ralph, 
John,  George,  Louise  L.,  Maud  and  Drury.  Eunice 
married  Frank  Merrill,  and  they  had  one  son, — 
George  S.  Mr.  Merrill  died  in  the  army,  holding 
the  office  of  Orderly  Sergeant  at  the  date  of  his 


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death.  Mrs.  Merrill  was  again  married,  her  second 
husband  being  James  Mills,  and  they  have  one 
daughter, — Jennie.  Antonett  M.  married  George 
W.  Henry,  and  the  issue  of  their  union  was  four 
children, — three  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely: 
George  W.,  Edward,  Willie  J.  and  Albert  W.  Louise 
J.  married  Nelson  Perry,  who  died  March  24,  1879, 
and  she  was  again  married  to  John  Bryan. 


#^>€P-<^# 


saac  Hollister.     The  late    Isaac   Hollister 
was  a  pioneer  of  Rock   Island  County  of 
1836.     He  was  born  Feb.  2,  1796,  in  Glas- 
tonbury,   Conn.       His   parents    removed  from 
that  place  to  Granville,  Washington   Co,  N. 
Y.,    and    he   there  attained  to   manhood   and 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 

He  was  married  Nov.  13,  1828,  to  Martha  De- 
Wolf.  She  was  born  June  20,  1801,  in  Dearfield, 
Mass.  They  were  residents  of  Washington  County 
about  five  years  and  started  for  Illinois  in  1833. 
They  traveled  by  the  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo  and  from 
there  by  the  lake  route  to  Chicago.  A  large  extent 
of  territory  lying  south  of  Chicago  was  then  included 
in  Cook  County  for  municipal  purposes,  and  Mr. 
Hollister  settled  on  a  part  now  comprised  within  the 
limits  of  Will  County.  He  bought  160  acres  of  un- 
broken land  of  the  Government,  and  built  a  log 
house,  which  his  family  occupied  three  years.  In 
1836  he  sold  his  property  and  embarked  in  a  prairie 
schooner  for  the  countv  of  Rock  Island.  He  made 
a  claim  in  the  timber,  on  section  17  of  town  19,  range 
2,  which  is  now  known  as  Coe  Township.  His 
knowledge  of  the  craft  of  a  carpenter  proved  avail- 
able in  the  projected  construction  of  a  rather  more 
aristocratic  type  of  house  than  common,  as  he  hewed 
a  frame  from  logs  which  he  cut  himself,  and  the 
house  was  enclosed  with  riven  boards.  Before  his 
dwelling  was  finished  he  met  with  an  accident  which 
deprived  him  of  the  use  of  his  right  arm  for  a  long 
time,  and  he  submitted  to  the  necessity  and  pressure 
of  circumstances,  and  built  a  log  house.  His  afflic- 
tion precluded  his  laboring,  and  the  demands  of 
necessity  forced  him  to  consume  the  money  which 
he  had  purposed  to  apply  to  the  purchase  of  his 


V 


land  when  it  came  into  market,  and,  on  the  occur- 
rence of  the  Government  sales,  he  had  only  sufficient 
means  to  secure  40  acres  without  aid.  He  made  an 
arrangement  with  B.  F.  Barrett  to  enter  80  acres  of 
timber  and  160  acres  of  prairie,  one-half  of  which 
was  to  be  deeded  to  Mr.  Hollister  in  lieu  of  his 
claim.  This  arrangement  secured  160  acres  of  land 
to  the  latter  and  he  continued  to  live  between  two 
and  three  years  in  the  timber.  He  then  removed 
his  cabin  to  his  prairie  claim,  and  after  occupying  it 
a  few  years  he  built  a  good  frame  house.  He  after- 
wards bought  80  acres  of  land  adjoining  and  was 
the  resident  manager  of  the  property  until  1854, 
when  he  sold  the  farm  for  $4,000.  He  purchased 
320  acres  of  land,  which  included  the  west  half  of 
section  18  in  the  same  township.  A  few  acres 
broken  and  a  log  house  and  stable  comprised  the 
improvements.  He  took  possession  of  the  property 
and  built  a  good  set  of  frame  buildings,  planted  an 
orchard  and  lived  on  the  place  until  1865,  when  he 
placed  his  sons  in  charge  and  removed  to  Port  By- 
ron, where  he  resided  until  his  death.  To  him  and 
his  wife  were  born  four  children:  William  resides 
in  Grundy  Co.,  Iowa;  Reuben  G.  and  Edwin  H.  live 
on  the  homestead  ;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  James  Bell, 
of  Port  Byron. 

Mrs.  Hollister  is  84  years  of  age  and  gives  every 
evidence  of  sufficient  vitality  for  prolonging  life  some 
years.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  were  among  the  12 
persons  who  composed  the  Congregational  Church 
at  its  organization  and  of  which  Mr.  H.  continued  an 
interested  and  helpful  member  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Oct.  14,  r885.  He  was  a  highly  respected 
and  esteemed  citizen,  and  was  followed  to  his  last 
resting  place  by  many  sorrowing  friends. 


acob  Ziegler,  deceased,  was  born  in  Hohen- 
f  sachen,  Germany,  Jan.  21,  1818,  came  to 
America  in  1840  and  to  Rock  Island  in 
1848,  where  he  died  June  28,  1884.  After 
coming  to  the  country  he  made  it  his  first  duty 
to  send  money  to  "  Faderland  "  to  bring  his 
parents  to  "  glorious  America,"  but  they  were  des- 
tined to  never  see  the  new  country.     The  ship   in 


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JPtfCA'  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


which  they  sailed  caught  fire  at  sea,  and  all  on  board 
were  lost ! 

Mr.  Ziegler  learned  the  cooper's  trade  in  Rock  Isl- 
and and  followed  it  the  rest  of  his  active  life.  For 
seven  or  eight  years  before  his  death  he  manufactured 
cooperage  upon  a  pretty  large  scale  on  his  own  hook  ; 
prior  to  that  he  had  been  employed  by  Mr.  Zeese  as 
foreman  of  his  extensive  cooperage  establishment. 
Mr.  Ziegler  was  an  honest,  hard-working  man,  dis- 
tinguished for  his  unerring  integrity.  He  began  life 
without  a  dollar,  lived  well,  reared  and  educated  a 
large  family  of  children  and  left  his  widow  a  hand- 
some competency. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  at  Edgington,  111.,  April 
29,  1847,  to  Miss  Caroline  Heinzel,  and  of  the  six 
children  born  to  them  four  are  dead, — George  A., 
Rosa,  Sadie  and  Jacob.  The  living  are  Mrs.  Caro- 
line Mellinger  and  Emile,  a  brief  sketch  of  whose 
life  may  be  found  upon  another  page  of  this  book. 
Mr.  Ziegler  was  independent  in  politics,  liberal  in 
religious  views  and  an  honored  member  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W. 


eorge  H.  Edwards,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
,JgaK  Moline,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Huldah 
%t9,^P""K  (Bangs)  Edwards,  was  born  in  Windham 
' vf'  Co.,  Vt,  June  13,  1829,  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  father  in  1S34  and  to  this  county  in 
the  spring  of  r835  (see  sketch  of  William 
Edwards),  and  is  consequently  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Rock  Island  County.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  this  county,  and 
his  boyhood  days  were  spent  on  the  farm  assisting 
his  father.  After  he  attained  the  age  of  manhood, 
he  went  to  Galena  to  learn  the  painter's  trade,  and 
while  he  resided  there  his  father  died.  He  then  re- 
turned home,  and,  with  his  brother  Herbert,  carried 
op.  the  farm,  though  he  had  previously  clerked  a 
year  in  the  store  of  Charles  Atkinson,  at  Moline. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  and  the  estate  was  set- 
tled, in  partnership  with  his  brother  Herbert,  he 
rented  the  farm,  which  they  carried  on  until  1855. 
The  years  1855  and  1856  he  spent  east  and  north 
of  Minneapolis.  However,  a  portion  of  1856  he  was 
engaged  in  a  bakery  at  Moline. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss 


A 


Maria  M.  Waterman,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Em- 
eline  (Shepard)  Waterman.  They  were  residents  of 
this  county.  Mr.  Waterman  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  his  wife  of  Connecticut,  and  they  came  here  in 
1846.  Mrs.  Edwards  was  born  in  Nunda,  Allegany 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1836.  As  the  fruits  of  their 
union,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  had  born  to  them  one 
son,  Milton  F.,  now  residing  on  his  farm  in  Andover 
Township,  Henry  Co.,  111.  He  married  Mary  Har- 
per, of  Western  Township,  Henry  County.  They 
also  have  one  son, — Milton  F.,  Jr.  Milton  F.  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Rock  Island  and  Henry 
Counties  and  completed  his  education  at  Davenport. 

After  his  marriage,  George  H.  carried  on  the  old 
farm  about  seven  or  eight  years,  then  purchased  a 
farm  in  Western  Township,  Henry  County,  resided 
there  seven  years  and  returned  to  Moline.  The 
four  brothers  laid  out  what  is  known  as  "  Edwards' 
First  and  Second  Additions  "  to  the  city  of  Moline. 
His  brothers  and  mother  also  laid  out  an  addition. 
Since  about  1875  Mr.  Edwards  has  had  no  active 
business  except  that  his  time  has  been  employed  in 
attending  to  his  estate. 

In  his  political  views,  he  was  first  identified  with 
the  Whig  party,  and  on  the  formation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  he  became  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles,  and  during  the  war  he  was  a  strong  Union 
man.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  are  both  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  E.  has  been  suc- 
cessful in  the  business  enterprises  of  life,  and  has 
accumulated  a  handsome  competency.  He  is  liberal 
and  public-spirited,  and  enterprises  having  in  view 
the  welfare  of  his  city  or  county  always  find  in  him 
an  active  supporter. 

As  an  honored  and  respected  pioneer  and  success- 
ful business  man  of  Rock  Island  County,  the  pub- 
lishers take  pleasure  in  presenting  the  portrait  of  Mr. 
Edwards  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


^<0OO€ 


'■ "  ;-.'  "- 


mf  f 


James  Cozad,  physician  and  surgeon  at 
|M|liL  Reynolds,  Edgington  Township  and  Su- 
(SfV-  pervisor  of  the  same,  was  born  in  Mercer, 
j*  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  July  9,  1836.  His  father, 
Jacob,  was  also  a  native  of  that  county,  where 
he  was  born  in  181 1,  and  his  father,  Elihu,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  Dec.  20,  1771.  Job  Cozad, 
father  of  Elihu,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  from  which 


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country  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  New  Jersey  just  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  located  in 
a  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterian  settlement  that  had 
come  to  the  United  States  early  in  its  history.  The 
father  of  Job  was  the  originator  of  the  Cozad  family 
in  America  and  died  in  New  Jersey.  Some  of  the 
family  made  settlements  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  in 
the  year  1800,  and  their  family  have  since  resided  in 
that  county,  extensively  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  trading,  and  were  manufacturers  of  iron. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  Jacob  Co- 
zad, was  married  in  his  native  county,  to  Catherine 
Shafer  (formerly  spelled  "  Shaver  ").  She  was  born 
and  reared  in  that  county,  her  father  being  a  "boot 
and  shoe  manufacturer.  Her  mother  died  there 
Aug.  10,  1 84 1,  when  Mrs.  Cozad  was  but  five  years 
of  age,  being  the  oldest  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family 
of  three  children,  one  of  whom,  Louis,  dying  in  in- 
fancy, and  her  remaining  sister  is  now  the  wife  of  J. 
E.  Thompson,  who  is  now  residing  in  Cowlitz  Coun- 
ty, Washington  Territory.  After  the  death  of  his 
mother,  James'  father  was  again  married,  and  he 
(James)  resided  with  friends  in  his  native  county,  as- 
sisting on  the  farm  and  attending  school  at  New 
Wilmington,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa. 

Dr.  James  Cozad,  subject  of  this  notice,  resided  with 
friends  as  stated  until  he  attained  the  age  of  ten 
years,  when  he  returned  to  his  father's  home  and 
soon  afterward  went  with  him  to  Lee  County,  Iowa, 
in  1846,  settling  near  Fort  Madison  on  a  farm.  He 
continued  to  reside  with  his  father  until  the  death  of 
the  latter,  which  occurred  at  that  place  Aug.  25, 
1850.  After  his  father's  death  Dr.  Cozad  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  this  State,  where  he  resided  for  a 
short  time  with  an  uncle.  He  then  went  to  Garden 
Plain  Township,  that  county,  and  while  there  thor- 
oughly prepared  himself  for  the  occupation  of  a 
teacher,  which  he  followed  in  that  county  for  about 
four  years.  During  the  meantime  he  studied  medi- 
cine under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  B.  Cottle,  of  Al- 
bany, and  Dr.  Benton,  of  Fulton.  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  late  Civil  War  Dr.  Cozad  enlisted,  at  Ful- 
ton, in  Co.  F,  93d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  most  of  the 
time  during  his  term  of  service  in  the  17th  Army 
Corps  under  Gen.  Logan.  Soon  after  enlisting  he 
was  appointed  Hospital  Steward  of  the  regiment  and 
was  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  for  some  time,  and 
during  the  summer  of  1864  he  was  Acting  Surgeon. 


While  in  the  service  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Jackson,  Miss.,  May  14,  1S63;  Champion  Hills, 
Miss.,  May  16,  1863  ;  siege  of  Vicksburg,  1863  ;  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  Nov.  1,  1863  ;  and  also  the  memora- 
ble battle  of  Altoona  Pass,  Oct.  5,  1864.  He  was 
also  with  Gen.  Sherman  in  his  famous  march  from 
Atlanta  to  the  sea,  participating  in  the  siege  of  Sa- 
vannah, Ga.  He  then  accompanied  Gen.  Sherman 
in  his  march  through  the  Carolinas  and  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Bentonville,  and  then  continued  with 
Gen.  Sherman  in  his  march  to  Washington  and  wit- 
nessed the  grand  review.  Dr.  Cozad  was  mustered 
out  of  service  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  received  his 
final  discharge  July  5,  1865,  at  Chicago. 

On  receiving  his  discharge  Dr.  Cozad  came  to  An- 
dalusia, where  he  erected  a  $6,000  residence,  which 
he  sold  in  the  summer  of  1885,  and  now  has  con- 
constructed  another,  which  has  cost  $4,000.  A  view 
of  this  handsome  residence  appears  on  another  page. 
He  is  the  proprietor  of  330  acres  of  land  in  Edging- 
ton  Township,  which  is  all  in  an  advanced  state  of 
cultivation.  Upon  going  to  Andalusia  he  began  his 
his  practice  and  continued  at  that  place  until  De- 
cember, 1883,  when  he  came  to  Reynolds. 

Dr.  Cozad  was' united  in  marriage  Dec.  11,  1867, 
at  Fulton,  111.,  with  Miss  Martha,  daughter  of  David 
Mitchell,  the  first  Treasurer  of  Whiteside  County. 
He  was  born  Oct.  7,  1804,  in  Scioto  County,  Ohio. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  Hon  David  Mitchell,  who  repre- 
sented Scioto  County  in  the  State  Legislature  for  a 
number  of  years.  Mrs.  Cozad  was  born  in  Garden 
Plain,  Whiteside  County,  this  State,  Oct.  21,  1844, 
and  was  reared  at  home  and  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  at  Fulton.  Her  father  died  Dec.  27, 
1850,  and  her  mother  Jan.  28,  1861.  She  has  borne 
to  Dr.  Cozad  five  children;  Clara  I.,  born  Dec.  15, 
1868;  James  M.,  Jan.  24,  187  1;  Lettitia  G.,  Nov. 
25,  1872;  Louis  E.,  Nov.  8,  1876;  and  Ruth,  born 
May  26,  1882.  Mrs.  Cozad  is  an  active  member  of 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  her  father  having  been 
an  Elder  in  that  denomination  at  Albany  for  some 
years. 

Politically,  Dr.  Cozad  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  Supervisor  of  Andalusia  Township 
for  two  years,  and  is  at  present  the  Supervisor  of 
Edgington  Township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illi- 
nois and  Iowa  District  Medical  Association,  of  which 
he  has  been  Vice-President,  and  also  of  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Society  and  of  the  American  Medica 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Association.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Andalusia 
Blue  Lodge,  No.  516,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he 
was  Master  for  some  time.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Barrett  Chapter,  at  the  city  of  Rock  Island. 


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.  J  y  f  K  oseph  J.  Johnson,  a  leading  citizen  and  en- 
j. \SM1. ,T  terprising  business  man  at  Cordova,  was 
i>.''  born  in  Lambertsville,  Mercer  Co.,  N.  J., 
Feb.  28,  1 841.  When  he  was  12  years  old  he 
found  himself  in  possession  of  the  privilege  of 
self-maintenance,  and  he  set  out  to  test  his 
ability  to  do  so  creditably  and  well.  He  went  first 
to  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  while  there  he  was  variously 
engaged  until  he  obtained  a  position  in  a  drug-store. 
He  remained  there  until  1858,  when  he  came  to 
Cordova  and  entered  into  an  apprenticeship  to  ac- 
quire a  knowledge  of  the  trade  of  a  brick  and  plaster 
mason.  He  served  three  years,  but  that  was  his  last 
intimacy  with  the  business,  as  he  never  worked  at  it 
afterward. 

In  the  fall  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  military  ser- 
vice of  his  country,  enrolling  in  Co.  A,  gth  111.  Regt. 
Cav.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Western 
Army,  and  was  involved  in  the  campaigns  in  Mis- 
souri and  Arkansas  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  Mr.  Johnson  was  discharged  on  account  of  disa- 
bility, and  he  returned  to  Cordova.  He  engaged  in 
clerking  in  the  general  merchandising  store  of  J.  Q. 
Wynkoop,  and  remained  in  his  employ  until  1864. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  again  enlisted,  but  was 
not  attached  to  any  command,  serving  all  the  time 
on  detached  duty.  He  was  sent  at  first  to  Chatta- 
nooga, and  later  to  Annapolis,  Md.  In  the  winter 
following  his  company  was  attached  to  the  15th 
Conn.  Regt.  Vol.,  at  Newbern,  N.  C.  On  the  8th 
day  of  March,  1865,  he  was  taken  prisoner  near 
Goldsboro,  N.  C,  and  was  sent  to  Libby  Prison  at 
Richmond,  arriving  there  a  few  days  before  the  fall 
of  that  city.  He  was  released  on  parole,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home.  He  was  discharged  at  Spring- 
field after  the  close  of  the  war.  On  returning  to 
Cordova,  he  became  interested  in  the  livery  business, 
in  which  he  was  engaged  one  year.     On  leaving  it 

— ^<m 


he  embarked  in  trade  in  general  merchandise,  in 
which  he  was  occupied  until  1870.  He  then  sold 
out,  and  in  company  with  C.  G.  Case,  he  engaged  as 
a  contractor  on  the  Nickel-Plate  Railroad  (then 
known  as  the  Continental  Railway),  to  build  300 
miles  of  the  track  between  Tiffin,  Ohio,  and  Chicago, 
with  headquarters  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  During  the 
panic  of  1873  the  railroad  company  failed,  and  Mr. 
Johnson  lost  his  entire  investment.  He  returned  to 
Cordova,  and  entered  anew  upon  the  struggle  with 
life.  Soon  afterward  he  again  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  was  occupied  in  that  calling  until  1S85. 
In  January  of  that  year  he  sold  out.  While  he  was 
engaged  in  his  commercial  enterprise  he  had  become 
interested  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  lime^and 
since  his  disposal  of  his  stock  of  merchandise  and 
relations  in  that  line,  he  has  devoted  his  time  wholly 
to  the  lime  trade. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  Feb.  4,  1866,  to  Sarah 
Cool.  She  was  born  in  Cordova  Township,  Rock 
Island  County,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jared  L.  and 
Margaret  (Smith)  Cool,  pioneers  of  Rock  Island 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  three  children 
— Louie  J.,  Jere  L.  and  Harry. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry 
and  belongs  to  Everts  Commandery  at  Rock  Island. 
He  also  belongs  to  Freeport  Consistory  of  the  Valley 
of  Freeport,  and  to  the  Orders  of  M.  W.  A.  and  A. 
O.  U.  W.  Politically,  he  has  always  been  a  Repub- 
lican. 


j,on.  Lucian  Adams,  of  Rock  Island,  was 
first  elected  Judge  of  the  Rock  Island 
County  Court  in  the  fall  of  1877,  for  a  term 
of  five  years,  and  in  1882  re-elected  for  the  four- 
years  term.  The  Judge  is  a  native  of  Juniata 
County,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born  Jan.  7,  1843. 
His  father,  Jacob  Adams,  now  deceased,  was  a  far- 
mer, but  instead  of  bringing  his  son  up  to  that  some- 
what laborious  vocation,  allowed  him  to  pursue  the 
bent  of  his  own  inclinations.  This  led  him  in  the 
pursuit  of  knowledge  with  a  view  to  a  profession. 
He  received  a  thorough  primary  education  at  the 
common  and  preparatory  schools  and  entered  Jef- 
ferson College,  Canonsburg,  Pa.,  purposing  to  fit  him- 


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self  for  the  study  of  medicine.  He  graduated  as 
Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1862,  and  finding  his  environ- 
ments differing  in  some  way  from  what  he  had 
anticipated,  he  abandoned  the  ideaof  becoming  a  dis- 
ciple of  Esculapius,  and  in  1865  became  a  student 
in  a  law  office  at  Mifflintown,  in  his  native  county. 
In  1867  he  entered  the  Albany  Law  School  and  re- 
mained there  two  terms,  and  in  the  spring  of  1868 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  Wooster,  Ohio,  was  the 
scene  of  his  first  struggles  as  a  practitioner  of  his 
chosen  profession,  and  he  varied  the  tedium  incident 
to  a  "new  beginner"  by  conducting  the  editorial 
columns  of  a  hebdomadal  newspaper.  In  1869  he 
landed  at  Rock  Island,  where  he  immediately  hung 
out  his  shingle  as  Attorney  and  Counselor  at  Law. 
At  the  end  of  his  first  year  here  he  formed  a  business 
arrangement  with  the  legal  firm  of  Osborn  &  Curtis, 
and  officed  with  them  for  four  years.  Afterwards  he 
had  an  office  of  his  own  until  called  to  the  Bench. 
His  elevation  to  the  Judgeship  attests  first,  his  merit 
as  a  lawyer,  and  second,  being  an  elective  office,  his 
standing  in  the  community. 

He  was  elected  as  a  Republican,  but  in  his  second 
candidacy  the  Democrats  as  a  party  offered  no  op- 
position to  him.  Mrs.  Adams,  nee  Miss  Susan  G. 
Woodward,  is  a  daughter  of  William  E.  Woodward, 
Esq.,  and  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  were  married  at 
Rock  Island,  June  5,  1878,  and  have  four  children, — 
Lucian,  Catharine,  William  W.  and  Robt.  M.  Adams. 


~3~- 


'  red  Shaw,  of  the  firm  of  Shaw  &  Mc- 
Burney,  merchants  at  Moline,  was  born  in 
Bristol,  England,  March  4,  1839,  his  pa- 
rents being  Thomas  S.  and  Sarah  (Milnes) 
Shaw.  Fred,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
entered  the  bonds  of  matrimony  in  May,  1870, 
at  Galena,  111.,  with  Elizabeth  Burton,  and  they  have 
had  two  children— Walter  R.,  born  in  May,  187 1, 
and  Fred,  born  in  December,  1873. 

The  track  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  runs  in  front  of  the  house,  and  in  February, 
1883,  while  crossing  the  track,  young  Fred  was  struck 
and  killed  by  the  cars,  his  grief-stricken  parents  being 
suddenly  summoned  to  learn  that  their   bright  and 


promising   boy    was   carried    from    full    health    and 
strength  into  the  realms  of  death. 

Fred  Shaw  attended  school  at  Bristol,  England, 
until  1848,  when  he  came  to  Rock  Island,  111.,  thence 
to  Geneseo,  111.,  then  going  to  Wisconsin  for  a  brief 
period,  but  finally  settled  in  Moline  in  1866,  and 
went  into  the  general  store  of  his  brother  James,  re- 
maining there  until  1882,  when  he  formed  a  part- 
nership, in  the  same  line  of  business,  with  A.  R. 
McBurney  ;  under  the  firm  name  of  Shaw  &  Mc- 
Burney,  and  they  do  a  prosperous  business.  Mrs. 
Shaw  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church       In  politics  Mr.  Shaw  is  a   Democrat. 


+4Ni«- 


ames  Taylor,  one  of  the  prosperous  farm- 
ers of  Rock  Island  County,  and  who  has 
accumulated  abundantly  of  this  world's 
•t  goods,  is  now  residing  in  retirement  from  the 
1L     active  labors  of  life  on  section   12,  Edgingtpn 

\  Township.  A  view  of  his  residence  is  given  in 
the  Album.  His  postoffice  address  is  Taylor  Ridge, 
which  village  received  its  name  in  his  honor.  He 
was  born  in  Forres,  Scotland,  Nov.  6,  1814. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Taylor  of  this  notice,  John 
Taylor,  was  a  tailor  by  occupation,  and  a  native  of 
Forres,  Scotland.  He  was  married  in  that  country 
to  Jessie  Roy,  a  direct  lineal  descendant  of  the 
famous  Robert  Roy,  of  Scotland.  He  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1852,  and  in  1859  returned  to 
England,  where  five  years  later,  in  1864,  he  died. 
The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice  died  in  her 
native  country  many  years  previous  to  the  demise  of 
her  husband. 

James  Taylor,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  in  Forres,  Scotland,  Nov.  6,  1814,  and  emi- 
grated to  the  land  of  possibilities  on  attaining  the 
age  of  21  years.  He  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  ten 
children,  and  the  only  survivor.  He  was  educated 
in  his  native  country,  and  on  attaining  a  suitable  age 
engaged  to  learn  the  trade  of  his  father.  After  ar- 
riving in  Canada  he  followed  his  trade  in  Quebec  for 
two  years.  In  1S38  he  left  Canada  and  went  to 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  to  follow 
his  trade  for  four  years.     In   1842,  realizing  that  to 


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better  his  condition  in  a  financial  point  of  view  the 
West  with  all  its  facilities  was  a  better  field  for 
operation  than  the  crowded  East,  he  came  to  Rock 
Island  city,  this  county,  arriving  here  on  the  nation- 
al holiday,  July  4,  1842.  His  journey  was  made  all 
the  way  by  team  and  wagon,  in  company  with  his 
his  younger  brother,  William,  who  died  here  in  the 
fall  of  the  year  in  which  they  arrived. 

Two  years  after  his  arrival  at  Rock  Island  city,  in 
1844,  he  went  to  Edgington  Township,  and  procured 
160  acres  of  new  land,  which  was  in  its  original  con- 
dition, and  which  is  to-day  his  present  homestead. 
He  at  once  entered  energetically  and  vigorously  upon 
the  clearing  of  his  land,  determined  to  make  it  an 
abiding  place  for  himself  and  family  for  all  time  to 
come.  At  the  time  that  he  located  upon  his  home- 
stead there  were  no  settlements  for  miles  around,  and 
the  coyotes,  wolves  and  Indians  were  his  only  neigh- 
bors. Having  a  firm  faith  in  the  future  development 
of  the  country,  he  stuck  to  it,  and  his  accumula- 
tions are  the  evidences  of  the  reliability  of  his  good 
judgment.  He  has  by  energetic  effort  and  economy, 
coupled  with  the  active  co-operation  of  his  helpmate, 
increased  his  acreage  to  nearly  1,300  acres  of  val- 
able  land,  and  has  given  a  goodly  portion  of  it  to  his 
children,  and  has  now  640  acres,  all  but  80  of  which 
is  located  on  section  r2,  Edgington  Township.  He 
has  a  splendid  residence,  with  good  barn  and  sub- 
stantial outbuildings,  of  which  we  present  a  view  on 

Page  555- 

Mr.  Taylor  was  first  united  in  marriage  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity,  May  7,  1S36,  to  Miss  Elsie  Mal- 
colm. She  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  was  born 
in  that  country  June  19,  1816.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  yet  living  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Iowa,  is  married  and  named  Ann  Fry. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  in  Hamilton  Co  ,  Ohio, 
Sept.  23,  1839,  and  Mr.  Taylor  was  again  united  in 
marriage  Sept.  20,  1840,  in  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Rachel  Van  Camp.  She  was  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Tunis  Van  Camp,  and  was  born  in 
Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  March  13,  18 1 7.  She  was 
reared  and  educated  in  that  State,  and  came  to  Ohio 
when  about  ten  years  of  age.  The  issue  of  their 
union  is  ten  children,  all  of  whom  were  married. 
Their  names  are  as  follows  :  James,  Samuel,  John, 
Louisa,  Nettie  (deceased),  William,  Flora,  Mattie  and 
Catherine. 

Mr.  and   Mrs.  Taylor  are  both  members  of  the 


Presbyterian  Church  at  Edgington.  He  has  been  a 
prominent  citizen  of  this  county,  and  is  classed 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  same,  coming  here 
as  he  did  in  1842.  He  has  held  the  office  of  As- 
sessor for  17  years,  15  of  the  same  being  consecu- 
tively; Supervisor  six  years,  and  Chairman  of  the 
Board  four  years,  and  was  the  first  Postmaster,  ap- 
pointed by  President  James  K.  Polk  in  1847,  hold- 
ing his  position  until  1862,  at  what  was  then  called 
Pleasant  Ridge,  the  same  being  his  residence.  Mr. 
Taylor  has  also  been  President  of  the  Old  Settlers' 
Association,  and  has  held  many  of  the  minor  offices 
of  his  township.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party. 


Keene  Crockett,  who  is  a  prominent 
jall^y^We,  farmer  of  section  28,  Coal  Valley  Town- 
|^p  ship,  residing  on  Longview  stock  farm,  is 
|^  a  son  of  AVilliam  and  Eliza  (Ware)  Crockett. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  where 
his  mother  died  in  the  year  1858.  His  father 
came  to  this  county  in  1868,  settling  in  the  city  of 
Rock  Island.  In  18S2  he  removed  to  Waukegan, 
111  ,  where  he  now  resides.  In  his  family  were  four 
children, — Tee,  Fanny,  Phil  and  W.  Keene. 

The  latter  was  born  in  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  10, 
1855,  but  his  education  was  received  in  the  common 
and  high  schools  of  Rock  Island,  and  in  the  business 
college  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  He  afterward  entered 
the  employment  of  Field  &  Bros.,  in  Rock  Island,  as 
clerk  in  their  wholesale  notion  house,  which  position 
he  sustained  two  years,  and  then  went  to  Coal  Val- 
ley, where  he  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm 
one  year.  He  then  rented  a  farm  in  Rural  Town- 
ship with  his  brother  two  years.  In  1874  he  went  to 
Missouri,  where  he  was  engaged  in  training  horses 
and  in  farming  for  five  years.  He  finally  returned 
to  Coal  Valley  Township,  which  has  since  been  his 
home. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Missouri,  Oct.  11, 
1881,  with  Emma  Glenn,  daughter  of  George  W.  and 
Susan  Glenn.  She  was  born  in  Springfield,  111., 
April  11,  1864.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crockett  are  Clara  W.  and  Phil  T. 


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Mr.  Crockett  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of 
the  principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic  party. 
Mrs.  Crockett  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 

Mr.  Crockett  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  raising 
of  fine  stock.  He  has  the  finest  herd  of  Short-horn 
cattle  in  the  countv,  and  is  also  a  breeder  of  trotting 
and  road  horses.  Mr.  Crockett's  father  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  "Blue  Grass  "  Stud  Stables  of  Wauke- 
gan.  Among  the  fine  horses  that  might  be  mentioned 
are  "  Crockett's  McGregor,"  "  Star  Hambletonian," 
"  Richmont,"  "Rockmont"  and  "Hambletonian 
Chief." 

saac  Cool,  a  farmer   of  Cordova  Township, 
and  a    pioneer  of  Rock   Island   County  of 
1838,  was  born  Feb.  15,  1822,  near  Prince- 
ton,   Huntingdon    Co.,    N.    J.,    and   he    is  the 
youngest  son  of  Wm.  and  Elizabeth  (Larison) 
Cool.     His  parents   were  both   natives  of  the 
same  State  and  were  of  German  extraction. 

The  father  died  when  the  son  was  but  little  more 
than  an  infant  and  left  the  mother  with  five  children 
— four  boys  and  a  girl.  She  kept  her  little  flock  to- 
gether in  New  Jersey  until  1837,  when  her  second 
son,  Jonathan,  came  to  Rock  Island  County,  111.,  and 
located  a  claim  in  what  is  now  Cordova  Township. 
The  land  was  situated  on  section  31. 

He  built  a  small  house  and  in  the  summer  of  the 
next  year  the  family  joined  him  there.  Mrs.  Cool, 
the  mother,  started  with  her  four  children  in  April, 
1838,  for  the  far  West  as  it  was  then  known,  and  he 
traveled  the  entire  distance  from  New  Jersey  to  the 
western  border  of  Illinois  in  wagons  drawn  by 
horses,  bringing  with  them  their  household  goods 
and  maintaining  the  routine  of  their  domestic  estab- 
lishment on  the  way.  They  spent  eight  weeks  on 
the  journey,  landing  here  about  July  16.  The  little 
house  built  by  the  brother  for  their  accommodation 
was  a  very  welcome  retreat  after  the  tedious  journey, 
and  it  was  occupied  in  content  by  the  reunited  fam- 
ily. The  brothers  bought  a  claim  on  section  23  in 
the  same  town  where  Jonathan  had  settled,  and  as 
soon  as  the  land  was  placed  in  the  market  they 
bought  it  with   money    they   borrowed    through   an 

*««#- --"■■" — ^00 


agent,  to  whom  they  paid  5  per  cent,  for  his  services, 
and  they  also  paid  50  per  cent,  for  the  use  of  the 
money  for  one  year.  While  they  were  improving 
their  land  they  resided  in  the  village  of  Cordova, 
and  they  remained  there  until  1843.  They  then  built 
a  hewed-log  house  on  the  farm  which  they  occupied 
until  1853.  In  that  year  they  bought  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  32  and  took  possession  of  it  im- 
mediately.    The  whole  family  lived  there  until  i86r. 

Isaac  was  then  married  and  moved  to  Cordova, 
where  he  lived  18  months.  In  the  meantime  the 
brothers  bought  the  south  half  of  section  32,  and 
in  1863  Isaac  took  possession  of  the  soutliwestern 
quarter,  on  which  a  small  house  had  been  built,  into 
which  they  moved,  and  it  was  their  home  until  18S2. 
Mr.  Cool  then  built  the  commodious  frame  house  now 
occupied  by  his  family. 

Mr.  Cool  was  joined  in  marriage  Aug.  15,  1861,  to 
Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  George  and  Amanda  (Burns) 
Hatcher.  They  have  three  children — Amanda  E., 
Eleanor  L.  and  Anna  G.  Mrs.  Cool  was  born  in 
Prestonburg,  Floyd  Co.,  Ky.,  June  19,  1832.  In 
rSs7  she  went  with  her  parents  to  Winona,  Minn., 
and  after  a  stay  of  a  few  weeks  they  came  thence  to 
Cordova  where  the  father  and  mother  both  died. 
They  had  11  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. All  are  deceased  except  two  sons  and  two 
daughters. 

Mr.  Cool  is  a  member  of  Cordova  Lodge,  No.  543, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  also  a  Knight  Templar,  and 
has  officiated  as  Worshipful  Master  of  the  former 
body  for  eight  years.  He  has  been  earnestly 
interested  in  educational  matters  and  has  served  in 
the  various  school  offices.  He  has  acted  as  one  of 
the  Trustees  of  the  public  library  at  Cordova.  He 
is  a  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  James  K. 
Polk. 

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P.  Tindall,  conducting  a  livery  and  feed 
S>S§9  stable  on  Third  Avenue,  Rock  Island, 
tJB^ti  was  born  in  Rock  Island  County  in  1848. 
t'f^\  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof-tree 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  31  years,  in  the 
meantime  assisting  his  father  in  the  mainte- 
nance of  his  family,  alternating  his  labors  on  the 
farm  with   attendance  at  the   schools  in  the  acqui- 


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sition  of  an  English  education.  In  1879  he  emi- 
grated to  Colorado,  and  there  engaged  in  the  mining 
business,  which  he  followed  for  six  months,  then  re- 
turning to  his  native  county.  On  his  return  home, 
he  began  in  the  livery  business,  in  which  he  is  at 
present  interested,  and  is  doing  a  good  and  constant- 
ly increasing  business.  He  deals  quite  largely  in  the 
buying  and  selling  of  horses. 

Politically,  Mr.  Tindall  is  identified  with  the  prin- 
ciples advocated  by  the  Republican  party,  and  so- 
cially belongs  to  the  Knighls  of  Pythias.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  men,  as  well  as  honest,  energetic,  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  the  county. 


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ev.  Henry  D.  Cline,  deceased,  formerly  a 
,  resident  of  Buffalo  Prairie  Township,  this 
''Afc&)  county,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
ftf\  Pa.,  Jan.  21,  1824,  and  was  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Sarah  Cline.  When  he  was  quite  young 
his  father  died  and  his  mother  married  again, 
and  he  lived  with  his  step- father's  brother,  where  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  followed  in 
Westmoreland  and  in  Hollidaysburg,  Blair  Co.,  his 
native  State. 

When  Rev.  Cline  was  23  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Granville,  Ohio,  and  entered  the  college  at  that 
place  and  followed  the  curriculum  of  that  institution 
for  two  years.  Previous  to  this,  when  in  his  19th 
year,  he  had  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  was  Class-Leader  in  that  denomination  for  a 
time,  but  he  changed  his  views  and  became  an  ad- 
herent of  the  faith  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  preach- 
ed in  that  denomination  before  going  to  Ohio.  After 
leaving  college  Rev.  Cline  taught  school  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  1850  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated in  Buffal  oPrairie  Township,  this  county,  where 
he  resided  on  John  Edgington's  place  four  years.  He 
then  purchased  land  on  section  36,  on  which  he  set- 
tled and  entered  vigorously  and  energetically  on  its 
cultivation  and  improvement.  He  was  ordained 
Pastor  of  Sugar  Grove  Church  in  185  2,  and  was  Pas- 
tor of  the  same  until,  on  account  of  disease  in  his 
throat,  he  was  obliged  to  resign.  Subsequently,  he 
has  preached  at  intervals  in  various  places. 


In  1862,  soon  afier  the  breaking  out  of  the  late 
Civil  War,  and  the  President  had  called  for  brave 
hearts  and  strong  arms  to  defend  the  Union,  Rev. 
Cline  raised  a  company  of  101  men,  which  was  des- 
ignated Co.  B  and  attached  to  the  126th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  of  which  he  was  elected  Captain. 

Rev.  Cline  was  united  in  marriage  Aug.  25,  1S49, 
with  Emily  C.  Coffman.  She  was  born  in  Fairfield, 
Ohio,  April  15,  1827,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Sarah  (Caldwell)  Coffman.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  her  mother  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  settled  in  Ohio,  and  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Fairfield  and  Licking  Counties,  that  State. 

Rev.  Cline  died  near  Haines  Bluff,  Miss.,  June  21, 
1863,  leaving  a  wife  and  seven  children.  Albert  E. 
was  born  June  5,  1850,  and  lives  in  Gage  County, 
Neb.  ;  Edmund  T.  was  born  Aug.  30,  1853,  and 
died  on  the  old  homestead  June  7,  1S85;  Orlando 
C,  born  Oct.  13,1858,  manages  the  homestead; 
Daniel  E.,  born  June  3,  1857,  resides  in  Denver, 
Colo.;  Silas  B.,  born  May  10,  1859,  is  a  resident  of 
Boone,  Boone  Co.,  Iowa;  William  H.,  born  May  7, 
1861,  is  a  resident  of  Mercer  County,  III. ;  and  Rose, 
born  April  23,  1863,  is  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Jewell  City,  Kansas. 

Mrs.  Cline  was  again  married  July  5,  1868,  to 
Thomas  C.  Lewis,  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  is 
at  present  a  leading  salesman  of  the  Diebold  Safe  & 
Lock  Co.,  of  Chicago.  Two  children  have  been  born 
of  their  union,  namely  :  Cora  M.,  born  June  5,  1 869  ; 
and  Bertha  S.,  born  July  29,  1872. 


'  j.  fjifohn  Wixon,  of  the  firm  of  Wixon  &  Peal, 
;'  j'f^l'i ■  -  proprietors  ol   the  oldes!   established  livery 
■1  '  "'    and  feed  stable   in    Moline.     This  stable 
%<Z    was  °Pened  UP  m   1S55,  rebuilt  in  TS57,  and 
%F    purchased  by  John  Wixon  in  1875.     The  pres- 
y     ent  firm  was  organized  in   1883,  and  is  com- 
posed of   John  Wixon  and   Oscar  Peal.     The  last- 
named  gentleman  is  the  proprietor  of  "Peal's  Hotel." 
Mr.  Wixon,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  in  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1832,  and  is 
the   son  of   Levi  and  Nancy  (Baker)  Wixon.     His 
parents  were  born  in  Oneida  Co.,N.Y.     When  three 


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years  of  age  John  accompanied  his  parents  to  Oak- 
land Co.,  Mich.  They  subsequently  moved  to 
Wayne  County,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1852;  spent 
a  short  time  in  Fulton,  and  then  removed  to  DeKalb 
County.  John  was  engaged  in  farming  in  the  latter 
county,  and  in  1S57  drove  a  team  across  the  plains. 
He  returned  to  Fulton,  and  was  employed  on  the 
Mississippi  River  as  pilot  till  1863;  he  then  came  to 
Moline,  and  has  since  made  this  city  his  home.  In 
1S65  he  bought  into  the  liver)'  business,  which  he 
has  carried  on  continually  since.  The  existing  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Oscar  Peal  was  formed  in  1S83. 

Mr.  Wixon  was  united  in  marriage,  at  Galena,  111., 
June  22,  1859,  to  Miss  Eliza  Palmer.  They  have 
had  seven  children,  four  girls  and  three  boys,  three 
of  whom  only  survive:  Ida,  the  eldest,  died,  aged 
three  and  a  half  years;  Ada  died  aged  a  year  and  a 
half;  William  was  born  June  27,  1865  ;  Emma,  Sept. 
5,  1867;  John  died  in  infancy;  Birdie  also  died  in 
infancy,  and  John  was  born  Aug.  12,  1875.  Mr. 
Wixon  is  a  Republican  of  the  most  pronounced  type, 
while  on  the  subject  of  religion  he  entertains  liberal 
views. 


^oooe 


\  illiarn  M.  Twigg,  physician,  residing  at 
Illinois  City,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  where,  in 
•  Delaware  County,  he  was  born,  Nov.  10, 
1835.  He  passed  the  early  part  of  his  life, 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  14  years,  in 
Granville,  Licking  Co.,  Ohio.  He  then  went 
on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  remained  two  years, 
and  in  1S51  removed  to  Louisa  Co.,  Iowa,  and  de- 
voted his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil, 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  21  years. 

On  attaining  the  age  of  majority  Dr.  Twigg  entered 
the  office  of  J.  B.  Latta,  at  Grand  View,  Louisa 
County,  and  studied  medicine  under  his  instruction 
for  two  years.  He  then  attended  medical  lectures 
in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  soon  thereafter  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Oakland,  Louisa  Co., 
Iowa,  but  shortly  afterward  the  war  for  the  union 
broke  out,  and  Dr.  Twigg  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Co.  C,  isl  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  in  the  Hospital 
Department  for  three  months,  at  which  time  his  term 
of  enlistment  expired.  He  was  afterward  commis- 
sioned, at  the  organization  of  the  nth  Iowa  Inf.,  as 


2d  Lieutenant.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Wil- 
son's Creek,  and  first  and  second  battles  of  Corinth, 
besides  many  skirmishes,  and  served  until  January, 
1863,  then  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  re- 
turned to  Fairport,  Muscatine  Co.,  Iowa,  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  followed  his  prac- 
tice at  the  latter  place  for  three  years,  and  in  July, 
1866,  came  to  Illinois  City,  this  county,  where  he 
has  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  ever 
since.  By  strict  attention  to  business,  carefully 
diagnosing  his  diseases,  and  treating  them  to  the 
very  best  of  his  ability,  without  regard  to  remunera- 
tion, he  has  built  up  a  fine  practice  throughout  this 
section  of  the  county. 

Dr.  Twigg  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Jeffer- 
son City,  Mo.,  Jan.  27,  1863,  with  Miss  Anna  I. 
Eckler.  She  was  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
Charles  F.  and  Kate  Eckler.  Mrs.  Twigg  was  born 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Sept.  23,  1842.  She  was  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  girls  and  three 
boys.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Twigg  have  had  born  of  their 
union  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  survives — 
Louie,  born  April  n,  1868.  The  deceased  are 
Georgia  and  Charles. 

Politically,  Dr.  Twigg  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets 
of  the  Republican  party.  Religiously,  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  socially,  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  belonging  to  the  W. 
J.  Wiley  Post,  No.  377,  of  which  he  is  Commander. 

A  view  of  Dr.  Twiggs  residence  is  presented  on 
page  297. 


r'y- i©?!;  erbert  E.  Casteel,  of  the  mercantile  firm  of 
-  ^|>V|;  Denlinger  &  Casteel  at  Port  Byron,  was  born 
Spp*"*  March  15,  i860,  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  and 
is   the   only    son   of    Appleton    anu  Elizabeth 


9 


(Gardner)  Casteel.  He  came  to  Port  Byron 
when  he  was  1 3  years  of  age,  and  two  years 
later,  in  1875,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Port 
Byron  Lumber  Company  as  book-keeper.  He  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  position  two  and  a  half 
years,  and  in  1878  engaged  in  the  same  capacity 
with  Taylor  Williams  at  Rapids  City,  where  he  was 
employed  the  same  length  of  time.     On  the  termin- 


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ation  of  his  engagement  with  Mr.  Williams  he  went 
to  Atlantic  City,  Iowa,  and  spent  a  year  there  in  the 
drag  business,  after  which  he  returned  to  Port  By- 
ron, and  became  associated  with  John  Schaffer  in  the 
sale  of  dry  goods.  Their  relations  were  in  existence 
one  year,  and  on  the  dissolution  of  their  business  con- 
nections he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Assistant  Superintendent  of  their  coal  mines 
at  Perry,  Green  Co.,  Iowa.  In  18S4,  in  company 
with  M.  B.  Denlinger,  he  fou.ided  the  business  in 
which  they  are  still  engaged. 


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arker    N.    Tubbs.      The    late    Parker  N. 
Tubbs,  of  Hampton  Township,  was  born  in 
JjliSII-^    Sussex  Co.,   Del.,   March    10,    1816.     His 
(;Pq   parents  were  Kendall  and  Margaret  (Calhoun) 
A      Tubbs,  natives   of  Delaware.     Mr.   Tubbs,  of 
this    notice,   came   to    Hampton   Township  in 
April,  1S53,  and  located  on  section   1,  where  he  pur- 
chased 40  acres  of  land,  and  on  which  he  resided 
until  the  date  of  his  death,  Feb.  17,  1885.     At  the 
age  of  18   years   Mr.  Tubbs  engaged  as  a  sailor  on 
the  ocean,  which  vocation  he  followed,  more  or  less, 
for  a  period  of  12  years. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hester  Turner, 
March  28,  1839.  She  was  a  native  of  Delaware,  in 
which  State  she  was  born.  The  issue  of  their  union 
was  ten  children.  Mrs.  Tubbs  has  continued  to 
manage  the  farm  since  the  death  of  her  husband,  and 
rents  her  coal  mine.  She  is  a  lady  calculated  to 
make  her  own  way  in  the  world.  She  grapples  with 
her  new  duties  and  responsibilities  with  commend- 
able business  judgment  and  tact.  She  is  a  prominent 
and  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  also  is  always  interested  in  every  un- 
dertaking looking  toward  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. 

There  have  been  a  large  family  of  children  born 
to  Mr.  ahd  Mrs.  Tubbs,  some  of  whom  arose  to  a 
prominent  place  in  society,  and  were  highly  esteemed 
as  citizens  of  their  locality.  A  sad  family  record  is 
theirs,  however,  for  they  were  called  upon  to  follow 
all  but  one  to  the  cemetery.    To  add  to  the  affliction 


of  the  mother  and  wife,  she  was  called  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  her  husband,  Jan.  5,  1883.  The  following  is 
a  family  record,  giving  the  names  and  dates  of  birth 
of  each  of  their  ten  children:  Ann  Maria,  born 
May  ro,  1S42  ;  Hester  Jane,  June  17,  1844;  Mary 
lv,  Oct.  4,  1S46  ;  Theodore  P.,  Aug.  17,  1848;  Caro- 
line V.,  Aug.  ro,  1850;  Clara  E.,  Jan.  28,  1852; 
George  W.;  Dec.  17,  1854;  Rosa  E.,  July  ri,  1856; 
Charles  H.,  Nov.  13,  r86o,  and  an  infant  son,  Feb. 
22,  1862.  All  of  the  above  are  deceased  except 
Rosa  E.  Clara  E.  became  the  wife  of  John  Jones, 
their  marriage  occurring  in  1872.  She  became  the 
mother  of  two  children, — Albert  W.,  born  Sept.  r, 
1874,  and  Maggie  J.,  Jan.  r8,  1877.  Mrs.  Jones 
died  April  14.  1884.  Charles  H.  was  married  to 
Miss  Dora  E.  Holmes,  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  June  17, 
1878.  One  child,  George  P.,  was  born  to  them  Sept. 
27,  1SS0. 

Mr.  Tubbs  politically  was  a  prominent  Democrat, 
but  never  an  office-seeker.  He  was  a  worthy  citizen, 
and  enjoyed  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  many 
friends  and  acquaintances,  and  we  feel  confident 
that  his  portrait  will  be  an  acceptable  feature  of  the 
Album  of  Rock  Island  County.  It  is  accordingly 
given,  accompanying  this  sketch,  as  is  also  that  of  his 
wife,  Mrs.  Hester  Tubbs,  who  is  an   estimable   lady. 


«J2J2j2^5ig"* 


illiam  Evans,  General  Superintendent  of 
the  iron  department  of  the  Moline  Plow 
Company  since  1875,  and  an  employe  of 
|!a^5>  the  company  for  20  years — 1 9  years  a  fore- 
man and  superintendent.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  in  England,  in  Chester 
County,  March  24,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Mary  Evans.  He  served  a  regular  apprentice- 
ship at  the  machinist  and  boilermaker's  trade  in  his 
native  country.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1855, 
spent  a  few  weeks  in  Philadelphia,  working  at  his 
trade,  and  then  came  to  Moline.  He  began  work 
with  Deere  &  Co.,  plow  manufacturers,  and  continued 
with  them  till  r865,  when  he  left  home  to  engage 
with  the  Moline  Plow  Company.  In  1866  he  was 
made  foreman  in  his  department,  which  position  he 


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theld  till  1875,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  position 
he  now  holds,  that  of  superintendent  of  the  iron  de- 
partment. Mr.  Evans'  long  service  in  the  responsi- 
ble relations  he  has  held  with  this  company  in  their 
extensive  works,  bears  indisputable  testimony  to  his 
perfect  knowledge  of  his  business,  his  entire  capa- 
bility and  fidelity  to  the  duties  devolving  upon  him. 
Mr.  Evans  was  married  June  1,  1858,  to  Mrs. 
Jane  Venis,  daughter  of  Robert  Cowley.  Mrs.  Evans 
was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  died  at  the  birth 
of  her  first  child,  a  son  ;  the  child  died  also.  Mr. 
I  Evans  was  married  again,  Jan.  25,  i860,  to  Miss 
(j  Anna  C,  daughter  of  John  Anderson.  Mrs.  Evans 
^  was  born  in  Sweden,  Jan.  30,  1845.  They  have 
had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  namely : 
George  E.,  born  Nov.  17,  1861  ;  Clara  J.,  March  2, 
1865  ;  Lillian  M.,  Feb.  29,  1868;  Bessie  A.,  July  10, 
1870;  Willard  F.,  Dec.  30,  1874;  Mamie  C,  Aug.  8, 
1878,  and  Bernice  R.,  born  Now.  12,  1883. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  are  members  of  the  Baptist 

Church.     In  politics  Mr.  E.  is  a  Republican.     Mr. 

/\    Evans  is  the  patentee  of  some  valuable  inventions, 

n   one  an  improvement  on  the  Western  Cultivator,  and 

another  is  the  popular  Evans  Sulky  Plow. 


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t^harles  Fiebig,   safe-lock  expert  of  Rock 
jjj    Island,  was  born  and  brought   up  in   the 
(flU/'  v     c^y  of  Neustadt,  province  of  Holstein  Ger- 
$fe      many.     He  was  a  locksmith  by  trade,  and  it 
W   ■  was  this  fact  that  led  him  to  the  study  of  safe 
l|        and  burglar-proof  locks  as  a  specialty,  after 
arriving  in  America. 

Mr.  Fiebig  is  the  eldest  son  of  P.   F.    and  Anna 
Fiebig,   and  was  born   July    18,    1847.     His  father, 
whom  he  has  visited  since  coming  to  this  country,  is 
a  wealthy  lime  and  cement  manufacturer  in  Germa- 
ny, and  has  frequently  tried  to  induce  Charles  to  re- 
.(   turn  to  Neustadt  and  make  his  home ;    but  he  says, 
having  been  acquainted  with  the  ways  of  America, 
he  could  never  endure  to  live  again  in   Europe.     He 
came  over  in  1865,  and  for   the   four  years  following 
t   worked  in  a  machine-shop  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  go- 
11   ing  thence  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  worked  two  years 
C^   -or    Hall's   Safe    and    Lock    Company.     In  1872  he 


came  to  Rock  Island,  and  after  clerking  about 
three  years  in  the  hardware  house  of  A.  Steele  began 
his  present  business.  His  shop,  where  he  manufac- 
tures and  repairs  locks,  burglar  alarms,  electric  bells, 
etc.,  is  located  on  Third  Avenue  near  17th  Street. 
But  this  department  is  but  an  incident  to  his  chief 
business,  which  is  that  of  safe  and  burglar-proof  lock 
expert,  in  which  he  is  employed  by  the  largest  safe 
and  lock  companies  in  the  United  States. 

Since  his  residence  in  this  city,  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  no  less  than  500  different  safe  openings, 
and  has  yet  to  meet  with  a  combination  that  would 
not  yield  to  his  efforts  to  secure  his  successful  solu- 
tion. His  work  consists  largely  in  opening  safes 
when  the  combination  has  been  lost  and  the  owners 
are  unable  to  gain  an  entrance.  In  some  cases 
criminal  work  has  been  performed  such  as  the  ab- 
sconding of  the  clerk  in  charge,  and  the  parties  have 
telegraphed  for  an  expert  to  open  the  safe  for  inspec- 
tion. The  most  notable  cases  in  which  he  has  fig- 
ured are  given  below.  The  safe  of  the  Burlington 
mills  refused  to  open  after  the  drowning  of  the  cash- 
ier, and  the  Rock  Island  expert  was  sent  for  and  soon 
discovered  the  correct  combination. 

The  clerk  of  the  steamer  Helen  Mara  few  years 
since  absconded,  and  the  officers  remaining  failed  to 
know  the  combination.  Fiebig  was  called  on  and 
solved  the  combination. 

Another  peculiar  incident  is  that  related  of  a  safe 
in  the  office  of  J.  N.  Lowry,  at  Carbon  Cliff.  The 
safe  remained  in  that  office  13  years,  and  nobody 
seemed  to  be  aware  of  its  owner,  as  the  office  had 
several  times  changed  hands,  but  no  history  of  the 
safe  was  ever  transmitted.  Finally  the  safe  expert 
was  called  on,  and  the  safe  was  opened  and  the  own- 
er discovered.  The  latter,  it  was  proved,  had  died 
suddenly,  which  accounted  for  the  mystery  surround- 
ing it. 

The  safe  of  Thompson  &  Riley,  of  Davenport,  Io- 
wa, remained  unopened  for  three  years,  as  the  form- 
er partner  had  died  without  giving  the  combination, 
and  the  new  proprietors  were  unable  to  master  it. 
August  Tilmain,  of  Milan,  had  a  safe  which  came  in 
possesion  of  the  sheriff,  and  he  refused  to  open  it. 
Fiebig  was  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  soon  had 
the  contents  exposed  to  view.  N.  Dimock,  of  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa,  on  recovery  from  a  disease  failed 
to  remember  the  combination.  He  was  obliged  to 
employ  an  expert  to  have  it  opened.     The  clerk  of 


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the  steamer  Silver  Wave  went  crazy,  and  the  safe 
had  to  be  opened  by  an  expert. 

Another  case  which  was  of  peculiar  interest  was 
during  a  trial  at  the  Circuit  Court  at  Marengo,  Iowa. 
A  certain  party  had  left  some  money  for  safe  keeping 
at  a  store,  and  during  the  night  the  safe  was  robbed 
and  the  clerk  quite  badly  used  up.  The  clerk  was 
arrested  on  suspicion,  and  the  line  of  the  defense 
was  to  prove  that  the  safe  had  been  opened  by 
"  cracksmen,"  as  it  was  not  injured  in  the  least  by  the 
robbers.  Fiebig  appeared  as  an  expert  witness  for 
the  defense,  and  the  safe  was  placed  in  the  court- 
room for  the  witness  to  operate  upon.  He  opened 
the  lock  in  a  few  minutes  and  the  accused  was  dis- 
charged, as  the  testimony  was  convincing  as  to  the 
theory  of  the  defense. 

Mr.  Fiebig  is  identified  with  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and 
the  M.  W.  of  A.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married 
Sept.  7,  1874,  was  Miss  Mary  A.  Otto,  a  native  of 
Wisconsin.  Their  children  are  Emma,  Carl,  Rich- 
ard and  Frank. 


illiam  McCqnnell,  a  farmer  of  Coe  Town- 
ship, resident  on  section  24,  came  to  the 
county  in  1852.  He  had  previously  en- 
fy  tered  a  farm  on  the  same  section,  and  at  the 
time  he  removed  his  family  here  he  bought 
'  a  portion  of  land  on  section  27,  on  which  there 
had  been  a  log-cabin  of  the  pioneer  pattern  built,  of 
which  they  took  possession  in  the  fall  of  1852. 
Later,  the  head  of  the  family  built  a  frame  house  on 
section  24,  in  which  they  have  resided  since  its  com- 
pletion. 

He  was  born  March  23,  1809,  in  Elizabeth  Town- 
ship, Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Jobs)  McConnell.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  county  in  the  Keystone  State  in 
which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  He  was 
the  owner  of  a  large  estate,  which  he  cleared  from 
the  timber,  and  which  became  the  property  of  his 
descendants. 

Mr.  McConnell  was  reared  on  the  farm  where  his 
father  was  born  and  died,  and  was  instructed  in  the 


business  of  a  farmer.  He  worked  on  the  home-farm 
until  he  was  18  years  of  age,  when  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  acquire  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  He  was 
engaged  in  that  business  a  little  more  than  three 
years,  and  then,  on  account  of  impaired  health,  he 
resolved  to  devote  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits. 

He  was  married  March  17,  1842,  to  Sidney  L. 
Lorimer.  She  was  born  Sept.  14,  1818,  in  Allegany 
Co.,  Pa.  Soon  after  their  marriage  they  went  to 
Westmoreland  County  and  engaged  in  farming,  and 
remained  there  until  they  removed  to  Illinois. 

The  children  of  the  family  are  six  in  number,  and 
they  are  named  Sarah  C,  Martha  L.,  John  S.,  Jo- 
seph H.,  James  I.  and  Wm.  G.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


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lifton  Stanley,  proprietor  of  the  Commer- 


W  cial   House,    and  owner  and  manager  of 

»iy»  ■>      the  livery  barn  at  Reynolds,  was  born  in 

dfe)     Fulton  County,  this  State,  Sept.  8,  1851.     He 

W      was  only  a  year  old  when  the  family  moved  to 

J        Drury    Township,  this  county.     His   mother 

having  died  when  he  was  about  eight  years   of  age, 

he   lived   with    his    uncle,  Simon    Mills,  of    Buffalo 

Prairie,  four   years,  and    then,  his   father   marrying 

again,  he  lived  with  him  until  of  age,  receiving  a  good 

public-school  education. 

When  a  young  boy,  Mr.  Stanley  received  an  injury 
on  his  left  leg,  which  resulted  in  the  terrible  malady 
termed  "white  swelling,"  and  finallv  in  the  necessity 
of  amputation  ;  but,  notwithstanding  this  severe  af- 
fliction, he  managed  by  industry  and  economy  to 
secure  a  team  and  wagon,  with  which  he  engaged  in 
the  huckstering  business  from  Muscatine,  for  four 
years,  in  this  and  Mercer  counties.  Then  for  a 
year  he  herded  cattle  in  Southwestern  Iowa.  He 
afterward  came  to  Aledo,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  and,  with 
Perry  Moore,  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  This 
partnership  continued  for  two  years,  and  in  1878 
Mr.  Stanley  came  to  Reynolds  and  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  (afterward  purchasing  a  good  barn 
and  lot,  150  x  160  feet),  which  he  has  since  success- 
fully conducted.  In  April,  1884,  he  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  the  Commercial  Hotel,  since  which  date 


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he  has  been  its  manager,  enjoying  a  large  and  satis- 
factory patronage. 

He  was  married  March  20,  1884,  in  Duncan 
Township,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  to  Mary  J.  Bonney, 
daughter  of  John  S.  and  Melissa  (Kistler)  Bonney. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
German  ancestry,  and  reside  in  that  township,  where 
Mr.  Bonney  is  a  prominent  citizen.  Mrs.  Stanley 
was  born  in  Buffalo  Prairie  Township,  this  county, 
Sept.  n,  1862,  and  was  reared  and  educated  there. 

Mr.  Stanley  is  now  holding  the  office  of  Consta- 
ble, which  he  has  held  for  the  last  four  years.  He 
has  also  been  Collector  two  terms. 

Mr.  Stanley's  father,  Richard  H,  was  probably  a 
native  of  Ohio ;  he  was  a  farmer  by  vocation,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  pioneer  days.  He  married  Miss 
Sarah  Mills,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  died  when  her  son  Clifton  was 
eight  years  of  age.  The  bereaved  husband  then 
found  it  necessary  to  break  up  housekeeping  until  he 
was  re-married,  about  four  years  afterward,  to  Jo- 
hanna Fowler.     He  died  in  the  year  1873. 


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(!) 

-^l^ric    Okerberg,    the    pioneer   jeweler  and 
watchmaker  of  Rock  Island  County,  came 
here  in  1 85  1 ,  was  born  in  Sweden,  July  2 1 , 
££.    1821.     He  served  a  regular   apprenticeship  to 
the  watchmaker  and  jeweler  trade  in  his  native 
country,  and  afterwards  carried  on  the  business 
until  1850,  when  he  emigrated  to  America.  He  came 
to   Rock  Island   and  opened  the  first  watchmaker 
and  jeweler  shop  in  this  place,  then  only  a  small  vil- 
lage.    He  continued  business  at  this  point  until   the 
spring  of  1855,  when  he  removed  to  Moline  and  es- 
tablished his  present  business.     Mr.    Okerberg  has 
the  oldest  and  most  important   house   in   his  line  in 
the  city,  and  by  good  work  and  fair  dealing  has  built 
up  an  honorable  reputation.     He  owns  the  substan- 
tial brick  structure  in  which  he  does  business,  besides 
other  valuable  city  property.     He  is  noted  for  his  in- 
dustrious habits    and  close    application  to  business, 
which  insures  prompt  and  skillful   attention  to  all 
work  placed  in  his  hands,  which  is  one  of  the  secrets 

£\9d*wi- *&*■ — %^m  n : 


of  his  successful  career  as  a  business  man.  He  is 
a  thorough  master  of  his  business,  as  he  ought  to  be, 
having  had  43  years'  experience  in  the  same. 

Mr.  Okerberg  was  united  in  marriage  in  Rock  Isl- 
and, Jan.  13,  1853,  to  Miss  Johanna  Peterson,  also 
a  native  of  Sweden.  They  have  become  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five  daughters: 
Emma,  born  March  31,  1854,  wife  of  August  Alm- 
gren,  of  Moline;  Matilda,  born  June  30,  1856,  wife 
of  John  Buford,  of  Moline;  Eric  Axel,  born  May  18, 
1859;  Jennie,  born  March  3,  1862;  France  Oscar, 
born  June  7,  1S67  ;  Rose,  born  Feb.  9,  1872;  Nel- 
lie, born  May  31,  1876. 


-««- 


*5V;  "-.'-■ 


Wfefti  rnbrose  Searl,  a  retired  resident  at  Port 
sJjJj'.  Byron,  is  a  pioneer  of  the  county  of 
Rock  Island  of  1838.  He  was  born 
Nov.  27,  1808,  in  Fairfield  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Polly  (Ephrenmon) 
Searl.  His  parents  were  born  respectively  in 
Vermont  and  Ohio,  and  they  belonged  to  the  pioneer 
element  in  the  Buckeye  State,  as  they  located  in  the 
county  of  Fairfield  in  its  earliest  period.  His  father 
was  extensively  engaged  for  many  years  as  a  drover, 
buying  large  herds  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  in 
Tennessee,  which  he  sold  in  Ohio.  In  1809  he  set 
out  for  the  former  State,  taking  with  him  a  large  sum 
of  money.  He  was  never  again  heard  from,  and  it 
was  supposed  that  he  was  murdered  for  his  money, 
as  his  business  relations  were  well  known. 

At  20  years  of  age  Mr.  Searl  entered  into  a  volun- 
tary apprenticeship  with  a  cabinet-maker,  with  whom 
he  served  two  years.  He  then  established  himself 
in  the  same  line  of  business  at  Royalton  in  Fairfield 
County,  where  he  operated  until  1831,  when  he 
started  for  Michigan,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
child.  The  journey  of  300  miles  was  made  with  an 
ox  team.  Mr.  Searl  made  a  claim  of  Government 
land,  which  was,  situated  12  miles  from  the  city  of 
Kalamazoo,  in  a  southerly  direction,  on  which  he 
built  a  pioneer's  dwelling  and  began  making  im- 
provements. When  the  Government  sales  com- 
menced he  went  to  White  Pigeon,  and  entered  160 
acres  of  land.  He  began  to  improve  his  property, 
and  work    as  a  carpenter.     In  1S38  he  sold  out  and 


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came  to  Illinois.  He  drove  through  with  horses  to 
Rock  Island  County.  He  bought  240  acres  of  land, 
situated  17  miles  from  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  on 
on  which  was  a  log  house  and  a  stable,  and  a  few 
acres  had  been  broken.  He  devoted  his  time  to  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture  there  seven  years,  when  he  sold 
out  and  went  to  Hampton  Township,  where  he  be- 
came by  purchase  the  proprietor  of  another  farm. 
This  he  sold  also  in  1881,  and  moved  to  Port  Byron, 
where  he  bought  his  present  residence. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Searl  was  born  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  in  1806.  She  is  the  mother  of  five  children  : 
Albina  is  the  wife  of  D.  S.  Allen,  and  they  reside  at 
Port  Byron.  Mary  married  Alexis  Fishback,  of 
Kalamazoo,  Mich.  James  A.  is  a  resident  of  Hamp- 
ton Township.  Hattie  married  Mr.  Lawyer,  of 
Ohio.    John  lives  in  Hampton  Township. 

Mr.  Searl  has  passed  his  life  in  active,  energetic 
effort.  He  is  a  capable  mechanic,  a  skillful  fanner, 
and  a  judicious  manager  in  all  vocations  in  whch  he 
has  operated. 


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Rohn  W.  Bartlett,  foreman  of  the  wood  de- 
partment of  the  Moline  Plow  Co.  since 
November,  188 1,  was  born    in  Washington 

County,  Ohio,  Aug.  10,  1828.  Here  he  was 
jt  reared  and  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
\  carriage-making  trade  in  all  its  brandies.  Af- 
ter having  served  his  full  time  at  this  business,  he 
decided  not  to  pursue  it,  at  least  just  then,  so  he  en- 
gaged in  the  bucket  and  tub  manufacture  at  Harmar, 
Ohio,  and  learned  that  business  there.  In  1S70  he 
went  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  erected  a  saw- 
mill, which  he  operated  in  connection  with  a  bucket 
factory.  He  spent  two  years  and  a  half  in  Tennessee, 
and  in  1873  came  to  Moline  to  take  charge  of  Dim- 
ock,  Gould  &  Co.'s  tub  and  pail  factory  as  foreman. 
He  operated  in  that  capacity  seven  years,  proving  an 
efficient  and  valuable  acquisition  to  the  company's 
force.  He  then  went  to  St.  Joe,  Mich.,  where  he 
erected  a  paper  pail  factory  for  A.  H.  Morrison,  who 
had  a  large  tub  and  pail  factory  at  that  place  and  op- 
erated it  until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  when  he  re- 


moved to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  took  charge  of 
C.  C.  Comstock's  tub  and  pail  factory. 

After  having  remained  about  15  months  in  the  last 
named  factory,  he  returned  to  Moline,  where  he  en- 
gaged with  the  Moline  Plow  Co.,  in  November,  1881. 
Having  had  about  17  years'  experience  in  tub  and 
pail  making,  he  quit  the  business  and  engaged  as 
foreman  of  the  pattern  and  wood  department  of  the 
extensive  agricultural  implement  works  of  this  com- 
pany. Mr.  Bartlett  is  a  thorough  mechanic  and  has 
made  patterns  for  all  sorts  of  farm  machinery.  He  is 
the  patentee  of  upwards  of  25  different  inventions, 
many  of  which  have  proved  very  valuable.  Among 
the  most  important  of  his  inventions  may  be  men- 
tioned a  machine  for  the  manufacture  of  tubs  and 
pails  and  a  wheeled  riding  plow,  on  which  he  draws  a 
handsome  royalty  from  the  manufacturers  in  Can- 
ada. He  also  invented  a  machine  for  potato  digging 
and  sacking.  Another  very  important  invention  of 
his  is  the  tire-setting  machine,  now  in  use  in  the 
Moline  Plow  Co.'s  shops,  which  sets  tires  cold  and 
shrinks  them  to  the  required  size  with  great  speed 
and  uniformity. 

The  superintendent  of  the  J.  I.  Case  threshing 
machine  shops,  of  Racine,  Wis.,  recently  came  to 
Moline  to  investigate  the  working  of  this  noted  ma- 
chine, and  was  so  pleased  with  it  that  he  ordered 
one  for  the  Case  shops,  at  a  cost  of  $800.  These  ma- 
chines are  manufactured  in  Clinton,  Iowa.  Informa- 
tion regarding  the  sale  of  them  will  be  furnished  by 
Mr.  Bartlett,  of  Moline.  He  is  also  the  inventor  of 
some  popular  lubricating  oils.  In  fact,  he  possesses 
a  most  active  and  inventive  mind,  and  may  be  justly 
classed  among  the  leading  inventors  of  the  country. 
He  seems  able  to  solve  any  mechanical  problem  to 
which  he  gives  thought.  His  many  inventions  are 
practical  in  their  nature,  and  are  in  daily  use  in  some 
of  the  leading  and  most  advanced  manufactories  in 
the  country.  He  is  certainly  a  most  valuable  ad- 
junct even  to  the  extensive  factory  which  employs  so 
many  skilled  and  efficient  men.  Mr.  Bartlett  is  also 
a  fine  business  man  and  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Moline,  and  as  a  splendid  representative  of  the  re- 
spected and  valued  class  of  Rock  Island's  business 
men,  inventors  and  mechanics,  we  place  his  portrait 
in  this  Album. 

Mr.  Bartlett  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at  Red 
Bank,  New  Jersey,  Nov,  n,  1851,  with  Miss  Sarah 
R.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Cook  and  Fannie  (Hawkins) 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Dailey.  Mrs.  Bartlett  was  born  in  Monmouth  Co., 
New  Jersey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bartlett  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  B.  is  a  Republican 
in  political  opinion  and  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W., 
Moline  Lodge,  No.  115. 


Hawes,  Postmaster  at  Rock 
Island,  was  born  in  that  city  March  7, 
"  1841.  His  parents,  David  and  Julia  M. 
(Babcock)  Hawes,  were  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts, but  early  pioneers  in  Illinois,  coming 
to  the  State  as  early  as  1835,  and  two  years 
thereafter  located  in  Rock  Island,  since  which  time 
they  have  resided  there,  except  the  mother,  who 
died  in  1872,  witnessing  the  wonderful  transforma- 
tion from  the  little  trading  post  of  that  day  to  the 
thriving,  bustling  city  of  to-day. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home,  at- 
tending the  common  schools,  until  1861,  when  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation  to  the  loyal 
people  of  the  North  for  volunteers  to  put  down  the 
Rebellion  that  had  recently  broken  out  in  the  South. 
Mr.  Hawes  immediately  signified  his  willingness  to 
respond  to  the  call  by  enlisting  in  Co.  A,  37  th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  which  soon  went  into  camp  at  Chicago, 
where  it  remained  for  a  month.  Upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company  Mr.  H.  was  elected  First  Ser- 
geant. From  Chicago  he  went  with  the  regiment  to  St. 
Louis,  and  in  March,  1862,  took  part  in  the  cam- 
paign in  Southwestern  Missouri.  He  was  devoted 
to  his  country,  attentive  and  punctual  in  obeying  all 
orders,  soldierly  in  his  bearing,  and,  possessing  those 
traits  especially  required  in  a  leader,  he  soon  won 
the  confidence  of  his  superiors  and  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow  soldiers  in  arms.  This  was  demonstrated  by 
his  promotion  through  all  the  different  positions  to 
Captain,  which  position  he  held  until  Sept.  2r,  1863, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  22d  Regiment  of  the 
United  States  Colored  Troops  with  commission  of 
Major,  which  position  he  held  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  Dec.  31,  1865,  at  New 
Orleans,  La.  The  2 2d  Regiment  was  attached  to 
the  13th  Army  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Southwest. 
In  October,  1864,  he  was  appointed  Inspector  Gen- 


eral of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  of  the  State  of  Louisi 


During  the  Major's  service  in  the  war  he  was  en- 
gaged in  many  battles  and  skirmishes.  During  all 
these  perilous  times,  and  amid  constant  danger,  he 
received  only  a  slight  wound.  After  his  discharge 
from  the  service  he  returned  home,  and  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business  in  company  with  his  father, 
under  the  firm  name  of  D.  Hawes  &  Son.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  line  of  business  until  1872,  when  he 
was  appointed  Chief  of  Police  of  Rock  Island,  which 
his  long  service  as  a  soldier  had  especially  qualified 
him  for.  This  position  he  held  until  1880,  when  he 
was  given  a  position  in  the  Postoffice  as  clerk,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  At  the  end  of  this  time 
he  again  retired  from  public  service,  and  engaged 
with  Yale  &  Towne,  manufacturers,  as  traveling 
salesman.  This  occupation  he  continued  to  follow 
until  his  appointment  as  Postmaster  of  Rock  Island, 
his  commission  dating  July  4,  18S4.  Politically,  the 
Major  is  a  Republican,  but  divorces  politics  from  his 
public  duties,  serving  all  alike,  and  laboring  for  the 
best  interests  of  the  whole  community. 

Major  Hawes  was  married  Dec.  10,  1866,  to  Miss 
Josephine  B.  Saulpaugh,  a  native  of  New  York.  To 
them  have  been  born  three  children :  Catherine, 
born  Dec.  6,  1868;  Josephine,  March  27,  1876,  and 
C.  W.,  June  24,  1880.  He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of 
P.,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  Modern  Woodmen,  the  latter 
two  being  beneficiary  orders.  He  has  been  inti- 
mately coneected  with  the  Illinois  National  Guard, 
and  for  a  time  was  Captain  of  Co.  A,  of  the  Sixth 
Regiment,  Second  Brigade,  and  was  promoted  to  the 
Majorship,  and  again  was  elected  Captain.  He  is  a 
member  of  General  John  Buford  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No. 

243- 


^%iL  red  Freytag.  dealer  in  furniture,  wall-paper, 

^  '\    carpets,  etc.,  and  undertaker,  at  Reynolds, 

;,Vir^  was  born  in  the  city  of  Rendsburg,  Hol- 

%|p    stein,  Germany,  July    23,    1847.     His    father, 

ifes  Hering,  is   still  a  resident  in  Germany,  where 

i      he  is  following  his  occupation  of  harnessmaker. 

The  mother  of  the    subject   of  this    sketch,   Anna 

(Kuehl)  Freytag,  died  when  Mr.  F.  was    about   six 

years  old,  he  being  the  only  son.     After  the  death 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


573 


of  his  mother  he  lived  with  his  father,  who  afterward 
married  again,  until  November,  1868,  when  he  came 
to  America,  locating  with  his  cousin,  George  Herbst, 

Iin  Moline  for  a  time. 
He  came  to  this  county  and  followed  his  trade  as 
furniture  manufacturer,  which  he  had  learned  in  his 
native  country.  For  some  time  he  worked  for  differ- 
ent companies,  and  then,  forming  a  partnership  with 
John  Kroger,  established  a  furniture  store  in  the  city 
of  Rock  Island.  This  partnership  was  dissolved  at 
the  end  of  about  r8  months.  He  afterward  moved 
to  Reynolds  in  May,  1877,  and  started  a  small  store, 
where  he  has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in  his 
chosen  calling.  He  has  purchased  the  store  build- 
ing and  lot,  and  has  also  a  good  residence.  He  is 
a  straightforward  and  reliable  dealer,  and  is  esteemed 
as  a  worthy  citizen  of  the  community. 

July  10,  1870,  in  Rock  Island  City,  Mr.  Freytag 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Schmidt,  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Mary  Schmidt,  both  the  latter  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Mrs.  F.  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
Nov.  25,  1850,  and  was  a  very  young  child  when  her 
parents  moved  with  their  family  to  Rock  Island, 
where  she  was  reared  and  educated.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Freytag  have  become  the  parents  of  six  children, 
one  of  whom  is  deceased,  namely:  Henry  P.,  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  living  are  Philip,  who  was 
born  Feb.  21,  1872;  Emil,  July  28,  1874;  Mary, 
May  24,  1S80;  Charles,  March  17,  1882;  and  Hen- 
ry, Aug.  18,  1884. 

The  family  attend  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  F. 
is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  6,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  at  Rock 
Island,  of  which  organization  he  was  Recorder  for 
some  time.  He  was  formerly  a  Republican  in  his 
political  views,  but  is  now  a  Democrat. 


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illlam  H.  Turner,  Secretary  of  the  Moline 
Pipe  Organ  Company,  was  born  in  Wor- 
cestershire,   England.     He    learned    the 
trade  of  organ  builder  in  his  native  country, 
at  which  he  was  employed  until  1869,  when 
he  was  engaged  to  come  to  America  in  the  in- 
terest of  Marshall  Bros.,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.     Mr. 
Turner  made  his  home  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  till  1871, 


when  he  came  to  Moline,  111.,  forming  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  John  Lancashire  and  Edward  Harris,  fel- 
low countrymen,  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
pipe  organs.  They  began  in  a  small  way,  and  gradu- 
ally increased  their  facilities  till  they  had  secured  the 
well-appointed  and  commodious  establishment  now 
known  as  the  Moline  Pipe  Organ  Works,  which 
was  incorporated  March  26,1879.  Mr.  Turner  was 
elected  Secretary  at  the  first  election  of  officers,  and 
is  the  present  incumbent. 


lanson  L.  Sayre,  farmer  on  section  27, 
Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Jane 
(Valentine)  Sayre,  who  were  natives  of  New 
Jersey.  The  father  died  in  Ohio,  in  1836,  and 
the  mother  in  Rock  Island  County  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1848.  They  had  born  to 
them  a  large  family  of  children,  bearing  the  following 
names  :  Cynthia,  Albert  N.,  Milton  V.,  Emily,  Alma, 
Alanson  L.,  Alonzo  C,  Calvin  M.,  Wilmont  C,  Sal- 
mon B.  and  Clarissa,  the  latter  of  whom  lost  her  life 
when  about  three  years  of  age  by  falling  into  a  tub 
of  hot  suds.  Our  subject's  grandmother,  Johanna 
Crane,  was  of  old  Puritan  stock,  and  her  husband, 
William  Valentine,  was  of  French  extraction.  His 
great-grandfather  on  the  maternal  side  served  in  the 
War  for  American  Independence. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Champaign 
Co  ,  Ohio,  Oct.  24,  1818,  but  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  the  county  of  Logan,  in  that  State.  He  came  to 
Mercer  County,  this  State,  in  1838,  and  after  a  year's 
residence  there  he  returned  to  Ohio.  A  year  after 
that  he  came  to  this  county,  settling  in  Rural  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided,  and  now  owns  520 
acres  of  land  in  this  county.  He  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  an  exemplary  citizen.  He  has  held  the 
offices  of  Supervisor,  Assessor,  Collector,  etc.,  and  in 
his  political  views  he  is  classed  with  the  Democrats. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Sayre  to  Mary  Harold,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Catherine  (Baum)  Harold,  took  place 
Aug.  13,  1840,  in  Logan  Co.,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Sayre  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  April  17,1817.  Her  parents 
were  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  that  State.  Her 
mother's  father,  Christopher  Baum,  was  also  a  native 


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of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Sayre's  parents  had  a  family 
consisting  of  ten  children,  viz. :  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Simon  Heater,  a  native  of  Ohio;  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  A.  L.  Sayre  ;  David,  John,  Lewis,  Martha,  the 
wife  of  Wilson  Newell,  also  of  Ohio;  Jacob,  George 
\V,  Catherine  and  Francis  Marion.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sayre  are  the  parents  of  seven  children  now  living  : 
Marietta,  wife  of  Branson  C.  Metzler;  Caroline  mar- 
ried John  L.  Long;  Perry  W.  married  Fanny  C. 
Couch;  Martha,  J.,  wife  of  B.  F.  Couch;  Joseph  A., 
husband  of  Catherine  Tracy;  Charles  E.  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Laura  A.  Shearrard,  and  Cyrilda 
the  wife  of  H.  H.  Worthington.  Two  are  deceased, 
John  and  Oliver. 


JOOO^ 


--  '  • 

V  illiam 


D.  Webster,  the  leading  merchant 

at  Cordova,   is   a   native  citizen  of  Rock 

Island  County.     He   was  born    March  3, 

1S49,  in  Hampton  Township,  and  is  the  son 

11       of  Richard    and    Man    (Palmer)   Webster. 

His  parents  were  natives   of  Maine,  and    were 

pioneers  of  the  county. 

When  he  was  16  years  old  he  went  to  the  city  of 
Rock  Island  and  entered  the  employ  of  C.  M.  Aiken, 
dry-goods  merchant,  and  continued  in  the  position 
two  yeais.  He  then  engaged  in  the  same  capacity 
with  C.  Tegeler,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year. 
He  then  came  to  Cordova  and  became  an  accountant 
in  the  employ  of  D.  Zimmerman  and  J.  Q.  Wynkoop. 
He  remained  in  their  business  until  he  was  21  years 
of  age.  In  the  same  year  in  which  he  attained  his 
majority  he  began  to  operate  as  a  buyer  and  shipper 
of  grain,  in  which  he  was  engaged  r8  months,  mar- 
keting at  Chicago.  In  1871  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  former  employer,  J.  Q.  Wynkoop,  at  Cor- 
dova, in  general  merchandising,  and  they  continued 
their  joint  management  about  one  and  a  half  years, 
when  Mr.  Webster  bought  the  interest  of  his  partner 
and  has  since  managed  his  affairs  alone.  He  is 
making  a  success  of  his  business,  and  is  prosecuting 
a  trade  in  general  merchandise.  He  is  also  engaged 
in  shipping  stock,  grain,  coal,  etc. 

Mr.  Webster  was  joined  in  marriage,  July  3,  1870, 
with  Miss  Libbie  Johnston,  and  they  are  the  parents 

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of  three  children, — Ralph,  Charles  and  Hattie.  Mrs. 
Webster  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca 
(Ketchum)  Johnston,  and  was  born  in  New  Jersey. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  ancient  and  honorable  Order  of  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  holds  membership  in  the  Cordova  Lodge,  No. 
543,  and  Barrett  Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  No.  18,  of  Rock 
Island.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Lodge  of  A.  O. 
U.  W.,  and  Order  of  Woodmen. 


— h§^ 


aniel  P.  Williams,  residing  in  Cordova 
Township,  was  born  in  Center  Co.,  Pa., 
Sept.  30,  1S33.     He  is  the   third   son  of 

f'^'jiC     William    and    Mary     (Poorman)     Williams. 
When   Mr.  Williams  was  but  an  infant  his  par- 
ents moved  to   Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  attained  the  age  of  12  years,  and   , 
then  moved  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Trumbull  County.  ^ 
In  the  latter  county  he  grew  to  manhood,  alternating   \ 
his  labors  on  the  farm  by  attendance  at  the  common  J 
schools.     In  1855  J.  B.  Williams,  a  brother,  came  to  5 
Rock  Isiand  County,  and  lives  here  yet.     In  1856 
he  emigrated  to  this  county,  locating  on  a  farm  in 
Cordova  Township.     In   1859  Mr.  Williams  went  to 
California,  overland  via  Salt  Lake.     He  went  to  the 
later  place  with  ox  teams,  and  from  there  to  Sacra- 
mento with   mules.     After  arriving  in  that  State  he 
was  engaged  in  prospecting  and  mining  for  about  six 
months,  when  he  returned  via  Nicarauga,  and  re- 
sumed farming,  which  occupation  he  continued  until 
1864.     During  that  year  he  again  went  West,  and 
visited  Montana  and  Idaho,  where  he  remained  for 
about  seven  months. 

In   1S65   Mr.  Williams  purchased  land  located  on 
section  3,  Cordova  Township,  on  which  he  settled 
and  at  once  engaged  in  its  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion.    There  were   no  improvements  here  when  he 
purchased  the  land.     At  the  present  time  he  has  a  fa 
nice  residence,  with  good   and  substantial  outbuild- 
ings on   his   farm,  together  with  shade,  ornamental  ,&, 
and  fruit  trees,  and  the   total  amount  of  his  landed  ,<§ 
interests  is   330  acres,  located  on  sections  3  and  9.  3 
He  is  also  devoting  his  attention  to  stock. 

Mr.  Williams  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Martha  T.  Ryerse,  daughter  of  Arthur  and  Anna 
(Parks)  Ryerse,  in  1872,  a  native  of  Canada.  They 
are  the  parents  of  two  children  :  Ora  B.,  born  May 
18,  1877,  and  Mollie,  Jan.  25,  1882. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  gentleman  whose  word  is  as 
good  as  his  bond,  and  whose  accumulations  of  this 
world's  goods  is  attributable  to  his  own  indomitable 
energy,  pluck  and  perseverance.  His  handsome 
residence,  together  with  its  surroundings,  are  evi- 
dences of  the  attributes  named,  and  his  esteem 
among  the  citizens  of  his  township  is  that  of  a  wor- 
thy, upright  and  honest  gentleman. 


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onathan  Huntoon,  President  and  general 
manager  of  the  Moline  &  Rock  Island 
Street  Railway,  is  the  oldest  resident  set- 
tler in  the  city.  Mr.  Huntoon  was  born  at 
Hanover,  Grafton  Co.,  N.  H.,  Nov.  18,  1S15, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Calef) 
Huntoon.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  pur- 
sued that  calling  until  1837,  when  he  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  and  came  to  Andover,  Henry  County,  where 
he  joined  his  brother,  Nathaniel,  who  was  running  a 
flouring-mill  for  the  "  Andover  Colony."  He  was  in- 
duced to  engage  in  the  mill  and  thus  learned  the 
miller's  trade.  This  was  the  first  mill  in  Northern 
Illinois,  and  people  came  from  a  great  distance  to 
have  their  grain  ground,  sometimes  a  hundred  miles 
or  more.  In  this  way  Mr.  Huntoon  became  ac- 
quainted with  people  throughout  the  northern  part 
of  the  State  and  even  beyond  the  Mississippi,  and 
learned  many  important  facts  regarding  the  country. 
He  thus  made  the  acquaintance  of  Messrs.  Spencer 
&  Sears,  of  Moline,  who  induced  him  to  come  to  this 
place  and  take  charge  of  a  mill  they  were  about  to 
start,  situated  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
Moline  Plow  Company.  He  came  to  this  place  in 
February,  1842,  for  that  purpose.  He  set  up  and 
operated  the  first  grist-mill  in  this  vicinity.  This 
mill  was  soon  succeeded  by  one  erected  by  the  same 
parties,  and  which  contained  four  run  of  stones.  Mr. 
Huntoon  had  charge  of  the  new  mill  also,  and  was 
employed  in  the  two  some  eight  years,  and  three  years 


in  the  manufacture  of  what  was  called  the  "Grape- 
Vine  Grain  Cradler." 

In  1853  he  became  associated  with  Messrs.  D.  E. 
Sears,  Timothy  Wood  and  George  Stevens  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  and  furniture  on  the  north 
side  of  the  island.  They  continued  the  business  un- 
til the  island  was  appropriated  by  the  Government  as 
a  military  reservation.  About  1877  he  became  in- 
terested in  the  Moline  &  Rock  Island  Street  Railway, 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
and  in  July,  1884,  was  elected  President. 

Mr.  Huntoon  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Henry  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  3,  1841,  with  Miss  Mary  Pad- 
delford,  daughter  of  Wm.  Paddelford.  She  was  born 
at  Enfield,  Grafton  Co.,  N.  H.,  April  9,  1820.  The 
issue  of  their  union  has  been  five  children — three  of 
whom  are  living,  namely :  Hannah  C,  widow  of 
Charles  F.  Samuels ;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  R.  W.  Hodg- 
son, of  Newton,  Kansas;  and  James  F.,  the  son,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Jamison  and  resides  in  Henry  Co.,  111. 
Mr.  Huntoon,  as  his  record  shows,  was  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Illinois.  He  built  the  first  frame 
house  in  Hanna  Township,  Henry  County.  He  is 
the  oldest  settler  of  the  city  of  Moline  proper  now 
living  and  resident  here.  He  built  the  third  house 
in  this  town,  which  was  situated  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Moline  House,  and  was  a  frame  structure. 
Mr.  Huntoon  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  or- 
ganization of  that  party,  and  while  not  an  aspirant 
for  the  honors  of  public  office,  he  has  served  in  the 
responsible  positions  of  Supervisor  and  Assessor  for 
Moline  Township  several  years.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Mr.  Huntoon,  being  one  of  the  fathers  of  the 
county,  a  prominent  business  man  and  a  worthy  citi- 
zen, is  most  appropriately  represented  in  this  work 
by  a  faithful  likeness  of  his  facial  features. 


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I  I pv/  S  eter  H.  Peterson,  a  dealer  in  groceries, 
•  Lsa  •  provisions,  tinware,  etc.,  corner  of  Fourth 
J  fe.  Ave.  and  Third  Street,  Moline,  was  born  in 
yt^  Sweden,  March  11,  1844,  and  is  the  son  of 
/i\  Peter  and  Pemilia  Johnson.  He  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  and  emigrated  to  America  from  Sweden  in 
1869,  landing  in  New  York  ;    from  there  he  went  to 


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Chicago,  where  he  remained  but  a  few  months,  and 
came  to  Moline  in  1870.  Mr.  Peterson  was  em- 
ployed in  a  steam  bakery  until  1874,  at  which  time 
he  established  his  present  business.  By  fair  dealing, 
good  judgment  in  selection  of  goods,  together  with  a 
courteous  and  accommodating  way,  he  has  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  very  substantial  trade. 

Jan.  i,  1878,  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  Moline, 
to  Mrs.  Christina  Erickson,  widow  of  John  Erickson, 
and  daughter  of  Nels  Johnson.  Mrs.  Peterson  was 
born  in  Sweden,  and  is  the  mother  of  one  child  by 
her  former  marriage,  named  Annie  Erickson,  born 
Dec.  29,  1870.  Two  children  were  born  of  the  pres- 
ent marriage:  Nels  Albert,  born  Nov.  24,  1879,  and 
Bette,  born  Aug.  5,  1882. 

Mr.'  Peterson  has  represented  the  First  Ward  in 
the  Common  Council  for  eight  years  in  succession, 
and  is  the  present  Alderman  from  that  ward.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 


$-=- 


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—  5 

;  obert   D.  McCreery,  a   farmer  residing  on 

section  13,  Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of 
%$£*'"  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Dunlap)  McCreery, 
"  r  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  died  in 
Indiana  Co  ,  Pa.,  about  1840.  The  mother 
emigrated  to  Kansas  during  the  year  1884. 
She  was  married  after  the  death  of  Mr.  McCreery  to 
Hugh  Speedy,  of  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.  Samuel  and 
Margaret  McCreery  were  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren,— Robert  D.,  subject  of  this  notice ;  Andrew  and 
Samuel. 

Robert  McCreery,  whose  sketch  we  write,  was  born 
in  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  29,  1833.  He  received  a 
good  common-school  education  and  also  attended 
about  six  months  an  academy  in  his  native  county. 
He  lived  at  home,  alternating  his  labors  on  the  farm 
by  attendance  at  school  until  he  attained  his  major- 
ity. On  becoming  his  own  man  he  left  the  family 
hearth-stone  and  came  to  Rock  Island  County,  and 
shortly  after  arriving  here  purchased  80  acres  of  land 
located  on  section  13,  Rural  Township,  where  he 
erected  a  house  and  entered  upon  the  active  labors 
of  clearing  and  improving  his  land.     He   has  a  fine 


residence  on  his  place,  together  with  good  barn  and 
outbuildings,  and  by  economy  and  energetic  effort 
he  has  been  enabled  to  increase  his  landed  interests 
until  he  at  present  is  the  proprietor  of  280  acres, 
the  major  portion  of  which  is  in  a  good  state  of  culti- 
vation. 

Mr.  McCreery  was  first  united  in  marriage  in  Ru- 
ral Township,  in  March,  1857,  with  Marion,  the  ac- 
complished daughter  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth 
(Wilson)  Gordon,  natives  of  Venango  Co.,  Pa.  Her 
parents  came  to  Rock  Island  County  in  an  early  day, 
and  settled  in  what  is  now  Rural  Township,  where 
her  father  died  about  the  year  1870.  The  mother 
resides  in  Kansas  with  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Creery was  born  in  Venango  Co.,  Pa.  She  was  the 
mother  of  seven  children  by  Mr.  McCreery,  namely  : 
John  C,  Elizabeth  J.,  Isabella,  Zilpah  M.,  Porter 
G.,  Robert  D.  and  William  H.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  Aug.  28,  1S81,  and  Mr.  McCreery  formed  a 
second  matrimonial  alliance  in  Washington,  Iowa, 
Nov.  23,  1883,  with  Margaret  Wilson.  She  was 
born  Feb.  6,  1843,  and  has  become  the  mother  of 
one  child. 

Mr.  McCreery  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor 
for  one  term,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Collector  three 
terms,  Township  Clerk  for  several  years,  and  other 
minor  offices.  He  and  his  wife  are  attendants  at 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Politically,  Mr. 
McCreery  is  an  adherent  of  the  principles  advocated 
by  the  Democratic  party. 


-H«i4H&**-*- 


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illiam  T.  Ball,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of 
Ijs  the  Union  Malleable  Iron  Company,  of 
'p  Moline,  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was 
born  at  Granville,  Addison  County,  Dec.  20, 
1S39.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Mellona 
(Lamb)  Ball,  were  natives  of  that  State.  He 
received  an  academic  education  at  Montpelier  (Vt.)  '<$) 
Academy,  and  engaged  in  teaching.  He  pursued 
that  vocation  some  six  winters  continuously.  In  the 
winter  of  the  years  1863-4  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
was  employed  at  the  military  post  of  Rock  Island 
till  the  fall  of  1864,  when  he  returned  to  Vermont. 
Mr.  W.  T.  Ball  formed  a   matrimonial   alliance  at 


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'  Rochester,  Vt.,  Dec.  25,  1864,  with  Miss  Ellen  Mar- 
tin, daughter  of  Loman  and  Amanda  Martin.  Mrs. 
Ball  was  born  at  Rochester,  Vt.  Mr.  Ball  continued 
to  reside  in  his  native  State  till  the  spring  of  1870, 
when  he  came  to  Moline,  111.,  and  engaged  as  clerk 
in  the  office  of  Deere  &  Co.,  plow  manufacturers. 
He  remained  in  the  employment  of  that  company 
nearly  12  years,  where  by  a  faithful  and  capable  dis- 
charge of  his  duties;  he  won  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  employers  and  associates.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1SS1,  he  resigned  his  position  with  Deere  & 
Co.,  and  purchased  a  third  interest  in  the  Union 
Malleable  Iron  Company,  of  which  he  was  elected 
Secretary  and  Treasurer  Oct.  1  of  that  year,  and  has 
held  that  position  continuously  since.  Mrs.  Ball 
died  Nov.  30,  r8So,  leaving  three  children,  named 
respectively  Grace,  William  J.  and  Nellie. 

Mr.  Ball  was  married  again  March  8,  1883,  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  to  Mrs.  Esther  L.  Baker,  widow  of 
Joseph  Baker,  of  Pekin,  111.,  and  daughter  of  John 
Ingalls,  now  of  Indianola,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Ball  was  born 
in  Tremont,  Tazewell  Co.,  Ill 

Mr.  Ball  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  and 
has  voted  with  and  given  a    cordial  support  to  that 

'    party  continuously  since. 

(!) 


rury  A.  Weatherhead,  a  farmer  residing 
on  section  34,  Hampton  Township,  was 
born  on  section  27  of  the  township  in 
MST  which  he  at  present  resides,  July  23,  1848. 
ck  His  parents,  Ira  and  Jane  (McNeil)  Weather- 
head,  were  natives  of  Vermont  and  New  York 
respectively.  Mr.  Weatherhead,  subject  of  this  no- 
tice, received  a  fine  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  county  and  at  the  Griswell  College  at 
Davenport,  Iowa.  He  was  connected  with  his 
father  in  farming  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  which 
occurred  in  1879.  Since  that  event  Mr.  Weather- 
head has  purchased  230  acres  of  land,  and  continues 
to  follow  the  vocation  of  a  farmer.  In  1876  he  went 
to  California,  where  he  remained  18  months,  then 
took  a  trip  across  the  "briny  deep"  to  England, 
where  he  remained  for  three  months,  then  returned 
home.     He  has  a  fine  farm,  good   residence,  barn 


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and  outbuildings,  and  also  has  a  fine  herd  of  graded 
Durham  cattle. 

Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Supervisor  for  two  years.  He  is  one  of 
the  progressive  farmers  of  Hampton  Township,  and 
an  energetic,  representative  citizen  of  Rock  Island 
County. 

Mr.  Weatherhead  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Miss  Adaline  DeWoolf,  a  native  of  Ohio,  in 
1878.  She  was  horn  April  24,  1853,  and  has  borne 
Mr.  Weatherhead  four  children, — Gretta,  born  May 
6,  1879;  Ira,  Nov.  6,  1880;  Louisa,  Nov.  16,  1882 
and  an  infant,  born  June  27,  1885  (not  named). 


«*A#j— *^ 


i^dwin  H.  Berry,  superintending  painter  in 
the  manufactory  of  the  Moline  Wagon 
^W^"^°  Company,  was  born  Dec.  11,  1847,  at  Ra- 
cine, Wis.  (A  sketch  of  his  father  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.)  He  attended  school 
until  he  was  about  16  years  of  age,  meanwhile 
working  also  at  painting  with  his  father,  and  in  this 
occupation  he  afterwards  continued  until  he  thor- 
oughly learned  it  in  all  its  details,  working  with  his 
father  for  a  long  time  at  Racine  for  the  J.  I.  Case 
Thresher  Company. 

In  June,  r863,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  F, 
39th  Wis.  Vol.  Inf.,  Capt.  Lawrence.  He  was  with 
his  company  in  Memphis,  Term.,  during  the  raids  of 
the  rebel  General  Forest  in  and  around  that  city, 
being  constantly  on  picket  and  guard  duty  there 
during  his  term  of  service.  He  was  mustered  out  at 
Milwaukee  in  September,  1863. 

After  leaving  the  army  he  entered  the  employment 
of  Fish  Bros.'  Wagon  Company,  at  Racine,  as  foreman 
in  their  department,  remaining  there  until  the  fall  of 
1865,  when  his  services  were  engaged  by  Mitchell, 
Lewis  &  Co.,  of  Racine,  and  they  sent  him  to  take 
charge  of  the  paint  shop  of  their  large  branch  manu- 
factory at  Levenworth,  Kan.  After  remaining  there 
for  some  time,  he  returned  to  the  main  house  at  Ra- 
cine. In  1869,  he  removed  to  Davenport,  Iowa, 
where  he  attended  to  general  job  painting  about  that 
city  until  April  1,  1870.  He  then  entered  the  large 
I    shops  of  the  Moline  Wagon   Company,  having  the 


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contract  for  the  painting  of  all  their  work.  The  fact 
that  he  still  holds  that  position  and  has  for  15  years 
continuously  had  charge  of  the  painting  for  that  con- 
cern is  the  solid  evidence  of  his  ability,  taste  and 
faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 

Roxana  M.  Lefler  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Berry 
April  2i,  1 868,  and  they  have  one  child,  who  was 
born  Nov.  24,  1S69.  Mrs.  Berry  died  Oct  23,  1871, 
and  Jan.  9,  1877,  Mr.  Berry  married  Miss  Ida  J. 
Hartwell,  at  Oconomowoc,  Wis.  By  this  marriage 
there  are  three  children,  viz. :  Naomi  J.,  born  Nov. 
25,  1877;  Claude  M.,  Dec.  24,  t88o;  Alice  M.,  Dec. 
12,  2881.  Mrs.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Mr.  Berry  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter 
of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party  ; 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  societies  of  Odd  Fellows, 
Druids  and  Red  Men. 


« 


«ll^  illiam  MeEniry  (deceased),  formerly  a 
Ac,  farmer,  residing  on  section  28,  Zuma 
Jj&fo  Township,  was  born  in  Ireland,  County 
Cork,  in  1817.  He  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1S40,  and  settled  in  Moline  Town- 
ship, Rock  Island  County,  in  1853,  locating  on 
section  20,  where  he  made  a  purchase  of  250  acres 
of  land.  He  afterward  purchased  250  more,  and  on 
section  1  bought  216  acres,  making  him  the  proprietor 
of  7  16  acres,  and  one  of  the  large  land -owners  of  the 
county.  There  are  many  magnificently  improved 
farms  in  Rock  Island  County.  Prominent  among 
them  is  the  farm  left  by  Mr.  MeEniry.  We  are 
glad  to  be  able  to  give  a  full-page  view  of  this  place, 
showing  the  varied  and  splendid  outbuildings,  its  fine 
residence,  with  beautiful  surroundings.  The  view  is 
given  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 

In  1847  Mr.  MeEniry  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Coughlin,  a  native  of  County  Cork, 
Ireland,  and  their  home  circle  was  blessed  with  six 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  namely  :  Elizabeth, 
Michael,  John,  Mathew,  William  and  Mary.  Eliza- 
beth married  Timothy  Dwyer,  resident  of  Missouri, 
and  the  issue  of  their  union  has  been  two  children — 
Bessie  and  Mabel.  Michael  married  Catherine  Fitz- 
harris,   and    they  are  the   parents    of   three    sons — 


t 


William,  Frank  and  Gregory.  John  and  Mathew  are 
graduates  of  Notre  Dame  University,  graduating  in 
1878  and  1881  respectively.  William  has  graduated 
in  the  Law  Department  of  the  Michigan  University 
at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  1885,  and  has  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  Rock  Island. 

Mr.  MeEniry  was  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  belonged  with  his  wife  to  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  He  held  the  office  of  School 
Director  for  several  years.  MeEniry  was  one  of  the 
influential  and  prominent  citizens  of  Zuma  Town- 
ship, and  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  18,  1874, 
was  mourned  by  his  friends  and  relations  as  a  kind 
father,  loving  husband  and  a  highly  respected  citizen. 


——J-}—* — °<=«Mi!iH!®>o— 3^-5-3- 


oseph  M.  Christy,  cracker  manufacturer, 
Rock  Island  and  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  was 
born  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  Sept.  19,  1842, 
he  remained  in  Ohio  until  1 2  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  he  came  to  Moline.  He  attended 
school  at  the  latter  place  for  a  year,  which  fin- 
ished his  education,  then  commenced  to  earn  his 
own  livelihood,  working  first  in  a  paper-mill  and  then 
clerking  for  three  years  in  a  Moline  drug  store.  Af- 
ter faithful  service  during  those  four  years,  he  left 
Moline  and  settled  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  for 
nearly  ten  years  he  was  engaged  as  salesman  in  the 
wholesale  dry-goods  line.  Mr.  Christy  then  left  Cin- 
cinnati and  returned  to  Moline,  where  he  bought  out 
the  cracker  factory  of  Hemenway&  Wheelock,  and 
branched  out  into  a  line  of  business  which  has 
grown  steadily  in  magnitude  and  prosperity  until 
"Christy's  Crackers"  have  became  well  and  favorably 
known  in  all  the  houses,  hotels  and  restaurants  in 
this  part  of  the  West.  After  devoting  considerable 
time  in  Moline  to  that  business,  he  removed  to  Dav- 
enport for  one  year,  when  he  sold  out  and  established 
a  steam  cracker  backery  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island, 
where  he  has  done  a  thriving  business  for  ten  years; 
and  three  years  ago  his  push  and  enterprise  led  him 
to  visit  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he  established  a 
branch  bakery,  which  has  steadily  grown  in  magni- 
tude and  importance  until  it  fairly  overshadows  the 
parent  house.  A  short  time  since,  he  sold  out  his 
fine  residence  in  Moline  (where  he  has  since  resided 


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since  leaving  Cincinnati,  Ohio,)  and  has  removed 
with  his  family  to  Des  Moines,  to  make  his  home 
there,  where  his  business  has  grown  to  such  propor- 
tions as  to  demand  much  of  his  personal  super- 
vision. 

On  thefirstday  of  January,  1867,  Mr.  Christy  was 
married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Ellen  M. 
Hemenway,  and  their  family  consists  of  Fred  H  , 
born  Oct.  2,  1867;  Jennie  M.,  born  Feb.  15,  1870; 
Joseph  M.,  Jr.,  born  Aug.  12,  1872;  Maggie  E., 
born  Dec.  3,  1875  ;  Charles  F.,  born  April  26,  1SS0; 
and  Clara,  born  Feb.  24,  1882,  and  died  July  18, 
1883. 

In  political  opinion,  Mr.  C.  is  an  active,  aggressive 
and  working  Republican,  always  an  important  worker 
in  local  and  State  elections,  but  never  seeking  office, 
always  working  hard  for  his  party  candidates  during 
elections,  but  at  other  times  attending  strictly  to  bus- 
iness. The  only  office  he  has  held  was  that  of  As- 
sistant Supervisor  in  1872,  and  that  he  was  fairly 
forced  to  accept.  He  is  a  practical  business  man, 
but  possesses  pleasant  social  qualities. 


-i — ^^y><;a^-^ — *- 


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N.  Y. 


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ev.  James  Sheldon,  deceased,  formerly  a 

resident  of  Milan,  and   Pastor  of  most  of 
w3.  .  .  .    . 

the    Methodist  Episcopal   societies  of  the 

two  counties,  was  born  near  Montreal,  Cana- 
da, Oct.  15,  1810,  and  came  with  his  parents 
into  the  United  States,  settling  in  Syracuse, 
His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  both  his  par- 
ents were  natives  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  of 
English  ancestry,  and  died  in  New  York. 

Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  York  State,  and  was  first  married  in 
1831,  to  Miss  Caroline  Green.  He  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Winchester,  Ohio,  and  thence,  in  1839,  to 
the  city  of  Rock  Island.  He  afterwards  settled  on 
a  farm  in  this  county.  His  estimable  wife  died  in 
1863,  while  accompanying  him  on  one  of  his  preach- 
ing tours.  He  first  joined  the  Church  in  1833,  was 
licensed  as  an  exhorter  in  1840,(0  preach  in  1S43, 
was  ordained  Deacon  in  r849,  joined  the  Rock  River 
Conference  in  1855,  at  its  session  in  Rockford,  111., 
and  three  years  afterward  was  received  into  full  con- 


nection in  that  ministerial  body.  By  a  geographical 
division  of  the  Church  work,  he  was  placed  in  the 
Central  Illinois  Conference.  The  last  few  years  of 
his  life  he  sustained  a  "local"  relation.  His  circuits 
were  often  so  large  that  it  required  a  month  to  visit 
all  the  Churches  contained  in  them.  He  served  as 
Pastor  of  societies  at  the  following  places  :  Mercer 
Mission,  one  year;  Camden  Mills,  two  years;  Illi- 
nois City,  one  year;  Ohio  Grove,  two  years  ;  Viola, 
two  years ;  Burns,  two  years ;  Rock  River,  four 
years;  Eliza  Creek,  two  years, — making  15  years  in 
the  pastorate.  He  was  noted  for  his  laborious  hab- 
its in  ministerial  work,  for  his  whole-souled  devotion 
to  his  calling,  and  his  success  in  extending  the  cause 
of  his  mother  Church.  His  death  occurred  June  13, 
1884,  when  his  loss  was  mourned  by  thousands  ot 
friends  and  admirers  throughout  the  northwestern 
part  of  this  Stale.  For  over  half  a  century  he  had 
served  the  Church,  not  relaxing  his  efforts  on  ac- 
count of  storms,  bad  roads,  political  excitement,  or 
anything  else.  The  later  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  Milan,  where  he  was  highly  respected  and 
beloved  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  neighbors. 
In  the  hour  of  his  death,  the  sunshine  of  his  mind 
was  immaculately  bright.  He  served  a  term  as  Vil- 
lage Councilman,  and  in  politics  sympathized  with 
Republicanism. 

By  his  first  marriage  there  were  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  are  deceased,  two  dying  in  infancy. 
The  living  are  Sarah,  Robert  P.,  Moses  G.,  George 
N.  and  Eliza  J., — all  of  whom  are  married.  The  de- 
ceased were  Olive,  Mary  E.  and  Louisa. 

Mr.  Sheldon's  second  marriage  took  place  Oct.  26, 
1863,  at  Pre-emption,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  when  he  was 
wedded  to  Mrs.  Manda  Asay,  nee  Haskell,  daughter 
of  Gideon  and  Mary  (Beckwith)  Haskell.  Her 
father  was  a  native' of  Maine,  and  her  mother  of  Con- 
necticut, and  both  were  of  New  England  parentage, 
of  Scotch  descent.  Mr.  Haskell  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  and  was  married  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Mrs.  Sheldon  was  born  Jan.  2t,  1830,  in  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  when  eight  years  old  her  parents 
moved  with  their  family  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1855  to 
Rock  Island  County,  111.,  and  settled  on  a  farm.  She 
married  John  Asay  Jan.  1,  1857,  who  was  a  farmer, 
born  in  Ohio,  came  to  this  State,  and  afterward  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  and  died  there,  May  10,  1859,  leav- 
ing one  child,  Edwin,  who  died  at  the  age  of  21 
years,  July  26,  1879,  in  Milan.     By  her  marriage  to 


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Mr.  Sheldon,  three  children  were  born,  all  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Carrie,  Oct.  13,  1864;  Watt, 
June  14,  1866,  and  James  H.,  May  12,  1872.  They 
all  live  at  home  and  have  been  well  educated.  After 
his  last  marriage,  Mr.  Sheldon  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Mercer  County,  and  afterward  on  a  farm  in  this 
county,  in  Black  Hawk  Township,  consisting  of  120 
acres.  After  occupying  it  for  about  eight  years,  he 
moved  to  Milan,  purchasing  80  acres  of  land  adjoin- 
ing the  village,  and  three  acres  within  the  corpora- 
tion, on  which  stands  a  good  residence.  The  estate 
is  now  in  good  condition  and  cultivation,  and  com- 
pares well  with  the  best  small  farms  in  the  township 
and  county.  Mr.  S.  has  been  active  and  influential 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  35 
years. 


-¥^r* 


-■- 


Samuel  M.  Zeigler,  a  general  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  8,  of  South   Moline  Town- 
ship, and  a  gentleman  well  respected  in 
the  community,  is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Sarah 
(Minich)  Zeigler,  who  were  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone State,  and  the  parents  of  two  children, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  elder,  and  Charles  F. 

Samuel  M.  Zeigler  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co., 
Pa.,  July  25,  1822.  He  was  reared  under  the  cars 
of  his  parents,  attending  the  common  schools  until 
about  14  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself.  He  then  worked  out  on  a  farm  until  he  be- 
came of  age.  The  quiet,  peaceful  life  of  a  farmer 
has  always  possessed  a  charm  for  him,  and  since  the 
day  he  left  home  he  has  ever  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  came  to  Rock  Island  in  the  spring  of 
1S49,  and  the  following  spring  he  located  in  Moline 
Township,  where  he  has  since  lived,  and  where  he 
owned  a  farm  of  ro6  acres,  most  of  which  is  in  a  till- 
able condition.  His  pleasant  home  with  its  sur- 
roundings are  illustrated  in  this  volume  on  page  275. 
The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  married 
in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  May  23,  1844,  to  Miss  Cathe- 
rine, daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susanna  (Goode)  Ben- 
der, who  were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
parents  of  [  1  children,  as  follows  :  Martha  M.,  Diana 
Samuel,  Elias,  Catherine,  Susanna,  Louisa,  John, 
Anna,  Rachel  E.  and  Wallace.     Mrs.   Zeigler  was 


born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  22,  1822,  and  has 
borne  her  husband  six  children:  Charles  J.,  born 
May  4,  1S45;  William  H.,  Nov.  12,  1847;  Martha 
M.,  July  25,  1849;  Kate  E.,  March  12,  185 1  ;  Clara 
J  .  May  22, 1853  ;  Albert  S.,  Nov.  22,  1856.  William 
H.  died  Jan.  17,  1848;  Charles  J.,  March  15,  1882. 
Albeit  S.,  Jan.  21,  1884. 

Mr.  Zeigler  has  held  many  of  the  prominent  local 
official  positions  of  his  township,  among  which  are 
those  of  Highway  Commissioner,  Overseer  of  High- 
ways  and  Supervisor.  Politically,  his  sympathies  are 
with  the  Republicans. 


|£  W.  Zimmerman,  a  fanner  of  Coe  Town- 
Smi'  ship,  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Penn., 
?  Feb.    16,    1829,    and   is  the  oldest  son  of 

George  and  Esther  (Naylor)  Zimmerman.    His 
if     parents    were  of  German  descent,    and    were 

\  both  born  in  Pennsylvania.  The  father  died 
when  the  son  was  a  child  of  about  eight  years  of 
age,  and  he  then  became  the  charge  of  strangers. 
He  found  himself  at  liberty  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world  when  he  was  14,  and  he  entered  into  an 
arrangement  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  trade  of 
a  millwright,  in  which  he  served  an  apprenticeship 
of  four  years.  After  he  had  fulfilled  his  indentures 
he  never  spent  much  time  in  following  it  as  a  voca- 
tion. 

He  continued  to  reside  in  his  native  State  until 
1851,  when  he  came  to  this  county,  where  he  has 
since  resided  and  where  he  arrived  March  15  of  the 
year  named.  He  soon  obtained  employ  on  the  farm 
of  Samuel  Allen  in  Coe  Township,  for  whom  he 
worked  one  year,  and  then  went  to  work  for  John 
Marshall  as  a  farm  assistant,  remaining  in  his  serv- 
ice nine  years. 

In  i86r  he  located  on  a  piece  of  land  which  he 
had  bought  previously  and  which  is  situated  on  sec- 
tion 2  in  the  same  township.  He  built  at  first  a 
small  frame  frame  house  and  a  board  stable  for  tem- 
porary purposes,  which  soon  gave  way  to  good  and 
suitable  buildings  including  a  frame  house  and  a 
barn  of  the  same  type.  He  is  engaged  in  general 
farming,  and  in  rearing  of  stock.  His  farm  now  com- 


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prises  234  acres,  which  is  all  improved  but  34  acres, 
and  fenced. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  was  married  in    1859  to   Michel 

.  W.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Williamson,  and 

they  have  had  three  children.     Of  these  but  one  is 

now  living — Frank,  who  married   Mahala   J.   Smith. 

He  is  the  manager  of  the  homestead  estate. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Cordova. 


ylo  Lee  is  one  of  the  prominent  business 

men  of  Rock   Island.      Tohn   Lee   came 

</H*(§r        from  England  to  America,  probably  in  the 

®  \  first  half  of  the  17th  century,  and  settled  at 
Farmington,  Conn.,  where  he  married  Mary 
Hart.  Their  four  sons  were  John,  Jr.,  Josiah, 
Simon  and  David,  and  as  it  was  from  David  that  the 
gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  caption  of  this 
biography,  descended,  we  will  trace  only  the  direct 
line  through  his  progeny.  He  was  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1695,  to  Lydia  Strong,  of  Massachusetts. 
The  youngest  of  the  three  children,  Jonathan,  was 
bom  at  Coventry,  Conn.,  in  17 18,  and  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  1744. 

Mr.  Lee  became  a  mfnister  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  married  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Met- 
calf,  at  Falmouth,  Mass.  Of  the  issue  of  this  mar- 
riage, Mylo,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  in  1760,  at 
Salisbury,  Conn.,  and  married  Ruth  Camp,  of  his 
native  town,  in  1782.  He  had  six  children  born  to 
him,  and  perpetuated  the  name  of  Mylo  in  his  third 
son.  His  fifth  son,  Elisha,  married  Almira  Scoville, 
of  Salisbury,  and  there  reared  four  sons  and  as  many 
daughters,  and  Mylo  Lee,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
his  youngest  son,  was  born  Nov.  12,  1828.  Elisha 
Lee,  the  ancestor,  died  in  New  York  State,  whither 
he  had  gone  on  business,  in  1850,  at  the  age  of  54 
years,  and  four  years  later  his  widow  came  West  and 
died  at  her  son's  house  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  81 
years. 

The  old  gentleman  was  a  farmer,  a  merchant  and 
an  iron  manufacturer,  and  Mylo  tilled  the  earth  and 
attended  the  common  schools  until  15  years  of  age. 
From  this  age  up  to  about  20  he  clerked  in  a  mer- 
cantile establishment  at  Hartford,  and  then  spent  a 
year  in  a  dry-goods  house  in  New  York  city.      In 


1849  he  caught  the  "  gold  fever  "  and  went  via  Cape 
Horn  to  California.  In  1851  he  returned  as  a  sailor 
before  the  mast,  via  Good  Hope.  He  came  to  Rock 
[sland  in  1852  and  engaged  in  merchandising.  In 
1853  the  banking  house  of  Fish  &  Lee  flung  their 
banners  to  the  breezze,  but  the  merciless  panic  of 
1857  draped  their  establishment  in  mourning.  For 
three  years  he  wrote  fire  policies ;  and  in  February, 
i860,  put  up  at  "  Black  Hawk  "  the  first  stamp-mil! 
ever  operated  in  Colorado.  The  firm  of  Lee,  Judd 
it  Lee  (or  the  Black  Hawk  Mining  Company)  oper- 
ated for  five  years, acquiring  some  of  the  best  mining 
lands  in  that  Territory.  Returning  to  Rock  Island, 
Mr.  Lee  bought  a  controlling  interest  in  the  "  Argillo 
Works  "  in  1869,  the  par  value  of  which  was  $100,000. 
This  was  then  comparatively  a  small  concern,  and 
not  in  the  highest  degree  remunerative,  but  under 
the  management  and  direction  of  Mr.  Lee  it  has 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  recognized  institutions  of 
Rock  Island  County.  They  manufacture  annually 
60  tons  of  fire  brick,  sidewalk  and  culvert  tiling  and 
all  the  various  products  of  fire-clay. 

March  8,  1855,  Mr.  Lee  was  united  in  marriage  at 
Almond,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Margaret  R.  Conklin,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  accomplished  daughter 
of  1  homas  J.  and  Rhoda  (Ensign)  Conklin,  and  their 
seven  children  are  named  in  the  following  order: 
Margaret,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Lewis,  of  Dakota  Territory; 
Rhoda  A.,  Mrs.  F.  C.  Denkman,  of  Rock  Island; 
Graham,  student  at  Lake  Forest  Seminary,  prepara- 
tory to  Presbyterian  ministry  ;  Mylo,  a  civil  engineer; 
Myra,  Thomas  G.  and  Alice  B.  Mr.  Lee  takes  no 
active  part  in  politics,  but  devotes  his  whole  time  to 
his  business. 


SOOO^ 


§ 


( 


**&&* 


'  j  ';'  I  ohn  A.  Peterson,  .1  reliable  citizen  ami  an 
.  '^'A;  ciHTgrtic  and  progressive  firmer,  residing 
*  on  section  9,  South  Moline  Township,  is  a 
native  of  Sweden,  in  which  country  he  was 
born  Sept.  27,  1831.  He  lived  in  his  native 
country  until  1854,  when  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  hoping  to  better  his  financial  condi- 
tion in  life.  On  arriving  in  this  country,  he  came 
soon  to  Chicago,  where  he  resided  for  about  one 
year,  following  different  occupations.     He  then  went 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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to  Mississippi  and  lived  one  year,  after  which  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  this  State,  where  he  resided 
for  three  years.  His  next  move  was  to  Nebraska, 
where  he  was  occupied  for  about  one  year,  when  he 
went  to  Pike's  Peak,  Colorado,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  prospecting  and  mining  for  three  years. 
He  then  went  to  New  Mexico,  and  was  engaged  in 
mining  for  a  time,  when  he  moved  to  Montana,  but 
after  a  sojourn  there  of  about  one  year,  came  to  this 
county.  His  economical  habits  and  energetic  dispo- 
sition had  enabled  him  to  accumulate  sufficient  to 
purchase  190  acres  of  land,  and  on  arrival  in  this 
county  he  made  the  investment.  Soon  after  his  pur- 
chase he  returned  to  Montana,  where  he  resided  for 
two  and  a  half  years,  and  then  came  back  to  this 
county  and  settled  on  the  land  that  he  had  previ- 
ously purchased,  and  on  which  he  has  continually 
resided  until  the  present  time.  At  present  he  is  the 
proprietor  of  160  acres,  with  good  residence  and 
substantial  outbuildings,  and  the  major  portion  of  his 
land  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  His 
pleasant  farm  home,  with  his  barn  and  surroundings, 
are  shown  on  page  275. 

Mr.  Peterson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  May 
28,  r868,  in  this  county,  with  Miss  Caroline  C.  Charl- 
son,  a  native  of  Sweden.  The  issue  of  their  union 
has  been  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  sur- 
vives— Ida  J., born  April  28,  1872.  Those  deceased 
are  Matilda  and  Chris  A.  Religiously.  Mrs.  Peter- 
son is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church ; 
and,  politically,  Mr.  Peterson  is  a  believer  in  and  a 
supporter  of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


••H-4-i^^" 


eter  E.  Lind,  contractor  for  Deere  &  Co.,  in 
;    the  Cultivator  iron  department,  has  been 
iSp^S   an  employee  of  Deere  &  Co.'s  for  23  years, 
t4k^3  and    has   held    his    present  position  15  years. 
•H^      Mr.  Lind   was  born  in  Sweden  April  3,   1844, 
'        and  emigrated  to  America  in  1856,  coming  di- 
rectly to  Moline.     When   14  years  of  age  he  engaged 
with  Deere  &  Co.  (1862)  and  has  been   in   their  em- 
ploy continuously  since. 

Mr.  Lind  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at  Moline 


May  19,  1866,  with  Miss  Emma  Uddvall.  Mrs. 
Lind  was  born  in  Sweden  and  the  issue  of  their 
union  was  seven  children,  namely:  Emil,  born  Nov. 
26,  1868.  died  in  August,  1870;  Hilda  E.,  born 
March  20,  1870;  R.  Ebenezer,  born  Nov.  21,  1873; 
Axel  J.,  born  Feb.  r6,  1S77  ;  Frederick  A.  P.,  born 
Aug.  25,  1S79;  Ernest  P.  T.,  March  28,  1882;  A. 
G.  Morit>.  March  9,  1885.  Mr.  Lind  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  L. 
is  a  Republican  in  politics.  Their  tasty  residence  is 
situated  on  an  elevation  overlooking  the  central  part 
of  the  city,  No.  r2ro  Seventh  Avenue. 


^*-£-*«= 


ohn  Devinney,  a  farmer,  residing  at  Rapids 
City,  was  born  Sept.  13,  1837,  on  section 
o,  Hampton  Township,  this  county.  His 
parents,  Andrew  and  Edith  (Wainwright)  De- 
vinney, were  natives  of  England  and  Pennsyl- 
vania respectively.  They  came  to  Hampton 
Township  in  1835,  and  Andrew  Devinney  entered 
160  acres  of  land  on  section  10. 

John  Devinney  remained  on  the  old  homestead, 
assisting  in  the  labors  on  the  farm  and  attending  the 
common  schools  until  he  attained  the  age  of  majority. 
On  becoming  his  own  man,  he  purchased  r6o  acres 
of  land,  located  on  section  14,  same  township,  on 
which  he  resided  one  year.  He  then  rented  his 
farm  and  went  back  to  the  old  homestead,  took 
charge  of  his  father's  farm  and  cultivated  the  same 
until  his  death,  when  he  became  the  owner  of  the 
property,  and  still  continued  to  reside  upon  it  until 
April  of  the  present  year  ([885),  when  he  moved  to 
Rapids  City,  purchased  a  residence  and  lot,  and 
hires  a  man  to  run  his  home  farm.  He  is  the  pro- 
prietor altogether  of  740  acres  of  land,  and  resides  in 
Rapids  City,  retired  from  the  active  manual  labors 
of  life. 

Mr.  Devinney  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Fannie  F.  Cook,  April  28,  1858.  She  was  born  in 
this  county  March  23,  1840.  Eight  children  were 
born  of  their  union,  namely  :  Hattie,  born  Jan.  15, 
1859;  Mary,  Feb.  12,  rS63;  Samuel  A.,  Dec.  1, 
1866;  George  T.,  April  12,  1870;  John  W.,  Nov.  21, 
1872;  Ella,  May  6,  1875  ;  Albert  L.,  July  19,   1877  ; 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


591 


and  Andrew  H.,  born  April  27,  1879.  Hattie  mar- 
'  ried  John  Searles  in  1883  and  resides  in  Zuma 
Township.  Mary  was  united  in  marriage  to  Calvin 
Segur,  in  1880,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, Roy  and  Howard,  and  reside  in  Ida  Co.  Iowa, 
^J  where  Mr.  Segur  is  the  proprietor  of  1 60  acres  of  good 
farming  land. 

Mr.   Devinney,  politically,  endorses  the  principles 
advocated  by  the  Republican  party.     Socially,  he  is 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  and  for  the  past    15   years  has  devoted   his   at- 
'    tention   to  the  sale  of  farming  implements  of  all  de- 

fscriptions.  He  is  a  man  whose  word  is  as  good  as 
his  bond,  and  a  respected  and  esteemed  citizen  of 
Rock  Island  County. 


Jrt- 


l^eaeon   William  C.   Pearsall,   a  pioneer  of 
bJ|,    Rock  Island  County   of  1848,  and   one  of 


ijsy   "     the  leading  citizens  of  Coe  Township,  was 
W^     born  in  Cayuga- County,  N.  Y.,  June  16,  1812. 
q$    His  father,  Nathaniel   Pearsall,  was  a  native  of 
the  city  of  New  York,    and    his    mother,   Sarah 
(Grover)  Pearsall,  was  born   in  Connecticut.     They 
'    were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Cayuga  County. 
Henry  Pearsall,  his  grandfather,  was  a.Revolutionary 
soldier  and  was  a  participant  in  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant battles  of  that  conflict.     When  Mr.  Pearsall 
of  this  sketch   was   seven  years  of  age   his   parents 
went  to  Steuben  County,  where  he  grew  to  the  estate 
of  manhood.     While  still  in  his  minority  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  cooper,  of  which  he  obtained  a  prac- 
tical and  available  knowledge  as  his  instructor  in  its 
details    was   his   father.     When  he  was  19  years  of 
age  he  went  to  Canada  and    settled   near  Brockville 
P.  O.,  where    he  readily  found  employ  at  his  trade. 
He  was  a  resident  in  the  Dominion  until  1837,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  that  part  of  Cook 
\    County  which  is  now  included    in    Du  Page  County. 
This  was  at  a  period  before  land  was  surveyed.     He 
made  a  claim  of  Government  land,  and  built  thereon 
a  small  frame  house.     His  time  was  passed  after  that 
in  working  on  his  farm  in    the  summers   and  in  the 
winter  at  his  trade.      In  1848  he  sold  that  place  and 
\.     came  to  this  county,  where  he  bought  1,000  acres  of 


(9 


Government  land  in  Coe  Township,  on  which  he  laid 
Mexican  War  land  warrants.  He  built  a  small  plank 
and  cement  house  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 23,  which  his  family,  occupied  two  years  when  he 
built  the  brick  house  in  which  they  have  since  lived. 
The  bricks  were  molded  and  pressed  by  his  own 
hands,  and,  as  may  be  supposed,  has  on  that  account 
a  peculiar  value  to  his  household.  As  soon  as  he 
could  prepare  the  land  he  engaged  in  planting  a 
nursery  and  an  orchard.  The  acreage  which  he  de- 
voted to  the  nursery  business  included  25  acres,  and 
he  continued  that  line  of  trade  until  1883,  when  he 
closed  it  out,  and  has  since  given  his  attention  to 
general  farming.  He  also  had  100  acres  of  orchard. 
During  the  above  period  he  also  carried  on  his 
farm. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  March  7,  1833,  to  Jane 
Elingham.  She  was  born  in  London,  England,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  when  she  was  eight  years 
old.  Of  their  marriage  nine  children  have  been  born  : 
Robert  E.,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Coe  Township, 
is  the  eldest :  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  George  Pear- 
sall, of  Coe;  Elizabeth  married  Andrew  Tabor,  of 
Nance  Co.,  Neb. ;  Jeremiah  lives  in  Coe  Township  ; 
Mary  A.  and  Martha  C.  are  twins  ;  the  former  is  the 
wife  of  Oscar  Rathbun,  of  Coe  Township  ;  Martha 
married  J.  W.  Miller,  and  they  are  residents  of  tire 
same  place;  Luther  S.  and  William  are  citizens  of 
the  same  township;  I'hebe  is  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Rathgeiber,  a  resident  of  Petersburg. 

During  the  late  war  he  was  an  enrolling  officer  for 
Coe  Township,  and  took  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  home  military  affairs  during  that  trying  pe- 
riod. While  a  resident  of  Canada,  during  the  rebel- 
lion of  McKenzie,  he  took  up  arms  in  defense  of 
the  Queen,  saying  that  it  was  the  duty  of  every  man 
to  light  for  the  country  whose  protection  he  invoked. 
That  rebellion  was,  however,  soon  crushed,  and  Mr. 
Pearsall's  views  were  sustained. 

Few  men  in  Rock  Island  County  have  exerted  a 
greater  moral  influence  over  the  community  in  which 
he  lives  than  Deacon  Win.  C.  Pearsall.  Prominent 
in  every  undertaking  which  has  a  tendency  to  ele- 
vate the  moral  tone  of  society  or  educate  the  people, 
he  has  necessarily  been  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in 
his  part  of  the  county.  He  has  reared  a  large  fam- 
ily, all  of  whom  have  taken  prominent  places  in  so- 
ciety, and  become  honored  and  respected  men  and 
women.     Personal  sketi  lies   of  several  of  them  may 


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be  found  in  this  volume.  No  man  in  the  county  is 
more  worthy  a  place  in  the  galaxy  of  portraits  of  the 
leading  and  representative  men  of  Rock  Island 
County  than  the  subject  of  this  personal  narrative. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  usefulness  and  has  won  the 
highest  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  His  compan- 
ion in  life's  journey  has  shared  his  labors,  partaken 
of  his  joys  and  sorrows,  and  with  him  equally  de- 
serves and  has  the  highest  esteem  and  regard  of  all 
who  know  her.  Therefore  as  a  fitting  companion 
picture  to  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Pearsall  we  place  by 
its  side  one  of  his  wife. 

In  political  affinity  Mr.  Pearsall  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  has  filled  the  offices  of  Trustee  and  Super- 
visor. He  has  been  a  Deacon  in  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Port  Byron  since  its  organization,  and  his 
wife  has  been  a  member  of  it  for  a  similar  period. 


\  fHfl»d.  Kittilsen,  City  Marshal  of  Moline, 
■  ■S%A  -:  was  born  in  Moline,  July  19,  1854,  and  is 
g*r  -v-  "  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Fredrika  (John- 
son) Kittilsen.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Nor- 
way and  his  mother  of  Sweden,  and  were 
pioneers  of  Moline.  When  about  16  years  of 
age,  Ed.  began  as  an  apprentice  molder  in  the  shops 
of  the  Moline  Malleable  Iron  Co.,  and  subsequently 
worked  with  the  Union  Malleable  Iron  Co.  and  the 
Moline  Plow  Co., — in  all  about  five  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1874  Mr.  Kittilsen  engaged  in  the  ice 
business  with  Herman  Kaack,  built  ice-houses  and 
retailed  ice  in  Moline,  but  in  the  fall  of  1875  he 
changed  his  line  of  business  by  going  in  partnership 
with  John  A.  Fish  in  the  dry-goods  and  grocery  busi- 
ness. This  venture  proved  disastrous,  and  he  sold 
out  in  the  spring  of  1876.  He  had  retained  his  re- 
tail ice  business,  which  he  continued  until  the  fall  of 
1879,  and  then  filled  his  ice-houses  to  hold  for 
wholesale  trade;  but  the  high  water  of  1881  swept 
them  away,  entailing  a  heavy  loss.  Sept.  i8,  1880, 
he  was  appointed  on  the  police  force  and  served  as 
policeman  until  May,  1882,  when  he  was  made  Dep- 
uty City  Marshal.  He  was  elected  Marshal  in  the 
spring  of  1883  for  the  years  18S3  to  1S66.  The  city- 
police  force  consists  of  six  regular  men. 


Mr.  Kittilsen  was  married  at  Moline, Sept,  17,  1844, 
to  Miss  Rilla  Stewart,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
(Graham)  Stewart.  Mrs.  K.  was  born  in  Hamilton, 
Canada,  March  4,  1859.  Mr.  Kittilsen  has  proved 
a  very  efficient  officer  and  is  deservedly 'popular 
with  the  force  and  the  people.  In  fact,  Moline  has 
reason  to  be  proud  of  her  entire  police  force,  which 
is  composed  of  a  body  of  men  conspicuous  for  their 
gentlemanly  bearing  and  fidelity  to  duty.  Marshal 
Kittilsen  has  always  cast  his  vote  with  the  Republi- 
can party. 


tans  Paulsen,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 

Paulsen  Bros.,  contractors  and  builders  and 

brick  manufacturers,  of  South  Rock  Island, 

in  a  native  of  Germany,  having  been  born  at 

Holstein,  Feb.  19,  1849.  His  parents  were  also 


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of  German  nativity  and  his  father  yet  lives  at 
Holstein.     His  mother  is  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  well  educated  in  his  native  tongue 
and  lived  under  the  parental  charge  until  he  was  19 
years  of  age,  when,  being  ambitious,  he  set  sail  for 
America,  landing  June  9,  1869.  He  did  not  tarry- 
long  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  but  was  soon  located  at 
Burlington,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  but  a  short 
time,  when  he  came  to  Rock  Island  city.  Here  he 
was  engaged  working  by  the  day  for  18  months, 
when  he  embarked  in  the  brick  business  in  compary 
with  B.  H.  Redecker.  This  partnership  existed  for 
three  years,  when  he  was  engaged  by  Mr.  R.  Rich- 
mond for  one  year.  He  subsequently  purchased  the 
brick-yards  of  Mr.  Richmond,  his  younger  brother, 
Matthaes,  joining  him  at  this  period.  Since  that  time 
they  have  conducted  a  larsie  and  rather  profitable 
business,  giving  employment  to  many  men  and  de- 
veloping a  very  profitable  business  to  the  commu. 
nitv  To-day  both  are  well  known  and  have  an  ex- 
cellent business  education;  but  in  1869,  when  our 
subject  came  into  the  State,  he  had  but  25  cents  in  (q 
his  pocket  and  not  a  relative  in  the  United  State>, 
and  without  friends.  Neither  of  them  has  blood  re- 
latives in  this  country,  but  by  their  own  strict  atten- 
tion to  business  and  honesty  of  purpose  they  have 
won  many  friends. 

Aug.    1,  1875,  our  subject    was   married,  in  South      J 


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^OCZ  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


593 


Rock  Island,  to  Miss  Dora  Willetson,  who  was  born 
Nov.  16,1857,  at  Holstein,  Germany.  She  came  to 
America  when  about  17  years  of  age,  following  her 
parents,  who  preceded  her  two  years.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  P.  have  been  born  four  children,  namely:  An- 
drew, Johrmes,  William  and  Ludwig.  Mr.  P.,  socially, 
belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Fredrich  Munch 
Lodge,  D.  O.  H. 


-^.'"laS? 

FW  jSSj'  enry  C.  Connelly.      Major   Connelly    was 

^■ImJb    born   "-)ec-   22'   l83r>  at  Petersburg  (a  vil- 

'>i'*A  lage  on  the  great  National  Road,  33  miles 

fwest  of  Cumberland,  Md.),  in  Somerset  Co., 
Pa.  He  attended  what  was  then  known  as  a 
subscription  or  pay  school  in  his  younger  years, 
afterwards  the  Somerset  Academy,  and  after  quitting 
this  received  instruction  from  a  private  tutor.  When 
18  years  old  he  entered  the  Somerset  Visitor  print- 
ing-office, then  printed  and  published  by  General  A. 
H.  Coffroth,  from  whom  he  received  personal  instruc- 
tions in  the  art  of  printing.  [A.  H.  Coffroth  has  been 
in  Congress;  was  one  of  the  pall-bearers  at  Lincoln's 
obsequies,  in  Washington,  D.  C. ;  was  a  candidate 
for  Governor  in  the  late  Democratic  (Pennsylvania) 
Convention  which  nominated  Judge  Pershing.  He 
and  Judge  Pershing  read  law  together  with  Judge 
Jere  S.  Black.  Coffroth  is  now  a  leading  lawyer  in 
his  region.]  When  20  years  old  Major  Connelly  be- 
came one  of  the  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  Beaver 
(Pa.)  Star.  After  filling  this  position  between  two 
and  three  years,  he  caiiR-  West,  arriving  in  Rock 
Island,  Feb.  18,1855.  From  this  date  until  Septem- 
ber, 1859,  he  was  connected  with  the  Rock  Islander 
and  Argus.  He  commenced  reading  law  with  Tudge 
J.  W.  Drury,  in  this  city,  in  1856,  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  January,  i860;  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace  (defeating  M.  D.  Merrill  and  J.  C.  Starr) 
in  the  spring  of  1 86 1 .  To  aid  in  securing  the  loca- 
tion of  the  Arsenal  in  Rock  Island,  in  1861,  he  was 
appointed  on  the  committee  from  Rock  Island  by  the 
City  Council  to  act  with  the  Davenport  and  Moline 
committees.  In  this  interest  he  visited  all  the  chief 
points  in  the  Northwest,  as  well  as  Washington,  de- 
voting several  months'  time  to  the  project. 

4g| 


On  September  12,  1862,  he  enrolled  himself  as  a 
volunteer  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  was 
commissioned  by  Governor  Yates,  January  17,  1863, 
to  rank  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Co.  L,  14th  111.  Vol. 
Cav.,  from  Jan.  7,  1863.  Jan.  31,  1864,  he  was  com- 
missioned as  Captain  (over  the  First  Lieutenant)  by 
Governor  Yates,  to  rank  from  Nov.  14,  1863.  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  there  being  a  Major's  vacancy  in  the 
14th,  the  officers  of  the  regiment  held  a  meeting  to 
designate  one  of  their  number  to  fill  the  same.  Over 
six  superior  Captains  in  rank  Captain  Connelly  was 
selected,  and  on  the  22d  day  of  June,  1865,  Governor 
Oglesby  commissioned  him  a  Major  to  take  rank 
from  that  date.  He  was  one  of  the  fast  riders  who 
helped  run  John  Morgan  out  of  Ohio.  In  the  spring 
of  1867  the  people  elected  him  Police  Magistrate. 
By  the  Citv  Council,  in  the  spring  of  1869,  he  was 
elected  City  Attorney ;  and  again  elected  by  the 
Council  in  the  spring  of  1870.  In  the  spring  of  187  1 
he  was  selected  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Rock  Island,  and  in  1872  was  elected 
by  the  people  for  a  full  term.  The  election  was  one 
of  great  excitement,  as  to  the  other  candidates,  but 
not  a  vote  was  polled  against  Major  Connelly.  Dur- 
ing the  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation he  was  President  of  the  same.  He  declined 
a  re-election. 


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|!  illiam  Uhlmann,  of  Moline,  was  born  in 
i\(y|,(fh  Saxony,  June  2,  1845,  01"  which  country 
f&!>^  his  parents,  Carl  and  Fredericka  (Bartel) 
^>  Uhlmann,  were  also  natives.  They  had 
three  sons  and  one  daughter,  William  being 
the  second  child.  The  latter  was  married  Nov. 
22,  1878,  to  Miss  Mary  Klahn,  and  they  now  have 
four  children,  born  and  named  as  follows  :  Amelia 
\\\,  Feb.  6,  1S80;  Louisa  E..  June  22,  1881;  Ernst 
H,  June  28,  r883,  and  Fredericka  P.,  Dec.  9,  r884. 
Mrs.  U.  was  born  May  26,  1852,  in  Holstein,  Ger- 
many, and  came  here  with  her  parents  when  five 
years  of  age.  Her  father,  Henry  Klahn,  was  born 
also  in  Holstein,  in  1829,  and  died  in  Moline,  this 
county,  April  2,  1883,  after  having  been  a  resident 
in  this  country  for  24  years.  He  was  by  trade  a  car- 
penter and   builder,  and  a  most  excellent  workman. 


v. 


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^OCVT  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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In  politics  Mr.  Klahn  was  an  ardent  Republican,  and 
in  religion  a  positive  "free-thinker."  His  wife's 
name  was  Anna. 

Mr.  William  Uhlmann  attended  school  in  Ger- 
many until  he  was  14  years  of  age.  He  woiked 
three  years  learning  the  trade  of  manufacturing  the 
woodwork  for  fine  carriages  and  buggies.  At  17 
years  of  age  he  re-entered  school  to  learn  drafting; 
then  for  six  years  he  worked  faithfully  at  his  trade 
where  he  had  learned  it,  at  Dresden,  Germany,  and 
in  1868  he  came  to  America.  For  the  first  three 
months  he  was  employed  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and 
then  for  nearly  two  years  at  South  Bend,  Ind.,  and 
finally  he  came  to  Moline,  entering  the  employment 
of  the  Moline  Wagon  Company  on  Aug.  19,  1870. 
For  eight  years  he  labored  at  the  bench,  turning  out 
splendid  specimens  of  wood-work,  being  a  careful, 
correct  and  diligent  workman  and  an  expert  in  the 
use  of  tools.  His  merit  was  by  no  means  unappre- 
ciated by  his  employers;  and  as  their  business  grew, 
Mr.  Uhlmann  was  taken  from  the  bench  and,  in 
1S78,  put  in  charge  of  the  wood-shop,  as  foreman,  a 
position  he  still  holds  with  credit  to  himself  and  bene- 
fit to  the  firm.  He  is  a  Freemason,  and  a  member  of 
the  Order  of  Druids.  In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  Re- 
publican, and  as  to  religious  matters  both  himself 
and  his  wife  are  liberal. 


ohn  Weaver,  residing  on  section  3.  and 
proprietor  of  Fairview  Farm,  South  Moline 
Township,  is  a  son  of  George  and  Cissley 
(Schooley)  Weaver,  natives  of  Germany  and 
|C  Ohio  respectively.  Their  family  comprised  1 2 
children,  of  whom  John  was  the  second  in  or- 
der of  birth.  Mr.  Weaver  was  born  in  Rock  Island 
County,  Feb.  24,  1846.  He  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm  until  the  date  of  his  marriage,  which  event  oc- 
curred in  December,  1872.  He  is  at  present  the 
proprietor  of  1 12  acres  of  land,  80  of  which  is  under 
an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  The  lady  to  whom 
Mr.  Weaver  was  joined  in  marriage,  Dec.  24,  1872, 
was  Miss  Martha,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Comfort  Griffin,  natives  of  North  Carolina 

^^- — SA«M 


and  Indiana  respectively.  Mrs.  Weaver  was  born  in 
Hamptown  Township,  Rock  Island  County,  April  19, 
1845,  and  has  borne  to  her  husband  two  children, 
namely:  John  A.,  born  June  n,  1880;  and  Cissley 
\Y.,  born  Nov.  5,  1872.  Mr.  Weaver  has  held  the 
office  of  School  Director  and  Overseer  of  Highways. 
Politically,  he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic  party. 


E  ilpin  Moore,  Moline.  Prominent  among 
those  who  have  became  noted, — by  inven- 
tion,— is  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands 
^  at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in 
Chester  Co.,  Pa,  Oct.  27,  1S31,  his  father's 
name  being  Hibbard  and  his  mother's  Jane 
(Gawthrop)  Moore.  His  father  was  of  English  and 
his  mother  of  Scotch  descent. 

Gilpin  Moore  remained  in  Pennsylvania  at  school 
until  he  was  14  years  of  age,  and  then  came  to  Rock 
Island,  111.,  to  which  town  his  father  had  come  seven 
years  before.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and  after 
his  arrival  in  Rock  Island  he  alternately  attended 
school  and  worked  in  his  father's  shop,  until  he  was 
18  years  of  age.  At  that  age  it  became  evident  that 
Mr  Moore  naturally  possessed  more  than  ordinary 
mechanical  and  inventive  ability  and  taste;  and,  be- 
lieving it  would  be  desirable  to  learn  thoroughly  the 
machinist's  business,  he  apprenticed  himself  for  three 
years  in  a  machine  shop  in  Rock  Island,  where  he 
faithfully  served  his  time,  and  after  that  took  entire 
charge  of  the  shops  as  superintendent,  until  1864, 
becoming  noted  in  Rock  Island  and  vicinity  as  a 
workman  and  inventor  of  rare  ability. 

During  the  year  above  mentioned  his  services  were 
engaged  by  Deere  &  Co.,  Moline,  111.,  manufacturers 
of  agricultural  implements;  and  when  the  now  im- 
mense concern  was  organized  as  a  stock  company,  in 
1868,  he  became  a  partner  therein  and  took  the  posi- 
tion of  superintendent  of  the  iron  department,  which 
he  still  holds,  wherein  his  inventive  genius  has  large- 
ly developed,  and  he  has  taken  out  numerous  essen- 
tial and  important  patents  for  improvements  in 
agricultural  implements,  not  the  least  of  which  has 
resulted  in  the  production  of  the  splendid  "Gilpin," 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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a  sulky  plow  which  has  carried  the  name  not  only  all 
over  America,  but  also  into  foreign  countries. 

His  work  in  his  father's  shop,  his  chances  at  the 
practical  working  of  machinery,  his  schooling  in 
mechanism,  drafting  and  designing,  tended  to  de- 
velop extraordinary  inventive  faculty  and  genius,  not 
only  in  plows  and  cultivators,  but  also  in  engines  of 
all  descriptions  ;  in  fact,  in  him,  invention  rises  al- 
most to  inspiration,  and  he  has  been  and  is  of  marked 
and  practical  value  to  the  colossal  concern  of  which 
he  is  an  active  and  energetic  member. 

Mr.  Gilpin  Moore  was  married  March  3,  1853,  to 
Miss  Ludica  Crisswell,  and  they  have  four  children, 
namely:  Truesdale  L.,born  July  ir,  1856;  Charles 
E.,  Feb.  13,  1865  ;  Adah,  July  17,  1868,  and  Anna, 
July  22,  1874. 

Though  so  closely  identified  with  one  of  the  tower- 
ing industries  of  Moline,  Mr.  Moore  has  always  been 
a  resident  of  Rock  Island,  since  coming  here  in  1845. 
Politically,  he  has  been  a  Republican  ever  since  the 
organization  of  that  great  party. 

Among  the  many  palatial  residences  of  Rock  Isl- 
and, and  they  are  numerous,  that  of  Mr.  Moore's  is 
one  of  the  finest.  We  present  a  full-page  view  of  it 
accompanying  this  sketch ;  also  showing  some  of  the 
beautiful  scenery  which  may  be  viewed  from  the 
tower. 


hapin  A.  Wheeloek,  of  the  Moline  Paper 
t  Company,  is  a  native  of  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.,  and  was  born  March  24,  1814. 
$ft>  His  parents  were  Chapin  and  Lucy  Wheeloek, 
y^  his  mother's  maiden  being  Wheeloek.  In 
*  r8i5  the  family  removed  to  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y. 
His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  Chapin  A.  passed  his 
boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm.  He  learned  the 
tailor's  trade  and  was  engaged  in  that  business  in 
Holland,  N.  Y. 

In  1838  he  went  South,  where  he  spent  two  years 
in  the  cities  of  Vicksburg,  Louisville  and  St.  Louis. 
In  1840  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  St. 
Charles,  Kane  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
clothing  business.  He  continued  at  St.  Charles  un- 
til 1853,  when  he  came  to  Moline,  and  engaged  in 
the   paper-mill  at  that    place.     He   soon   afterward 


Sciences    at    the   Augustana    College    and 
J!ll^u^   Theological    Seminary,   Rock   Island,  was 
Clji  J  born  in  Sweden,  Jan.  r,  1844.     He  graduated 

•7  \* 


^  at  the  University  of  Lund,  May,  1863,  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  the  degree  of  Ph.  D. 
was  conferred  by  the  same  university  June  5,  1874. 
He  visited  London,  and  in  April,  1S70,  joined  the 
scientists,  Gwyn  Jeffreys  and  W.  B.  Carpenter,  in  H. 
M.  S.  "  Porcupine  "on  a  deep-sea  dredging  expedi- 
tion in  the  Atlantic  and  Mediterranean  Seas.  He 
was  Assistant  Zoologist.  After  an  interesting  and 
successful  exploration  he  returned  to  Sweden  in 
187  1,  and  there  joined  a  scientific  expedition  bound 
for  the  coast  of  Greenland,  mainly  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  home  some  ponderous  meteorites  that  had 
been  located  by  Prof.  A.  E.  Nordenskiold.  The 
stones  were  found  and  22  of  them  secured,  one  of 
which  weighed  over  50,000  pounds.  The  loading  of 
these  stones  on  an  open  coast  where  a  tempestuous 
sea  usually  prevails,  was  a  difficult  undertaking,  but 
was  successfully  accomplished.  On  this  expedition 
Dr.  Lindahl  was  Zoologist  in  charge.  On  his  return 
from  Greenland  he  spent  four  years  at  the  Royal 
Academy  of  Science  in  Stockholm  in  scientific  studies 
and  in"  classifying  and  describing  the  collections 
which  he  had  made.     In  1875  he  was  appointed  one 

>A  n s^ar: </g 


s^ 


purchased  an  interest  in  the  company,  and  has  been 
connected  with  it  continuously  ever  since. 

Mr.  Wheeloek  was  united  in  marriage  at  St. 
Charles,  111.,  in  1846,  to  Salonie  B.  Way,  daughter  of 
William  and  Annie  (Smith)  Way.  Mrs.  Wheeloek 
was  born  in  Vermont.  They  have  had  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  only  are  living, — Alice,  widow  of 
Charles  Hubbard,  a  resident  of  Moline;  Susan,  wife 
of  Edward  Knell,  of  Missouri ;  Florence,  Stillman  C. 
and  William  D.  Mrs.  Wheeloek  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  W.  is  liberal  in 
his  religious  views,  and  politically  a  Republican. 

In  early  life  he  was  a  Democrat  of  Free-Soil  sym- 
pathies. He  was  one  of  the  first  to  aid  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  worked  and 
voted  with  that  party  ever  since. 


r-O-  (j) 

ft 
IfflSlBj  rof.  Josua  Lindahl,   Professor  of  Natural 


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JP0CX  /SLA ATI)  COUNTY. 


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of  the  Commissioners  from  Sweden  to  the  Geographi- 
cal Congress  of  Paris.  On  his  return  from  Paris  he 
was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Centennial  Commis- 
sion of  Sweden  to  Philadelphia,  United  States  of 
America,  1S76.  He  maintained  his  connection  with 
the  Centennial  Exhibition  until  February,  1877,  when 
he  returned  to  Sweden  to  make  proper  report.  There 
he  accepted  the  position  of  Superintendent  of  the 
Swedish  department  at  the  hands  of  the  Interna- 
tional Exhibition  Company. 

Dr.  Lindahl  was  united  in  marriage  on  his  return 
to  Sweden.  March  iS,  1S77.  to  Miss  Sophia, daughter 
of  Carl  Pohlman.a  Major  in  the  Royal  Army.  Mrs. 
Lindahl  was  born  in  Sweden,  July  5,  184S,  and  the 
issue  of  their  union  was  four  children,  namely  :  Sven 
Carl,  born  Jan.  1,  1878,  in  Philadelphia,  and  died 
March  13,  1881  ;  Eva  Hedwig  Sophia,  born  May  15, 
18S0;  Seth  Harald,  born  March  13,  1S82;  and  Signe 
Elizabeth  Ida  Sophia,  born  April  6,  18S4. 

On  the  opening  of  1877  he  accepted  the  position  of 
Professor  of  Natural  Sciences  at  the  Augustana  Col- 
lege and  Theological  Seminary  of  Rock  Island,  III., 
a  position  he  has  since  filled  with  honor  to  himself 
and  credit  to  the  institution. 


— H 


;  esse  L.  Cox,  an  energetic  and  progressive 
\j£  farmer,  residing  on  section  9,  Zuma  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  5, 
1815,  his  parents  being  Joseph  and  Mary  (Rue) 
1  .,  natives  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  re- 
spectively.  They  came  to  Kentucky  in  an 
early  day,  and  removed  from  that  State  to  Indiana 
in  1804,  coming  to  Rock  Island  in  1836,  and  settling 
on  section  3,  Hampton  Township,  where  the  father 
purchased  300  acres  of  land.  He  at  once  entered 
vigorously  and  energetically  upon  the  improvement 
his  land,  and  also  erected  a  saw  and  grist  mill  on  the 
Mississippi  River,  and  ran  the  same  for  some  eight 
or  ten  years.  He  died  June  12,  1848,  and  the  mother 
of  our  subject  died  Dec.  28,  1858. 

Jesse  L.  Cox,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
remained  under  parental  instructions  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  majority.  He  then  left  home  and 
went  back  to  Indiana  and  worked  in  the   Recorder's 


office  one  year,  his  education  having  been  acquired 
at  the  common  schools  prior  to  his  leaving  home. 
After  leaving  the  Recorder's  office  he  came  to  Mer- 
cer Co.,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  some  nine  years, 
four  years  of  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  breaking 
prairie,  and  then  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  resided  for  five  years.  In  1849  he  traded 
his  land  (160  acres)  for  a  part  of  the  farm  on  which 
he  at  present  resides. 

Mr.  Cox  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  April  2, 
1840,  with  Miss  Sarah  Jennings,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
in  which  State  she  was  born  Dec.  18,  1822.  She  is 
the  mother  of  seven  children  by  Mr.  Cox,  namely: 
Mary  E..  born  April  29,  1841  ;  Albin  J.,  Nov.  12, 
1S42  ;  Alice  A.,  Oct.  23,  1844;  James  L.,  June  12, 
1S47,  and  William  E.,  Nov.  23,  1S50.  Joseph  E. 
died  Aug.  3,  1877,  in  his  21st  year,  from  accident; 
Clara  died  April  12,  1868,  in  her  tenth  year;  Mary 
E  married  J.  B.  Walker,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren,— Louvina,  Elmer  E.,  Jesse  H.,  and  an  infant 
unnamed.  Albin  J.  married  Anna  Borard,  July  4, 
1870;  she  died  in  1871  ;  Alice  A.  married  Hiram  S. 
Cox,  and  they  have  six  living  children — Lewis, 
George,  Fred,  Eddie,  Kenneth  and  Mary  L. ;  James 
L.  married  Malinda  Cook,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  four  children — Clara,  Sadie,  Sidney  and  Bert; 
William  E.  married  Emma  Smith,  and  the  issue  of 
their  union  was  two  children,  namely:  Jesse  F.  and 
Edna  G.  Mrs.  Jesse  L.  Cox,  the  wife  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice,  died  April  9,  1875,  and  Mr.  Cox 
formed  a  second  matrimonial  alliance  in  1880  with 
Miss  Mary    J.   Jack,  a   native   of  Pennsylvania. 

Politically,  Mr.  Cox  is  a  believer  in  the  principles 
advocated  by  the  Republican  party.  At  the  present 
writing  he  holds  the  office  of  Assessor  and  has  held 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  12  years  and 
also  other  minor  offices.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

The  family  of  Coxes  are  of  pioneer  stock,  of  both 
Kentucky  and  Indiana.  Richard  Cox,  Jesse's  brother, 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Wayne  Co.,"  Ind. 
His  birth  took  place  in  1805.  The  family  also  have 
a  splendid  military  record.  Albin  J.  was  a  soldier 
in  the  late  war;  James  L.  was  also  a  soldier  in  the 
cavalry  service  during  the  late  war. 

His  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  as  also  his  great-gradfather,  and  his 
father  was  in  the  War  of  1812  and  in  the  Indian  war 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


599 


under  Harrison.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Rue,  was 
also  a  great  Indian  fighter  and  captured  by  his  In- 
dian foe  and  was  to  be  burned  at  the  stake,  but  was 
purchased  by  a  Frenchman  and  afterwards  obtained 
his  liberty. 


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filliam  Reynolds,  a  citizen  of  Coe  Town- 
ship, has  been  a  resident  of  the  county 
since  1848.     He  was  born  Sept.  14,  1S23, 

^%  in  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  Win. 
p;  and  Mary  (Wares)  Reynolds.  The  parents 
were  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State  and  re- 
moved to  Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio,  and  the  family 
were  there  resident  until  the  son  was  18  years  of  age. 
In  1841  they  went  to  Lawrence  Co.,  111.,  driving 
there  with  teams,  and  they  were  resident  there  until 
their  removal  to  Illinois  in  the  year  named  at  the  be- 
ginning of  this  narration. 

On  coming  hither  they  settled  at  Cleveland  Ferry, 
and  lived  there  two  years.  In  1850  Mr.  Reynolds 
assumed  charge  of  the  ferry  near  the  mouth  of  Green 
River,  and  his  father  managed  a  farm  there,  which 
he  rented  and  on  which  the  family  lived  until  the 
year  following  (1S5  1),  when  they  made  another  trans- 
fer of  home  interests  and  family  to  Cordova.  The 
homestead  was  maintained  there  as  long  as  the 
father  lived.  His  death  occurred  in  1875.  The 
mother's  demise  took  place  in  1 88  1. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  an  inmate  of  the  paternal  home 
until  he  was  married.  In  1857  Sarah  S.  Drennen 
became  his  wife.  She  is  a  native  of  the  State  of 
Ohio;  born  July  12,  1839.  On  becoming  the  head 
of  a  family  Mr.  Reynolds  bought  building  lots  in 
Cordova  and  erected  a  house  in  which  his  family 
lived  three  years.  He  then  purchased  40  acres  of 
land  on  section  6,  in  Coe  Township.  The  proprietor 
built  a  house  on  the  farm-  and  was  its  owner  and  oc- 
cupant seven  years.  He  then  sold  the  place,  and 
returned  to  Cordova,  where  he  left  his  family  and 
spent  the  winter  in  Iowa,  engaged  in  prospecting 
for  a  suitable  place  for  a  permanent  location.  In 
the  ensuing  spring  he  went  to  Missouri,  where  he 
remained  four  months,  visiting  various  parts  of  the 
State.  He  did  not  find  that  either  Iowa  or  Missouri 
had  superior  attractions  to  the  State  of  Illinois   for 


an  agriculturist,  and  he  returned  to  Rock  Island 
County.  He  soon  after  bought  the  farm  on  whicli  he 
has  since  lived  and  operated.  It  is  located  on  sec- 
tions 4  and  9  and  contains  160  acres,  of  which  one- 
half  is  situated  on  each.  At  the  lime  of  purchase 
there  was  a  biick  house  on  it  and  a  small  barn.  The 
farm  is  at  the  present  writing  in  fine  agricultural 
condition,  and  the  owner  has  built  a  fine  set  of  frame 
buildings.  Its  value  is  materially  increased  by  the 
addition  of  shade  and  fruit  trees  and  the  place  has- a 
fine  display  of  hedges. 

The  family  includes  seven  children,  named  as  fol- 
lows: Mary  O,  born  Oct.  13,  1857;  George,  May 
3,  1859;  Charles,  Xov.  5,  i860;  Esther,  May  21, 
1863;  John,  March  28,  1865;  William,  April  29, 
1869;  and  Lewis,  Aug.  25,  1871.  Minnie,  born  Sept. 
12,  1867,  sixth  child  in  order  of  birth,  died  when  she 
was  nearly  three  years  old.  The  oldest  daughter  is 
the  wife  of  Henry  Smith,  a  resident  of  Coe  Township. 
George  married  Belle  Martin.  Charles  married  Lena 
Wentd. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  at  Cordova. 


■ 


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»«^ 


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^}'0Ph  eorge  E.  Cropper,  general  farmer,  residing 
i'ilMJfj     on    section   16,   Edgington   Township,  was 
Xh')~  "^    born  in  Bowling  Township,  Rock   Island 
•J?     County,  Nov.  20,  1846,  and  is  the  son  of  Ed- 
t       mond  Cropper,  a  biography  of  whom  is  given 
f       elsewhere  in   this   volume.     Our  subject  was 
reared  on  the  home   farm  in   Bowling  Township,  and 
educated  at  the  district   schools.     He  was  married, 
Dec.  30,  1865,  to  Miss   Julia  A.  Zahn,  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Harriet  (Ort)  Zahn,  natives  of  Germany, 
both    of    whom     came   to    America   prior    to    their 
marriage,  and  were  living  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island, 
where   they  were   married.     Mrs.  Cropper  was   born 
in    that   city  Nov.    20,   1840.     She  was    reared   and 
educated  there,  and  resided  at  the  same  place  until 
she  attained  the  age  of  15  years,  when  her  parents  re- 
moved to  the  farm  in   Black   Hawk  Township.     She 
resided  on   the   farm   until    her   marriage,  and    her 
mother  still  resides  on  the  old   homestead  with   her 
younger  children.     The  father  died  in  1865,  aged  60 


-s^e — r^KNn  0  g  n  n&A^ — ^s^_ 


■^^na^nn^r 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


years.  Mrs.  C.  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  and  is  the  mother  of  five  children,  namely : 
Charlie  E.,  Arthur  L.,  William  H.,  Philip  and  Hat- 
tie  M. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Cropper  settled  on  a  farm  on 
Big  Island,  where  he  resided  for  four  years.  In  the 
autumn  of  1869  they  moved  to  Edgington  Township 
and  purchased  120  acres  of  land  on  section  n,  where 
he  has  since  resided  and  made  large  and  valuable 
improvements.  He  takes  a  special  interest  in  Dur- 
ham cattle.  Politically,  Mr.  C.  is  a  Republican,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


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■g§-@/zrzrerav» 


jiiram  L.  Ogden,  pattern-maker  for  Deere  & 
Co.,  of  Moline,  111.,  is  a  son  of  Abraham 
and  Esther  (Kline)  Ogden,  and  was  born 
in  Clearfield  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  27,  1830.  He  went 
three  miles  during  the  winter  months  in  the  ac- 
quisition of  an  education,  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  14  years,  when  he  assisted  in  the  maintenance 
of  the  family  by  laboring  on  his  father's  farm.  At 
19  years  of  age  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two 
years,  learning  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  then  went 
West.  He  located  at  Peoria,  III.,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  about  two  years,  when  he  came  to 
Galva,  111.  Here  he  made  his  home  for  five  years, 
and  decided  to  try  farming  again,  which  he  did, 
working  on  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  near  At- 
kinson, 111.,  for  some  four  years.  He  next  moved 
to  Geneseo,  where  he  worked  one  summer  as  a  car- 
penter and  one  winter  as  wagon-maker,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Atkinson  and  continued  to  carry  on 
the  wagon-making  business  for  four  years  at  that 
place.  In  1870  he  left  the  latter  place  and  settled 
in  Moline,  111.,  and  commenced  wooding  plows  for 
Deere  &  Co.,  in  which  occupation  he  continued  about 
two  years.  He  next  turned  his  attention  to  mill- 
wrighting  and  pattern-making  for  the  same  company, 
which  he  continued  up  to  1880.  For  the  first  half 
of  the  last  five  years  he  attended  almost  exclusively 
to  millwrighting,  and  the  last  half  to  pattern-making, 
at  which  business  he  is  still  engaged,  having  now 


faithfully  served  Deere  &  Co.  for  15  years  continu- 
ously. 

Mr.  Ogden  was  married  Sept.  2,  ^56,  at  Galva, 
111.,  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Wolever,  daughter  of  John  E. 
and  Margaret  (Hulsizer)  Wolever.  Of  their  union 
have  been  born  two  children, — Charles  E.,  born 
May  9,  1859;  and  Fannie  E.,  Sept.  27,  1865. 

In  political  opinion,  Mr.  Ogden  affiliates  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  has  been  connected  with  the 
Odd  Fellows,  Good  Templars  and  Union  League; 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Galva  Brass  Band,  and 
has  genuine  talent  for  music,  which  has  descended 
to  his  son,  Charles  E.  Ogden,  who  was  born  in 
Galva. 

Charles  went  to  school  at  Geneseo,  Atkinson  and 
Moline  until  he  was  about  17  years  of  age,  when  he 
engaged  to  work  for  Deere  &  Co.,  wooding  plows, 
continuing  the  same  until  1879.  He  then  joined  the 
dramatic  company  of  J.  G.  Stutzz,  with  whom  he 
traveled  for  six  months  as  leader  of  the  band,  also 
traveled  and  played  with  other  companies  for  about 
a  year  altogether.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  took 
charge  of  and  taught  a  brass  band  at  Wapello,  Iowa. 
Returning  to  Moline,  he  organized  and  took  charge 
as  leader  of  the  Moline  Light  Guard  Band,  April  1, 
1882,  which  he  leads  and  teaches  with  faithful  and 
signal  ability,  and  which  he  has  made  one  of  the 
best  bands  in  this  section,  conducting  it  as  band  and 
orchestra;  and  its  services  are  in  constant  demand 
in  Moline  and  vicinity. 

Charles  was  married  Oct.  25,  1880,  to  Miss  Amelia 
Hannecke,  and  they  have  one  child,  Flora  A.,  born 
Tan.  1,  1882.  Mr.  Charles  Ogden  is  a  believer  in 
and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  advocated  by  the 
Republican  party. 


f  fijlVharles  Sundin,  manager   and    cashier   of 

1  ('■     '■-  ■  ■ 

ti  l_j*J]j'    the  Svea  Commercial  Union,  was  born  in 

gjfp^      Sweden,  April  22,   1846,  and  is  the  son  of 

$fo    Erick  Sundin.     He  was  brought  up  to  com- 

?^     mercial  pursuits,  and  emigrated  to  America  in 

I       1869,  arriving  in  the  United  States  in  June  of 

that  year.     He  came  to  Illinois  direct  and  located 

in   Woodhull,   Henry  County,  where  he  spent    two 


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^?(9CA'  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


603 


years  in  farming.  He  then  removed  to  Ontario, 
Knox  County,  where  he  resided  until  the  spring  of 
1S73,  when  he  came  to  Moline.  On  coming  to  this 
city  he  engaged  with  the  Union  Malleable  Iron 
Company.  He  began  with  the  Svea  Commercial 
Union  May  16,  1878,  as  salesman,  and  was  elected 
manager  and  treasurer  Jan.  1,  1884.  His  manage- 
ment of  the  business  has  given  very  general  satisfac- 
tion to  all  concerned. 

Mr.  Sundin  was  married  in  Moline,  June  4,  1S75, 
to  Miss  Johanna  Augusta  Skoglund.  Mrs.  Sundin 
was  born  in  Sweden,  July  16,  1854.  They  have  four 
children,  two  boys  and  two  girls, — John,  born  July 
20,  1876;  Sophia,  born  July  30,  1880;  August,  born 
Feb.  11,  1882;   Christina,  born  Aug.  10,  1884. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sundin  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church.     Mr.  S.  is  a  Republican. 


) 


& 


J.  Denison,  carpenter  and  joiner  at  Hamp- 
ton,   was    born    in  Westmoreland  Count}', 
Pa.,  Oct.  10,  1832,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of 
William  and  Margaret  (Johnson)  Denison.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
were  of  Scotch  descent  on  the  father's  side  and 
of  Irish  in   the  maternal  line.     They  came  to  the 
county  of  Rock  Island  when  their  son  was   a   lad  of 
eight  years,  and   they   located   in   Hampton  Town- 
ship, where  he  grew  to   manhood.     When    he   was 
16     he    began    to    learn    his    trade    under     the    su- 
|    pervision  of  his  brother-in-law.  Milton  Ward,  and  he 
worked  for  him  until  he  was  21.     After  reaching  the 
estate  of  manhood   they  formed  a  partnership  and 
conducted  their  business  together  for  some  time.  He 
has   continued  to  follow  the  same  calling  until  the 
present  time. 

Mr.    Denison   was   married  in    1862  to    Rebecca 

I   Crawford,  and  they  have  three  children,  as  follows  : 
William  C,  Archie  E.  and  Eva.     At  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  settled  in  the  village  of  Hampton,  and 
,    after  one  year  removed  to  Fulton,  in  Whiteside  Co., 
/j^\    where  he  was  a  resident  15  years.   In  1881  he  bought 
V,^   the  place  where  he  now  lives  in  Hampton  village. 


~    oc5o~ 


;.  G.  Franklin,  a  retired  farmer,  residing  on 
section  26,  Hampton  Township,  and  whose 
portrait  is  given  on  the  opposite  page,  was 


-    . 

tk    born   in   the   Green    Mountain   State,  Oct.   25, 
1810.     Coining  here  in  1838,  and  having  spent 


fr 


the  major  portion  of  his  life  in  the  county,  wit- 
nessing its  development  to  the  high  standard  that  it 
occupies  to-day  in  the  agricultural  counties  of  the 
State,  and  having  contributed  his  mite  to  aid  in  the 
development,  he  may  truly  be  said  not  only  to  be 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  but  a  man  whose 
good  judgment  led  him  to  remain  and  profit  by  the 
prosperity  which  almost  universally  comes  to  those 
who  came  at  an  early  day,  and  had  grit  enough  to 
"stick  to  it." 

Mr.  Franklin  is  the  son  of  Joel  and  Fanny  (Grout) 
Franklin,  natives  of  Vermont.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof-tree,  and  care  of  father  and  mother 
until  17  years  of  age.  in  the  meantime  receiving  a 
good  common-school  education.  After  arriving  at 
the  age  named,  we  went  forth  to  fight  the  battles  of 
life  single-handed  and  alone.  He  first  worked  out 
by  the  month, — in  fact  continued  to  work  for  others 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  28  years.  On  at- 
taining this  age  in  life,  he  realized  that  the  rapidly 
growing  West,  with  her  broad  and  beautiful  prairies 
lying  idle,  offered  greater  inducements  for  the  pro- 
curing of  a  competency  than  the  stony  hills  of  his 
native  State,  and  concluded  to  come  West.  He  con- 
sequently came  to  this  county,  and  settled  on  section 
26,  Hampton  Township,  where  he  has  lived  and 
labored  ever  since.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  242  acres 
of  land  with  a  good  substantial  residence,  barn  and 
outbuildings,  and  whatever  he  may  possess  of  this 
world's  goods,  judging  from  his  biography,  is  attri- 
butable to  his  own  indomitable  energy,  good  judg- 
ment and  active  co-operation  of  his  good  wife. 

Mr.  Franklin  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
January,  1840,  with  Miss  Betsey  F.  Edwards,  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont.  Of  their  union  six  children  have 
been  born:  Mary  A.,  Jan.  13,  1841;  Adeline  F., 
March  3,  1843;  Sanford  E.,  Dec.  14,  1844;  Rosa  A., 
Oct.  24,  1848;  Leslie  E.,  Oct.  17,  1851  and  Albert 
D.,  March  23,  1853  (deceased).     Mary  A.  married 


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William  Golden,  and  they  have  three  children, — 
Clara  F.,  Frank  and  Alice ;  Adeline  F.  married 
Benjamin  Golden,  and  they  have  seven  children, — 
Netta,  May,  Luther,  Arthur,  Flora,  Freddie  (de- 
ceased) and  Nellie  ;  Sanford  married  Matilda  Bodel- 
son,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, — Winnifred,  and 
one  deceased.  His  wife  died  in  1870,  and  he  was 
married  again  to  Alida  M.  Northrup,  and  they  had 
one  child, — Charles;  Rosa  A.  married  I.  M.  Spencer, 
and  they  have  four  children, — Ralph,  Dana,  Ray- 
mond and  one  deceased;  Leslie  martied  Louisa 
Brandt,  and  they  have  four  children, — Alida,  Philip, 
Fanny  and  Leslie,  Jr. 

Politically,  Mr.  Franklin  is  a  believer  in  the 
tenets  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Moline,  and  is  regard- 
ed as  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  county.  The 
station  at  Barstow  was  located  on  the  north  part  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26,  which  property 
belongs  to  Mr.  Franklin,  and  the  village  is  indebted 
to  Mr.  F.,  as  much  as  to  any  other  man,  for  its  pros- 
perity and  growth. 


€»« 


sttephen  H.  Velie,oneof  theleadingbusiness 
men  of  Moline,  was  born  April  21,  1830,  in 


Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  his  father's  name 
being  Henry,  and  his  mother's  Susan  (Her- 
rick)  Velie.  Both  his  father  and  mother  were 
born  in  Dutchess  County,  the  former  in  1798, 
and  the  latter  in  rSoo.  They  had  ten  children,  Ste- 
phen H.  being  the  third.  His  father  was  of  Dutch 
and  his  mother  of  English  extraction.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  a  farmer  boy  until  15  years  of 
age,  meanwhile  attending  school  during  the  winters, 
and  teaching  school  one  term.  The  two  years  follow- 
ing were  employed  in  a  general  grocery  store  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  with  an  uncle.  He  removed  to  St. 
Louis  in  1847,  and  clerked  in  the  well-known  grocery 
store  of  E.  J.  Gay  &  Co.,  until  1850,  spending  the 
winterof  1849-50  in  Louisiana  on  business  for  the 
firm.  He  returned  East  in  the  summer  of  1850,  re- 
maining there  until  the  fall  of  1853,  when  he  return- 
ed to  the  West  and  settled  in   Rock   Island,  111,  and 


for  five  years  had  charge  of  the  office  of  the  foundry 
of  C.  C.  Webber  &  Co.  in  that  city. 

On  May  10,  1S60,  he  was  married  at  Moline,  111., 
to  Emma,  daughter  of  John  Deere.  His  children  are 
Charles  D.,  born  March  20,  1861  ;  Stephen  H.,  Jr., 
Oct.  20,  1862;  Willard  L.,  May  10,  1865;  Grace, 
Feb.  4,  1872.  Stephen  H,  Jr.,  was  married  July  10, 
1884,  to  Miss  Emma  Ainsworth. 

Mr.  Velie  spent  two  years  in  the  grocery  business 
at  Princeton,  111.,  and  in  iS63he  became  actively  en- 
gaged as  a  partner  in  the  John  Deere  Plow  Works, 
and  when  the  company  was  incorporated  in  1868  he 
was  chosen  secretary  of  the  corporation  of  Deere  & 
Co.,  a  position  he  has  filled  with  marked  ability  ever 
since,  attending  to  the  buying  and  the  manufacturing 
department  principally.  He  is  also  manager  of  the 
Moline  Lumber  Company's  saw-mill  at  Helena, 
Ark.,  and  is  interested  with  Mr.  C.  O.  Mason  in  a 
stone-quarry  enterprise  in  Iowa.  He  is  a  director  in 
the  Mississippi  Valley  Mutual  Insurance  Company, 
Moline  Central  Horse  Railroad,  and  Moline  Public 
Library.     He  is  a  Freemason  and  an  Odd  Fellow. 

Politically,  Mr.  Velie  was  a  Whig  up  to  the  abro- 
gation of  the  Missouri  Compromise  line,  when  oppo- 
sition to  the  extension  of  slavery  led  him  into  the 
Republican  ranks,  and  he  has  been  of  that  faith 
ever  since,  believing  that  independent  thinkers  and 
reformers  can  bring  about  improvements  in  the 
character  of  public  servants  and  civil  service  reform 
sooner  as  active,  voting,  caucus-attending  members 
of  the  Republican  party  than  as  Independents  or 
auxiliary  Democrats. 

Mr.  Velie  is  strongly  domestic  in  his  tastes,  and 
literary  in  his  impulses  and  talents,  never  so  happy 
as  when  reading  in  the  family  circle  during  the  eve- 
nings, and  gaining  and  distributing  knowledge  among 
his  children. 


fefea^asf 


i'TKrUl^avid  Kichardson, 

>■  fe  >s^l  •'     ington    village,  wa: 

5  Cg  or* 

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dealer  in  horses  at  Edg- 

ras  born  in   Monroe  Co., 

r,  1843.     His  father,  Jonathan 

"^)ST     Richardson,  was  a   farmer  by   occupation,   a 

v>         native  of  Tennessee  and  of   German    ances- 

I 

\  try.     The   parents    lived  in  Monroe  County 

Ind.,  where  the  son  was   reared  and   educated,  and 


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where  the  mother  died  in  1874.  The  father  still  re- 
sides there,  with  a  daughter,  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Richardson,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, was  one  of  nine  children  of  his  father's  family. 
He  was  educated  at  the  common- schools  of  his  na- 
tive county  and  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer 
until  the  date  of  his  marriage,  June  12,  1863,  in 
Monroe  County.  The  lady  whom  he  chose  to  share 
his  sorrows  and  joys  through  life  was  Miss  Lucinda 
Boultinghouse,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Zilphe  (Williams)  Boultinghouse,  natives  of  In- 
diana and  Tennessee  respectively.  Her  father  was 
a  farmer  and  always  lived  in  Monroe  County,  where 
he  died  Oct.  9,  il873.  Her  mother  still  resides  in 
Monroe  County  with  her  younger  son,  James  B. 
Mrs.  Richardson  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Ind., 
Oct.  1,  1842,  and,  what  is  something  of  a  coincidence, 
it  was  the  same  day  and  month  as  that  of  her  hus- 
band and  just  one  year  later.  They  are  the  parents 
of  12  children,  four  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mary 
married  Anthony  Tarpey,  and  resides  in  Buffalo 
Prairie  Township,  this  county,  and  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  four  children.  John  married  Reath  Neffand 
resides  in  Edgington  village ;  Isaac,  Martin,  Wil- 
liam, Francis  and  Sadie  and  Seana  (twins)  are  the 
remaining  surviving  children. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Richardson  resided  on  a 
farm  in  Monroe  County,  Ind.,  for  a  time  and  then 
came  to  this  county  and  located  in  Edgington 
Township.  He  now  owns  80  acres  in  Buffalo  Prai- 
rie Township.  In  187  1  he  began  to  deal  in  horses, 
and  now  makes  that  business  a  specialty.  Politic- 
ally, he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
is  the  owner  of  five  and  three-quarters  acres  of  land 
inside  the  corporate   limits  of  Edgington. 


■jlohn  H.  Porter,  job  printer,  1 603-1 607 
WiC  Third  Avenue,  Moline,  has  one  of  the  most 
*  complete  establishments  in  the  Northwest, 
and  enjoys  a  large  and  increasing  patronage. 
His  office  makes  a  specialty  of  the  nicer  grades 
of  work,  for  the  production  of  which  it  has  been 
especially  fitted.  In  all  departments  15  employees 
are  engaged. 

Mr.  Porter  was  born  in  Jamesport,  Suffolk  Co 


$€§^f» 


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N. 


Y.,  July  11,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Isabella 
Porter.  He  was  educated  in  Southold  Institute, 
Southold,  N.  V.  After  graduating  he  was  solicited 
by  one  of  his  former  tutors,  who  had  purchased  a 
newspaper  and  printing  office  in  a  neighboring  town, 
to  enter  the  office,  which  he  readily  agreed  to  do. 
A  little  over  three  years  was  spent  in  this  apprentice- 
ship, when  another  was  served  in  New  York.  In 
1868  he  came  West,  to  Southern  Wisconsin,  and  a 
few  months  later  located  at  Lacon,  111.,  from  whence, 
in  1872,  he  removed  to  Moline. 

In  December,  1879,  Mr.  Porter  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  F.  Nourse,  and  two  children  have 
been  born  to  them, —  Burt  N.  and  Gail.  In  August, 
1S80,  Mr.  Porter  purchased  the  business  which  he 
is  now  conducting  successfully.  In  April  of  the 
same  year  he  was  made  Captain  and  Adjutant  of 
the  14th  Bittallion  Illinois  National  Guards,  which 
was  afterwards  merged  into  the  Sixth  Regt  Inf.  I. 
N.  G,  and  Capt.  Porter  was  re-appointed  to  the 
same  position  and  rank. 


-♦*4#^«*- 


^PjRS'.V.harles  H.  Larkin 

^y0T  fr°m  the  Fifth  Ward 

iW*  "^     tne  ^est  rePresentat've  0I"  trie  Greenback 
Labor  party  in  the  spring  of  1881.     Though 


was   elected  Alderman 
in  Rock  Island  as 


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f 


a  young  man,  his  term  in  office  was  so  mark- 
ed with  prudence  and  efficiency  that  the 
Democrats  of  the  ward  refused  to  run  a  man  against 
him  in  the  spring  of  1883,  and  his  name  was  printed 
on  the  tickets  of  both  parties.  The  spring  of  1885 
developed  the  peculiarity  in  his  case  of  seeing  him 
dropped  by  the  Democrats,  nominated  by  his  old 
party,  endorsed  by  the  Republicans,  and  overwhelm- 
ingly elected  by  the  fusion.  Just  how  these  changes 
were  brought  about  would  require  pages  to  explain; 
and  as  it  properly  belongs  to  political  history  it  is 
malapropos  in  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Larkin  was  born  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
13,  1S52,  and  at  the  age  of  five  years  was  brought  by 
his  parents,  Michael  and  Mary  (Smith)  Larkin,  to 
Rock  Island  County.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith 
and  carried  on  that  trade  in  this  county  about  25 
years.  Charles  was  fairly  educated  at  the  public 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  16  began  the  carpenter's 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


trade.  Less  than  one  year  at  this  trade  satisfied 
him  that  it  was  not  to  his  taste,  and  he  at  once  ap- 
prenticed himself  to  stone  masonry.  In  1876  he 
branched  out  as  a  contractor,  undertaking  to  do  all 
kinds  of  plain  and  fancy  stone  masonry  necessary  to 
the  construction  of  a  building.  Since  that  time  he 
has  completed  some  of  the  finest  jobs  in  the  county. 
The  whole  of  the  stone  work  of  that  magnificent 
structure  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  known  as  the  "  Acad- 
emy of  the  Sisters  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,"  is 
the  product  of  his  handiwork,  and  at  this  writing 
(June,  1885)  he  is  finishing  the  stone  work  of  St. 
Ambrose  College,  in  the  same  city.  He  employs 
from  15  to  25'men  the  year  around  ;  and  as  his  work- 
manship, like  his  private  and  public  acts,  will  always 
bear  favorably  the  strictest  scrutiny,  he  is  never  re- 
quired to  be  idle. 

Mr.  Larkin  was  married  October  20,  1874,  at  the 
city  of  Rock  Island,  to  Miss  Annie  Ford,  a  native  of 
Indiana,  and  their  five  children  are  named  respect- 
ively, May,  Kate,  Leo,  Harry  and  Annie.  Though 
not  devoted  to  politics  by  any  means,  Mr.  Larkin 
stands  firmly  by  the  principles  of  the  Greenback 
Labor  party.  As  he  is  a  devout  Catholic,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  inquire  whether  he  belongs  to  any  se- 
cret order. 


eorge  H.  Huntoon,  one  of  the  firm  of 
Hun  toon  Bros.,  proprietors  of  Moline 
Pump  Works,  is  a  native  of  Moline,  111., 
and  was  born  July  4,  1846.  His  parents,  Jo- 
seph and  Sylvia  (Tenney)  Huntoon,  were  pi- 
oneers of  Illinois  in  1836.  His  father  was 
troni  New  Hampshire,  and  his  mother  a  native  of 
Massachusetts.  George,  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  was  educated  in  the  ciiy  schools  of 
Moline,  and  learned  the  brick-maker's  trade,  and  was 
engaged  in  that  business  till  1872,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  windmill  business,  remaining  in  the  same  un- 
til 1875,  at  which  time  he  entered  upon  his  present 
undertaking. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  at  Moline,  Oct.  28, 
1875,  to  Miss  Mary  L.  Stephens,  daughter  of  George 
Stephens.     Mrs.  Huntoon  was  born  in   Moline,  and 


she  and  her  husband  became  the  parents  of  two 
children,  Grace  A.  and  George  E.  During  the  late 
war,  Mr.  Huntoon  served  in  the  100-day  service  as 
a  member  of  Co.  H,  133d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  had 
been  previously  employed  in  Government  service  for 
several  months.  Mr.  Huntoon  is  liberal  in  his  re- 
ligious views,  and  a  Republican  in  political  senti- 
ment. 


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'i<  hornas    Armstrong,    general    farmer    and 
A    stock-raiser   on  section  34,  Bowling  Town- 


ship, was  born  in  County  Fermanagh,  Ire- 
land, April  4,  1835.  His  father,  Christopher 
Armstrong,  also  a  native  of  the  same  county, 
married  there  Miss  Mary  A.  Foster.  For  sev- 
eral generations  back  the  ancestry  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  farming  community.  Three  of  Christopher 
Armstrong's  sons — Robert,  Archibald  and  Christo- 
pher, Jr.,  served  in  the  United  States  Army  during 
the  late  Rebellion,  and  Robert  died  from  the  hard- 
ship incident  to  camp  life.  They  all  belonged  to 
Co.  A,  37th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  They  took  part  in  some  of 
the  leading  battles  of  the  war.  Archibald  is  now  liv- 
ing near  Grinnell,  Iowa,  where  he  is  a  large  farmer; 
Christopher  is  a  merchant  in  Sutton,  Neb. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  biographi- 
cal outline  is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  nine  children, 
and  was  15  years  of  age  when  he  emigrated,  alone, 
to  this  country,  locating  for  a  short  time  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Ontario,  Can.,  whence  he  afterward  came,  as 
well  as  the  rest  of  the  family  from  the  old  country, 
to  the  United  States,  settling  upon  a  farm  of  125 
acres  in  Bowling  Township,  this  county.  They  are  still 
living  here,  both  very  aged.  Thomas  was  educated 
in  his  native  country,  and  in  this  county  he  resided 
with  his  father,  laboring  upon  the  farm,  which  com- 
prised 455  acres. 

Feb.  2r,  1862,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  Armstrong's  mar- 
riage, in  the  township  of  Bowling,  this  county,  to 
Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (Lester) 
Clark,  natives  of  Ireland  and  of  Irish  ancestry.  She 
was  born  in  Ireland  in  1834,  and  when  she  was  four 
years  old  her  mother  died,  and  at  the  age  of  seven 
years  she  came  to  America  with  her  father,  who  lo- 
cated in  Bowling  Township,  where  he  spent  the  re- 


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mainder  of  his  days,  acquiring  a  large  amount  of 
property. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Armstrong  settled  upon  an 
8o-acre  farm  deeded  to  him  by  his  father  some  time 
before,  and  on  this  he  has  since  resided,  and  pros- 
pered as  a  farmer.  He  is  now  the  proprietor  of  440 
acres  in  this  county  and  five  acres  in  Mercer  Coun- 
ty. The  whole  is  fenced,  and  most  of  it  cultivated. 
His  buildings  and  other  improvements  are  first- 
class. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  are  : 
Mary  A.,  who  was  born  July  9,  1863;  Margaret  J., 
March  19,  1865;  Sarah  A.,  June  1,  1869,  and  Eliza- 
beth F.,  Jan.  30,  1874.  The  deceased  are:  Robert 
N.,  who  was  born  March  26,  1867,  and  died  July  29, 
1877,  and  Christopher  C,  born  July  1,  1872,  and 
died  Feb.  10,  1873. 

The  parents  and  three  of  the  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
religious  body  Mr.  A.  is  now  Steward,  Trustee  and 
Sunday-school  Superintendent.  In  the  latter  capa- 
city he  has  been  an  efficient  worker  for  two  years. 
He  has  been  School  Director  for  25  years,  Assessor 
for  three  years,  and  has  held  most  of  the  minor 
offices  of  the  township.  In  his  principles  concern- 
ing the  nation's  welfare  he  is  a  reliable  Republican. 


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t^asper  Vitzthum,  physician  and  surgeon, 
Moline,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Jan.  1, 
1823.  He  received  his  education  at  the 
ife  best  institutions  of  learning  in  the  Old 
World,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Jena,  Germany.  The  Doctor  in  his  early 
life  was  quite  a  traveler.  For  several  years  he 
practiced  his  profession  on  a  large  sugar  plantation 
in  Matto  Grasso,  Imperio  Brazil,  and  from  1S48  to 
1853  he  was  surgeon  on  a  German  vessel,  and  made 
a  trip  around  the  world,  visiting  many  foreign  coun- 
tries and  acquiring  a  fund  of  knowledge  and  an  ex- 
perience both  profitable  and  pleasant. 

In  October,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
Iversen,  who  was  born  in  Haversleben,  Schleswig 
Holstein,  on  October  26,  1836.  They  have  three 
children   living:    Nora,   born  April  3,   1862;  John, 


born  Oct.  22,  1865,  and  Mamie,  born  June  12,  1867. 
They  have  lost  five  children. 

The  Doctor  came  to  this  country  in  1855,  and  is 
the  oldest  practitioner  in  the  city  of  Moline.  He 
has  never  entered  public  life,  always  preferring  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  been  ex- 
traordinarily successiul,  and  has  acquired  a  compe- 
tency. 

Doctor  Vitzthum  is  and  has  been  for  some  years 
a  director  in  the  Moline  National  Bank,  a  member  of 
the  Turner  Society,  and  a  P.  G.  of  the  Order  of 
Druids,  Moline  Grove,  No.  26. 


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benjamin  F.  Ramsey,  Superintendent  of  the 
I  Black  Hawk   Paper  Mills,  at  Milan,  and 
whose   portrait   is  given   on  the  opposite 
page,  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Dec.  31, 
1837.      His    father,    Simon    Ramsey,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  by  occupation  a  merchant.     He  was  a  very  act- 
ive worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  noted 
for  his  remarkable  ability  in  prayer,  and  the  substan- 
tial and  lasting  character  of  his   spiritual  influence 
upon  religious  inquirers.     His  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Hannah  West.     Both  his  parents  died  at  Mil- 
ford,  Ohio,  when  he  was  about  nine  years  old. 

After  the  death  of  his  parents  our  subject  went  to 
live  with  his  brother-in-law,  J.  H.  Rust,  of  Moscow, 
Ohio,  who  was  a  dealer  in  shoes,  etc.,  and  a  teacher 
of  music.  Mr.  Ramsey  (who  was  the  youngest  but 
one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  and  being  deprived 
of  the  comfort  and  influence  of  his  parents  at  so  early 
an  age,  his  lot  was  not  only  a  sad  one,  but  must  have 
been  a  hard  one!)  attended  school  at  Moscow,  and 
when  only  14  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the 
trade  of  paper  manufacturer,  at  Madison,  Ind.,  in  a 
mill  belonging  to  his  brother-in-law.  He  was  em- 
ployed there  for  a  period  of  seven  years,  and  thus 
became  thoroughly  drilled  in  the  art  he  has  given  so 
much  earnest  thought  and  made  his  life-work.  In 
1866  he  came  to  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  and  for  one 
year  took  charge  of  the  paper  mill  at  that  place.  He 
then  went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  superintended 
the  construction  of  a  paper-mill  at  that  place.  We 
next  find  him  at  Quincy,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 

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same  business  four  years.  From  thence  he  goes  to 
Beardstown,  on  the  Illinois  River,  in  Cass  County. 
Owing  to  the  burning  of  the  mill,  he  left  that  place, 
and  went  to  Kansas  City,  and  after  following  his 
business  there  a  short  time  he  went  to  Springfield, 
111.  From  then  we  went  to  Saratoga  Springs,  and 
Palmer  Falls,  on  the  Hudson  River,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
was  engaged  until  1S75.  when  he  came  to  Milan, and 
erected  the  mill  which  lie  now  operates  as  superin- 
tendent. The  mill,  which  is  a  first-class  one,  has  a 
capacity  of  eight  tons  per  day,  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  wrapping  paper.  During  the  years  Mr.  Ramsey 
has  lived  here  he  has  risen  to  be  a  man  of  consider- 
able worth  and  eminence  in  the  community,  and  his 
success  in  business  is  signally  prominent.  He  has 
won  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  not  only  the  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county,  but  has  a  reputation  extend- 
ing far  beyond  its  borders.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Village  Council  three  years,  serving  with  sat- 
isfaction to  his  constituents.  In  politics  he  is  a 
strong  Democrat. 

In  1S66  Mr.  Ramsay  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Quincy,  111.,  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Barnes,  who  was 
born  near  Pittsburg,  in  1849.  She  was  reared  and 
educated  there,  and  lived  with  her  parents  until  her 
marriage,  who  came  West  with  her  when  she  was  a 
young  lady.  Her  father  was  a  merchant.  Botli  her 
parents  are  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramsey 
have  five  children,  namely  :  Arthur  G.,  Edward  P., 
Eva  J..  Roswell  and  Sadie. 

Mr.  Ramsey  is  a  thoroughgoing  business  man,  and 
both  a  credit  and  a  value  to  the  town.  He  is  enter- 
prising, and  has  builded  an  industry  here  that  is  an 
important  feature  of  the  place. 


"ohannes  Peterson,  Secretary  of  the  Moline 
Cabinet-Organ  Company,  was  born  in 
Wermland,  Sweden,  Jan.  8,  1849,  and  is 
the  son  of  Peter  and  Christine  (Olson)  Peter- 
son He  came  to  America  in  1868,  spent  one 
year  at  Hastings,  Minn.,  and  then  removed  to 
Linds'uorg,  McPherson  Co  ,  Kan.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  till  1878.  He  then  came  to  Moline 
and  entered  Augustana  College,  taking  a  three-year 


course,  completing  it  i.  1SS1,  when  he  purchased  an 
equal  share  with  the  other  stockholders  in  the  Mo- 
line Cabinet-Organ  Company.  He  subsequently 
bought  out  one  of  the  partners,  giving  him  one-fifth 
of  the  stock.  In  January,  1885,  he  was  elected  sec- 
retary of  the  company,  and  exchanged  his  Kansas 
farm  for  a  grocery  store  at  Rock  Island,  of  which  he 
afterward  sold  a  half  interest. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
and  a  Republican. 


W\  lpik%apt- 


residing  on  section  25,  is  a  son  of  Robert 
and  Hannah  (Keating)  Jordan,  natives  of 
Maine,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  and  English  an- 
cestry. He  is  a  grandson  of  Israel  and  Susanna 
Jordan,  the  former  being  the  second  son  of  Col.  Na- 
thaniel and  Hannah  (Woodbury)  Jordan.  Nathaniel 
Jordan  was  the  son  of  Maj.  Dominicus  and  Joanna 
(Bray)  Jordan.  The  former  was  a  son  of  Domini- 
cus and  Hannah  (Tristam)  Jordan.  He  was  the  third 
son  of  Rev.  Robert  and  Sarah  (Winter)  Jordan. 
Rev.  Robert  Jordan  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Church 
of  England,  and  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica. He  was  stationed  at  Richmond's  Island,  near 
Portland,  Me.,  in  1641.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
come  to  this  country  in  1639.  The  family  of  which 
Eben  D.  Jordan,  of  the  celebrated  firm  of  Jordan, 
Marsh  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  is  a  member,  trace  their 
genealogy  back  to  the  Norman  conquest,  in  which 
one  of  them  was  the  companion  of  Martine  De 
Tours.  For  a  further  record,  see  the  Jordan  Memo- 
rial, compiled  by  Hon.  Tristram  Frost  Jordan. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  were  married  in  1800, 
and  settled  in  Rockland,  Maine,  and  in  1832  they 
emigrated  to  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  where,  four  days 
after  their  arrival,  the  father  died.  The  mother 
lived  there  until  1845,  when  she  went  to  live  with  a 
son  in  Wisconsin,  and  finally  came  to  reside  with  her 
son,  Capt.  John  A.  Jordan,  subject  of  this  notice,  and 
died  at  his  residence  Feb.  9,  1854.  Their  family 
comprised  14  children. 

John  A.  was  the  tenth  child  in  order  of  birth  of 


VS 


John  A.   Jordan,   one   of    the   pro- 

P~~M&    gressive  farmers  of  Rural  Township   and 
x     reliable   citizens  of  Rock  Island  County, 


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his  parents'  family,  and  was  born  in  Camden,  Maine, 
Jan.  ii,  1819,  and  received  his  education,  which,  on 
account  of  the  newness  of  the  country  in  which  he 
resided,  was  somewhat  limited,  in  his  native  county; 
he  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was  14  years  of  age. 
On  arriving  at  this  age,  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  with  his  widowed  mother  for  five 
years,  and  during  the  last  year  had  charge  of  her 
farm.  Capt.  John  A.  came  from  Ohio  to  Mercer 
County,  this  State,  and  settled  in  Richland  Grove, 
where  he  "took  up"  and  purchased  100  acres  oi 
land.  He  lived  on  the  latter  place  until  the  spring 
of  1855,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Rural 
Township,  this  county,  where  he  purchased  320  acres 
of  land,  located  on  sections  25  and  36.  He  settled 
on  section  25,  where  he  is  at  present  residing,  and  on 
which  he  erected  a  good  residence,  together  with  sub- 
stantial outbuildings,  and  placed  his  land  under  an 
advanced  state  of  cultivation.  At  present  he  is  the 
owner  of  160  acres,  the  major  portion  of  which  is 
well  improved.  In  the  spring  of  1861,  Capt.  Jordan 
raised  a  company  known  as  the  "  Ellsworth  Guards," 
and  drilled  them  four  months.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  he  took  a  part  of  his  company  and  also  a 
part  of  the  Rock  Island  Rifles,  which  were  consoli- 
dated, and  Capt.  Jordan  was  elected  and  commis- 
sioned Captain  of  the  company,  which  was  known  as 
Co.  A,  37th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  It  was  a  rifle  company, 
and  Aug.  14,  1861,  they  went  into  camp  at  Chicago, 
from  which  place  they  were  soon  afterward  ordered 
for  Missouri.  Capt.  Jordan  was  with  the  regiment 
for  about  five  months,  when  he  received  a  stroke  of 
paralysis,  and  after  examination  by  Dr.  L.  F. 
Humeston,  Surgeon  of  his  regiment,  he  was  pro- 
nounced in  a  critical  condition,  and  was  compelled 
to  resign,  which  he  did.  and  returned  to  his  home  in 
Rock  Island.  He  has  been  unable  to  regain  his 
health  since  the  close  of  the  war.  After  returning 
home,  he  was  sent  to  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  on 
"matters  connected  with  the  army." 

Capt.  Jordan  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  March 
18,  1841,  in  Richland  Grove,  Mercer  Co.,  this  State, 
with  Miss  Rachel  Melzler,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  (Horcom)  Metzler,  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. Mrs.  Jordan  was  born  in  Coshocton  County, 
Ohio,  May  4,  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  are  the  par- 
ents of  four  children :  Byroy,  born  June  n,  1842; 
Edwin  T.,  bom  Dec.  17,  1843  ;  Olive  M.,  born 
Aug.  5,  1848,  and  died  in  Rural  Township,  May  14, 


1 


1865  ;  and  William  H.,  born  Dec.  28,  1850.  Byron 
married  Mary  Anna  Blackfan,  Nov.  17,  1867.  They 
have  four  children, — Roland  B.,  born  May  2c,  r87o  ; 
Elmer  H.,  July  22,  1872;  Samuel  L.,  born  July  26, 
1875  ;  and  Erwin  B.,  May  26,  18S4. 

Capt.  Jordan  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  of 
Rural  Township,  Justice  of  the  Peace  eight  years, 
and  other  minor  offices  in  the  township.  Politically, 
he  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  religiously  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  Captain  Jordan  is  Elder. 


^s|NN^~^~- 


'  ;  -ft\ ■■.  oseph  Conway,  one  of  the  principal 
/' .;,■-  characters  in  the  early  history  of  Rock 
<  '-  Island  County,  was  born  in  Mason  Co., 
Ky.,  in  1790.  In  early  life  he  moved  to  Mad- 
ison Co.,  111.,  and  there  studied  law,  was  Cir- 
cuit and  County  Clerk  on  the  organization  of 
that  county  in  1819,  was  State  Senator  in  1825-6 
and  in  1830.  On  the  organization  of  Rock  Island 
County,  he  came  bearing  the  commission  from  the 
Governor  for  the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate,  Public 
Administrator,  Notary  Public  and  Recorder.  He 
was  also  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  and  of  the 
County  Commissioners'  Courts.  On  account  of  fail- 
ing health  he  resigned  in  1843,  went  south  and  died 
near  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Oct.  25,  T843. 


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,  ohn    G.    Corbin,   farmer    on    section    32, 
iSfe"    Hampton  Township,  is  a  pioneer  of  1111- 

^/^£*  .         ,  .  1    •        o  1 

V         nois,  having  come  to  this  State  as  early  as 

1S36,   before  the   days  of  railroads  or  even   a 

jC      convenient   line    of  stages.     He   was   born   in 

Ohio,  Jan.  4,  r Si S,  and  was  the  son  of  Luther 

C.   and    Mary  (Sharp)   Corbin,   both   natives  of  New 

York. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  left  home  while  a  mere 
lad,  at  the  age  of  14  years,  and  since  that  lime,  has 
won  a  respectable  place  in  society.     After  leaving 


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home  he  learned  the  miller's  trade,  which  he  only 
followed  for  a  short  time.  He  then  came  to  Illinois 
and  located  in  Albany,  Whiteside  County,  where  he 
lived  for  three  years,  working  out  where  he  could  get 
employment.  In  1S38  he  went  to  Indiana,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  then  came  back  to  Illinois,  stop- 
ping in  Hancock  County  for  three  months,  when,  in 
1S40,  he  came  to  Rock  Island.  His  introduction 
into  the  county  was  as  a  wood-chopper,  working  four 
months  at  that  labor,  together  with  farming.  In  1841, 
he  assisted  in  building  a  dam  at  Moline,  and  in  1852 
he  purchased  his  farm,  where  he  now  lives.  He  ad- 
heres to  the  principles  of  the  Greenback  party,  and 
in  his  religious  connections  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is 
also  a  member. 

In  1843  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Pollie 
Brooks,  who  became  the  mother  of  15  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living, — Eli,  James,  Clark,  Martha  and 
William.  Mrs.  Corbin  died  in  1883,  and  Mr.  Cor- 
bin  for  his  second  wife  married  Mrs.  Margaret  West, 
Nov.  12,  1884.  She  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  by  her  former  husband  became  the  mother  of 
nine  children,  the  following  eight  of  whom  are  living: 
Harriet,  Mary,  Clara,  Ella,  Emma,  Lillian,  Clyde 
and  Clarence. 


-5 »/V^2P"|3g^A/V/»~- 


Sji  ndrew  C.  Shaffer,  dealer  in  peddlers'  sup- 
§\W  plies  at  Rock  Island,  came  to  this  city  in 
^  1857.  He  was  born  in  Andes,  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  December,  T839.  His  father 
and  mother,  Philip  and  Malvina  Schafer,  were 
natives  of  that  State,  and  there  resided  until 
their  deaths.  Andrew  C.  Shaffer,  the  gentleman  of 
whom  we  write,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  engaged 
with  his  older  brother,  C.  B.  Shaffer,  in  his  native 
village  of  Andes,  in  the  hardware  business,  and  they 
jointly  conducted  the  same  for  three  years.  On  at- 
attaining  his  seventeenth  year,  Mr.  Shaffer  came 
West  and  located  at  Rock  Island,  and  soon  after- 
ward purchased  and  improved  a  farm  in  Mercer 
County.  He  lived  on  his  farm  in  Mercer  County, 
occupied  in  its  cultivation,  for  three  years,  when  he 
returned  to  Delaware  Co.  N.  Y.,  and  again  engaged 


in  business  with  his  brother,  as  before.  They  con- 
ducted their  business  jointly  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  late  Civil  War,  when  Mr.  Shaffer  of  this  no- 
tice enlisted  in  the  8th  New  York  Battery,  Capt. 
Butler  Fitch.  He  remained  in  the  army  four  years, 
veteranizing  and  engaging  in  all  the  battles  in  which 
his  regiment  participated.  After  leaving  the  army  he 
came  to  Rock  Island,  and  at  once  engaged  in  the 
business  which  he  is  at  present  following.  He  has 
five  wagons  on  the  road,  and  in  supplying  the  ped- 
dling trade  is  meeting  with  financial  success. 

Mr.  Shaffer  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1866,  to 
Miss  Angie  Collier,  a  native  of  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  she  was  born  in  1844.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  two  children — Lee  L.,  born  in  1867,  and 
now  in  the  employ  of  the  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Sur- 
vey Company;  and  VedaM.,  who  was  born  in  187  1. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Shaffer  belongs  to  no  party,  but  as 
with  his  religion,  is  liberal  in  his  views.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America — an  order  of  the  Golden  Rule.  His 
residence  is  1504  Second  Avenue,  between  Fifteenth 
and  Sixteenth  Streets,  Rock  Island. 


~{®>.- 


aeob  M.  Weaver,  a  successful  farmer,  re 
t  siding  on  section  n,  Moline  Township, 
was  born  May  r2,  1847,  in  Moline  Town- 
ship, within  one- 1. alf  mile  of  where  he  at  pres- 
et ent  resides.  He  ;  a  son  of  George  Weaver, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  was  married  to 
Miss  Schooley,  also  a  native  of  that  country.  They 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1829,  and  the  issue 
of  their  union  was  eight  children — John  D.,  Jacob 
M.,  subject  of  this  notice,  Amos,  George,  William, 
Christina  A.,  Charlotte,  Mary  E.  and  Sisley  M. 

Mr.  Weaver,  of  this  notice,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Ann  Clarkson,  Nov.  23,  1872.  She  was 
born  June  t  r,  1853,  in  Johnstown,  Pa.,  and  is  of 
English  parentage.  Her  parents'  names  were  Timo- 
thy and  Elizabeth  (Teasel)  Clarkson,  both  born  in 
England,  the  former  dying  in  1867,  and  the  latter  in 
r875.  Mr.  Weaver  has  a  fine  farm  of  180  acres, 
100  of  which  is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  the  remainder  in  pasture.     On  his  place  he 


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has  a  fine  dwelling,  30x35  feet  in  dimensions,  and 
one  and  a  half  stories  in  height,  together  with  a  good 
bain,  1  orn-crib,  and  other  necessary  outbuildings, 
and  his  place  presents  to  the  passer-by  the  appear- 
ance' indicative  of  the  push  and  energy  of  which 
the  proprietor  is  possessed. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  are  Jacob 
F.,  born  March  21,  1874;  Eliza  M.,  Dec.  20,  1875; 
George,  Feb.  24,  1877  ;  Lewis,  July  26,  1880;  John 
E.,  Dec.  29,  1882;  and  Albert  M.,  Feb.    14,  1885. 


<Si 


ev.  Erland  Carlsson,  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Augustana  Col- 
lirsJP1"  'eSe  and  Theological  Seminary,  Rock  Isl- 
\§r  and,  and  residing  at  Andover,  111.,  where  he  is 
Pastor  of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  is  one  of  the  best  known  gentlemen  of 
I  his  nationality  in  America.  Few  men  have  excited 
j  greater  influence  for  good  over  their  fellow  men  than 
;  has  Rev.  Mr.  Carlsson.  He  has  a  splendid  record, 
[  and  one  which  we  shall  not  attempt  to  elaborate  in 
this  sketch,  but  merely  give  the  more  prominent  fea- 
tures of  his  great  works  among  his  people  in  behalf 
of  religion  and  education.  He  was  born  in  Sweden, 
Aug.  24,  1S22,  and  graduated  at  the  University  of 
Lund,  in  1844,  and  was  ordained  to  the  holy  ministry 
by  the  Bishop  of  Wexio,  in  June,  1849. 

After  five  years  of  faithful  service  in  the  Estab- 
lished Church  (the  Lutheran)  of  Sweden,  with  royal 
permission  he  left  his  native  country  in  June,  1853, 
coming  to  America.  He  at  once  proceeded  to  Chi- 
cago, arriving  there  in  August  of  the  same  year.  He 
took  charge  of  the  Immanuel  Swedish  Lutheran 
Congregation,  which  had  been  organized  in  that  city 
in  the  same  year,  and  consisted  of  a  few  poor  Swed- 
ish emigrants.  His  remarkable  career  in  that  city  is 
best  told  by  the  simple  record  of  his  pastorate  of  22 
years  for  his  congregation.  Commencing,  as  above 
stated,  with  a  handful  of  poor  Swedish  emigrants, 
and  without  influence, during  Mr.  Carlsson 's  services, 
his  congregation  became  one  of  the  largest  Protest- 
ant Churches  in  Chicago.  In  the  spring  of  1875,  he 
accepted  a  call  to  Andover,  where  he  is  at  present 
located. 

Rev.  Erl.  Carlsson  has  not  only  labored  most  effi- 


ciently as  Pastor,  but  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
the  general  affairs  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church 
of  this  country.  For  many  years  he  has  been  the 
President  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, and  at  present  is  the  President  of  the  Scandi- 
navian Evangelical  Lutheran  Augustana  Synod  of 
North  America.  When  the  Rev.  Carlsson  arrived  in 
Chicago  there  were  only  two  Swedish  Lutheran  pas- 
tors and  six  Swedish  Lutheran  congregations  in  this 
countiy  ;  but  now  the  Synod  of  which  he  is  President 
numbers  214  ministers  and  460  congregations,  with 
a  membership  of  102,413,  and  now  extends  in  ter- 
ritory from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  slope.  Mr. 
Carlsson  is  also  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions of  this  Synod,  and  also  Chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Augustana  College  and  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  at  Rock  Island.  He  is  also  connected 
with  many  other  boards  and  important  committees. 
He  is  a  thoroughly  competent  man,  eminently  capa- 
ble of  taking  charge  of  the  extensive  religious  and 
educational  affairs  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
nected. He  has  always  taken  the  deepest  interest 
and  a  most  prominent  part  in  the  education  of  the 
Swedes,  and  in  making  them  true  Christians  and 
good  American  citizens. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  in  this  Album 
the  portrait  of  a  man  so  widely  as  well  as  so  inti- 
mately connected  with  that  large  and  respectable 
element,  the  Swedes,  which  we  find  in  this  county. 
His  influence,  however,  is  by  no  means  confined  by 
the  boundaries  of  Rock  Island  County,  nor  by  the 
borders  of  Illinois  even,  but  is  largely  exerted,  and 
always  for  good,  in  every  Swedish  colony  or  settle- 
ment in  the  country. 


-£3- 


— DS- 


'jartin  Eettig,  deceased,   formerly  a  resi- 
dent  of   Rapids   City,  was  born   ia    Ger- 
many   in     1833,    and    emigrated    to    the 
A'\    United   States   when     19    years    of   age,   in 
1852.     Soon  after  arriving  in  this  country,  he 


came  to  Rock  Island,  where  he  remained  for 
ten  years,  engaged  in  different  vocations.  He  then 
went  to  Hampton  Township,  in  1863,  where  he 
erected  a  boarding-house  and   saloon,  and  where  he 


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was  engaged  in  business  until  the  date  of  his  death, 
1SS3.   ^ 

Mr.  Rettig  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine N.  Meis  in  1S57,  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island. 
She  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  is  the  mother  of 
five  children  by  Mr.  Rettig,  namely :  John,  born 
Aug.  20,  1S59;  Henry,  March  29,  1861  ;  Lena,  A  _ 
8,  1862;  Martin,  Nov.  3,  1S63,  and  Mary,  May  20, 
1872.  Mrs.  Rettig  has  continued  to  carry  on  the 
business,  which  her  husband  followed  since  his  death. 
She  is  the  proprietor  of  40  acres  of  land  in  Iowa,  and 
ir  acres  in  Port  Byron.  Religiously,  she  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Church.  She  came  from  Ger- 
many to  this  country  in  1S54  with  her  mother  and 
family,  and  settled  in  Jackson  Co.,  Iowa,  where  she 
lived  until  the  date  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Rettig. 


\Wf* 'If UUiam  C.  Welch,  of  the  firm  of  W.  C. 
<  \>s£t}\  ■_  Welch  &  Bio.,  general  retail  grocers,  Rock 
i:~"*  Island,  111.,  was  born  at  Honesdale,  Pa., 
Feb.  10,  1837,  and  was  the  eldest  of  six  sons 
and  one  daughter  born  to  John  and  Mary 
(Hambley)  Welch,  natives  of  England.  Mr. 
Welch,  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  his  native  State,  and 
emigrated  to  Illinois  before  he  was  20  years  of  age, 
landing  in  Rock  Island  in  May,  1S57.  His  first 
employment  here  was  as  a  clerk  in  the  grocery  house 
of  Henry  Dart,  where  he  remained  about  two  years. 
In  1859  Mr.  Dart  opened  a  branch  house  in  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  with  which  he  took  Mr.  Welch  as  a  part- 
ner. At  the  end  of  two  years,  Mr.  W.  severed  his 
connection  with  this  concern,  and  having  contracted 
a  mild  attack  of  the  "  gold  fever  "  spent  the  succeed- 
ing three  and  a  half  years  in  the  mining  regions  of 
the  Western  Territories.  His  search  for  the  precious 
metals  not  being  rewarded  with  any  marvelous  de- 
gree of  success  he  returned  to  Rock  Island  in  the 
fall  of  1865,  and  after  a  short  visit  in  the  Eastern 
States,  resumed  work  with  his  old  employer,  the  firm 
being  known  at  that  time  as  Henry  Dart's  Sons.  At 
the  end  of  a  few  months  he,  in  partnership  with  J. 
K.  Gregg,  bought  out  the  retail  department  of  Dart's 
\«.  Sons'  Grocery  House,  to  which  business  he  has  since 


devoted  his  entire  attention.  Mr.  Gregg  retired  from 
the  firm  in  1S7  1,  and  in  1S75  Mr.  W.  took  his  broth- 
er, Franklin  P    Welch,  into  partnership. 

Flic  firm  of  W.  C.  Welch  &  Bro  are  deservedly 
doing  a  flourishing  business,  and  though  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  has  other  outside  interests,  the 
grocery  house  of  which  he  is  the  head  receives 
uninterruptedly  his  personal  attention. 

Mr.  Welch  was  united  in  marriage  in  Chicago, 
March  1,  1S66,  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Armstrong,  a  na- 
tive of  New  York  State. 


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manufacturer  of  and 
dealer  in  boots  and  shoes,  Milan,  was 
born  in  Holsfein,  Germany,  Feb.  9,  1832, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 
came  to  America  in  1S57,  locating  first  in 
\  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  as  a  shoemaker,  which  he  had  completed  un- 
der a  German  workman  before  leaving  his  native 
country.  After  working  at  his  trade  in  that  metrop- 
olis for  four  months,  in  July,  1857,  he  came  West, 
settling  at  Milan.  Here  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
until  1S62,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  War  for  the 
Union,  in  Co.  A,  03d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Altona,  Ga.,  by  a  gunshot  through 
the  right  shoulder.  Returning  home  after  the  close 
of  his  service  in  the  army,  he  started,  in  1865,  his 
present  business,  in  which  he  enjoys  a  high  degree 
of  prosperity.  He  owns  seven  lots  in  the  village, 
five  dwelling  houses  and  a  good  store  building.  His 
residence,  of  brick,  is  the  best  in  the  town,  costing 
$5,000. 

Jan.  21,  1861,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  Goldsmith's  mar- 
riage, at  Davenport,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Catherina  Keeler, 
who  also  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  and  came 
to  America  in  1857,  settling  in  Davenport,  where  she 
lived  until  her  marriage.  Of  the  three  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.,  two  are  deceased.  Frank  is 
living,  and  the  deceased  are  William  and  Emma. 

Mr.  Goldsmith's  father,  Jacob,  now  deceased,  was 
a  laborer  at  the  public  Custom-House.  The  maiden 
name  of  our  subject's  mother  was   Christine  Klink; 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


6.7  • 


she  was  also  a  native  of  Schlevi*,  and  is   now  de- 
ceased. 

In  his  political  principles,  Mr.  Goldsmith  is  a 
Democrat.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Village 
Council  for  several  different  terms,  and  both  himself 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church. 


) 


& 


Iff  jfefj'-011-  James  W.  Simonson,  senior  member  of 
5  the  mercantile  firm  of  Simonson  &  Schafer, 
at  Port  Byron,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lamington,  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  Nov.  8,  1842. 
In  the  paternal  line  he  is  a  descendant  of  John 
Simonson,  who  was  a  native  of  Holland.  His 
father,  Dennis  Simonson,  was  bom  in  Somerset 
County,  where  he  married  Ellen  Nevius,  who  was 
also  born  in  New  Jersey. 

The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Simonson  were  farmers,  and 
he  was  brought  up  to  a  knowledge  of  the  same  busi- 
ness, meanwhile  obtaining  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. In  September,  1S61,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  30th 
N.  T-  Regt.  Vol.  Inf.  The  30th  was  a  part  of  the 
1 1  th  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  His  servii  e 
was  during  the  Peninsular  campaign,  under  Gen. 
Geo.  B.  McClellan.  He  received  honorable  dis- 
charge before  the  end  of  the  first  year,  on  account  of 
disability,  and  returned  to  his  home.  Some  time 
passed  before  he  was  sufficiently' recovered  to  en- 
gage in  business,  and  when  he  did  it  was  in  fanning. 
In  1865  he  came  West  to  Port  Byron,  and  embarked 
in  the  grocery  and  provision  trade.  A  year  later  he 
began  to  real  law  in  the  office  of  S.  R.  Allen,  of 
Port  Byron.  He  attended  the  Law  Si  hool  at  Chicago 
during  the  terms  of  1S67  and  1S68,  from  which  he 
was  graduate!  in  the  5  e  ir  list  named.  Previous  to 
his  graduation  he  had  been  admitted  to  the  Bar  of 
Illinois,  and  he  afterwards  opened  an  office  in  Rock 
Island,  where  he  practiced  as  an  attorney  until  1872. 
He  then  went  to  Mt.  Carroll,  in  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  and 
there  engaged  in  mercantile  trade.  A  year  later  he 
returned  to  Port  Byron  and  lias  since  been  eng 
in  general  merchandising. 

Politically,  Mr.  Simonson  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Republican  party.  In  187S,  his  zeal  and  activity  in 
support  of  that  political  organization,  and  his  worth 


as  a  citizen,  received  honorable  recognition  by  his 
being  nominated  and  elected  to  represent  the  21st 
District  in  the  31st  General  Assembly  of  Illinois. 
He  filled  the  position  so  acceptably  that  he  was  re- 
elected in  rSSo.  While  a  member,  he  was  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Fees  and  Salaries  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Committees  on  Education,  Revenue, 
Canal  and  Rivers,  and  was  placed  on  a  special  com- 
mittee to  investigate  insane  asylums  and  ascertain 
their  capacity  and  recommend  what,  in  its  judgment, 
would  be  suitable  and  sufficient  buildings,  etc.  He 
has  served  three  years  as  President  of  the  Board  of 
Village  Trustees,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
School  Directors. 

Mr.  Simonson  was  married  Sept.  9,  1S74,  to  Rose 
C,  only  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  (Beards- 
lee)  Devore,  and  they  have  two  children, — Blanche 
E.  and  Devore  Nevius.  An  extended  sketch  of  the 
parents  u\  Mrs  Simonson  may  be  found  on  other 
pages  of  this  work.  Mr.  Simonson  is  a  member  of 
Alpha  Lodge,  No.  85,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Rock  Island  County  can  justly  boast  of  many 
splendid  and  palatial  residences.  Prominent  among 
these,  and  one  of  the  very  finest  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  county,  is  the  dwelling  of  Mr. 
Simonson,  and  we  are  pleased  to  represent  it  in 
the  pictorial  department  of  this  Album.  A  view  of 
it  appears  on  page  286. 


^ Ss-^sj £= 


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H:  >l  ;enjaniin  R.  Towndrow,  Sr.,  of  Mohne, 
L_0„-  was  bom  in  Sheffield,  England,  April  13, 
lijp?  '"  1831.  His  parents  are  Joseph  and  Marcia 
(Smith)  Towndrow,  his  father  of  French  and 
his  mother  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Mr.  T.,  the 
second  of  his  parents,  three  children,  attended 
school  in  his  native  country,  until  he  was  about  15 
years  of  age,  at  which,  time  he  paid  a  flying  visit  to 
Quebec,  Canada,  for  two  months.  In  1848  he  came 
again  to  America,  landing  at  New  Orleans;  and  in 
February,  1849,  went  to  New  York  city  for  a  short 
time;  was  next  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  for  three  months, 
then  in  Appanoose  Co.,  Iowa,  for  about  a  year;  then 
in  Burlington  again  three  years;  then  three  months  at 
Rock  Lland,  and  finally,  in  1852,  he  came  to  Mo- 
line,  III.,  which  has  ever  since  been   his  home.     In 


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618 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


1853  he  started  a  grocery  store  in  Moline,  which  he 
conducted  for  six  years,  then  changed  his  occupation 
to  that  of  buying  pork  for  Archer  Shaw.  After  buy- 
ing all  that  his  employer  desired,  Mr.  Towndrow 
opened  a  dry-goods  and  grocery  store,  which  he 
managed  until  1S62;  selling  out,  he  made  a  journey 
to  California  for  his  health,  remaining  there  six 
months.  Returning  to  this  county,  he  opened  a 
grocery  store  in  Rock  Island ;  but  a  year  afterward 
he  sold  out  and  spent  a  year  in  his  native  land  ;  re- 
turning to  Moline  in  1865,  he  was  proprietor  of  the 
Moline  House  until  1874,  when  he  leased  the  prop- 
erty, but  finally  disposed  of  it  through  J.  S.  Keator, 
in  1880. 

At  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  June  30,  185 1,  Mr.  Town- 
drow was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Emery.  Her 
father,  William  Emery,  was  an  Englishman  by  birth, 
a  farmer  by  trade,  and  died  in  his  native  country,  in 
1846.  Mrs.  P.  died  in  Moline,  July  7, 1881, after  having 
been  a  most  excellent  and  faithful  wife  for  30  years. 
She  had  two  children,  namely:  Marcia  L.,  who  was 
born  July  21,  1859,  and  Benjamin  R.,  Jr.,  Feb.  9, 
1862.  Marcia  married  Frank  Gould,  Feb.  20,  1878, 
and  they  have  one  child, — Florence  L.,  who  was 
born  March  13,  1879.  The  son  was  married  Feb.  4, 
1885,  to  Miss  Stella  Barnard. 


-S3- 


-SS- 


ichard  A.  Donaldson  was  born  in  Rural 
jfc  Township,  Rock  Island  Co.,  111.,  June  8, 
1854.  His  parents,  James  and  Catharine 
Hy\  (Cook)  Donaldson,  natives  of  the  Slate  of 
Pennsylvania  and  of  Scotch  extraction,  re- 
moved from  the  Keystone  State  to  Rock  Isl- 
and County  and  located  upon  a  farm  in  Rural 
Township  in  1853.  Here  the  family  resided  for 
about  30  years.  His  father  lias  been  extensively 
interested  in  the  farming  and  banking  business. 
Richard  A.,  the  eldest  of  the  four  sons  and  three 
daughters  born  to  his  parents,  spent  the  years  of  his 
youth  upon  his  father's  farm,  alternating  the  duties 
incident  to  farm  life  with  attendance  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  neighborhood. 

When  about  20  years  of  age,  he  accepted  a  deputy- 
ship  in  the  office  of  John  V.   Cook,   Clerk  of  Rock 


Island  County,  and  held  thot  position  until  the  death 
of  his  superior  officer,  which  occurred  in  January, 
1S80,  when  he  was  appointed  at  once  to  the  Clerk- 
ship pro  tern.  At  a  special  election,  held  in  Feb- 
ruary, 18S0,  he  was  duly  elected  to  fill  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Mr.  Cook,  deceased,  and  at  the 
regular  election,  in  November,  1882,  so  acceptably 
had  he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  as  Deputy, 
Clerk  pro  tern,  and  as  Clerk,  he  was  chosen  al- 
most without  opposition  to  succeed  himself  for  the 
four  years  ending  in  1886. 

Mr.  Donaldson  was  united  in  marriage  at  Rock 
Island,  in  December,  18S2,  to  Miss  Laura  Conway, 
an  accomplished  daughter  of  Joseph  Conway,  de- 
ceased. 


( 

:  ji  Wsjl  enry  Meyer,  a  farmer,  residing  on   section  . 

';    22,  Drury  Township,  is  a  native  of  Ger-  .- 
I  -o"*  .        ,  .  ,  ,  ,  T   ,     ■  **• 

many,  in  which   country  he  was   born   July 

M  30,  1827.  He  lived  in  his  native  country  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  27  years  (1852),  where  = 
he  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  received  the  "" 
advantages  afforded  by  the  common  schools.  During  . 
that  year,  he  determined  to  emigrate  to  the  "  land  of 
possibilities,"  realizing  that  greater  inducements  were 
offered  to  this  country  for  the  accumulation  of  a 
competency  than  in  the  "Faderland."  Accordingly, 
he  set  sail  for  the  United  States  and  landed  in  New 
York,  whence  in  a  short  time  he  removed  to  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  where,  and  in  Hardin  County,  that 
Slate,  he  resided  for  a  time,  in  both  of  which  places  5 
he  remained  one  year.  He  then  came  to  Southern 
Illinois,  where  he  resided  for  about  two  years,  com- 
ing then  to  this  country.  On  arrival  here  he  worked 
out  by  the  month  in  Drury  Township,-  for  a  little 
over  two  years.  He  then  purchased  60  acres  of 
land,  located  on  section  22,  on  which  he  settled  and 
at  once  entered  energetically  and  vigorously  upon 
the  task  of  its  improvement  and  cultivation,  and  on 
which  he  has  resided  until  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Meyer  commenced  life  with  nothing  but  a  firm  de- 
termination, to  "  get  on  "  in  the  world,  and  that  de- 
termination coupled  with  his  indomitable  energy, 
together  with  his  perseverance  and  pluck,  has  aided 
him  very  materially  in  the  accumulation  of  a  compe- 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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tency.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of  480  acres  of 
land,  located  in  Dairy  Downship,  about  250  of  the 
same  being  in  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  a  good  residence,  barn  and  outbuildings  on  his 
farm . 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Muscatine,  Iowa,  Jan., 
1865,  to  Caroline  Krantz,  a  native  of  Prussia  ;  to  them 
have  been  born  ten  children,  as  follows:  William, 
Emma,  Mary,  Anna,  Sarah,  Lena,  Mena,  Albert, 
Henry  and.  Nellie.     All  are  living  but  Henry. 

Mr.  Meyer  has  ever  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he  resides,  and, 
though  not  prominent  in  politics,  has  held  some  local 
offices.  He  is  at  present  a  School  Director.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  Republican,  and  both  himself  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


^ 


enry  S.  Shurtleflf,  a  retired  farmer  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  residing  at  Rapids 
City,  and  one  of  the  well-known  pioneers  of 
Rock  Island  County,  came,  to  Hampton  Town- 
ship in  1840.  He  was  among  the  first  to  set 
a  stake  here  and  begin  the  development  of  the 
county,  and  is,  therefore,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  that  portion  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  N. 
H.,  Feb.  27,  iSi6.  His  parents  were  Barzillai  and 
Dorothy  (Locke)  Shurtleflf,  natives  of  Massachusetts 
and  New  Hampshire,  respectively.  The  father  came 
to  Illinois  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Knox  County, 
where  he  entered  200  acres  of  land,  on  which  he 
and  his  wife  resided  until  the  day  of  their  deaths. 
The  Shurtleflf  family  is  well-known  in  Illinois,  as  some 
members  of  it  have  taken  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  its  educational  affairs.  The  famous  Shurt- 
leflf College,  at  Alton,  111,  was  named  in  honor  of 
one  of  these,  an  uncle  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Henry  S.  Shurtleflf,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, was  a  resident  of  New  Hampshire  and  Massa- 
chusetts, until  he  attained  the  age  of  19  years.  He 
received  an  academical  education,  and  remained  on 
the  parental  homestead  until  25  years  of  age,  with 
the  exception  of  about  six  months  spent  in  the  city 
of  Boston  when  about  the  age  of  15  years  as  a  clerk 


§K 


— 


in  a  mercantile  establishment.  In  1855,  realizing 
that  the  West  afforded  better  inducements  for  the 
accumulalion  of  property  than  the  crowded  East,  he 
came  to  La  Salle  Co.,  111.,  where  he  remained  for 
six  months,  and  then  went  to  Tazewell  County,  re- 
maining there  through  the  winter  of  1836.  In  1837  ' 
he  went  to  Knox  County,  this  State,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  farming  on  140  acres  of  land,  which  he 
"  took  up  "  from  the  Government.  He  then  sold  out 
and  came  to  Hampton  Township,  this  county,  and 
and  purchased  40  acres  of  timber  land,  and  engaged 
in  lumbering.  Soon  afterward  he  bought  40  acres 
on  Rock  River  bottom,  which  he  cultivated  for  three 
years,  then  sold  and  purchased  103'  j  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  moved  his  family  and  entered  vigorous- 
ly and  energetically  upon  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment, and  upon  which  he  has  continuously  resided 
up  to  the  present  time.  Prior  to  moving  on  his  farm 
he  was  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Rapids  City, 
and  while  residing  at  that  village  was  Postmaster  for 
10  years.  Mr.  Shurtleflf  has  held  the  office  of  As- 
sessor for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1856  was  elected  ,. 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he  has  held  con- 
tinuously until'the  present  time  with  the  exception 
of  one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  was  appointed  S 
Notary  Public.  He  is  a  man  of  considerable  promi-  ^ 
nence  in  his  township,  and  respected  for  his  honest 
and  straightforward  dealings  with  his  fellow  man. 
Politically,  he  is  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Greenback  party. 

Mr.  Shurtleflf  was  married  to  Miss  Emeline  Will- 
iamson in  1840;  she  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  in 
which  State  she  was  born  Jan.  29,  1818.  Of  their 
union  four  children  were  born,  namely:  BarzilLi  M., 
bornSjpt.  13,  1S41  ;  Job  A.,  Feb.  18,  1843;  Benton 
A.,  July  5,  [846;  Delilah  H.,  Nov.  15,  1844.  The  { 
wife  and  mother  died  April  14,  1848,  and  Mr.  Shurt-  f 
leff  was  the  second  time  married,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Elizabeth  Williamson,  who  was 
born  Dec.  6,  1829,  and  the  date  of  their  marriage  oc- 
curring June  14,  1849.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  four  children  :  Emeline,  born  March  4, 
1850;  Charles  H.,  May  19,  1855  ;  Rosalie,  Dec.  8,  ■' 
1856;  and  William,  May  23,  1S60.  Six  of  the  chil-  I 
drenofthe  two  unions  are  married,  namely :  Bar-^ 
zillai,  Job.  Delilah,  Emeline,  Charles  H.  and  Rosalie.  (f 

Two  of  the  sons  of  Mr.  S.,  Barzillai  and  Job,  were  9 
soldiers  in  the  late  war.  Barzillai  was  commissioned  y 
as  Second   Lieutenant  and  Job  as  Sergeant.     They  **" 

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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


both  served  during  the  war  and  were  honorably  dis- 
charged. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  ShurtlefF,  which  is  given  in 
connection  with  this  sketch,  forms  a  valuable  addi- 
tion to  the  collection  in  this  Album.  He  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  best  class,  who  were  factors  in  the 
development  of  the  county,  and  sustains  the  honor 
of  the  line  of  descent  to  which  he  belongs. 


■<r>\    hillip  Simnion,  of  Rock  Island,  was  born  in 

1       Mcii.nheini,  Germany,  Oct.   10,  1818,  and 

'  i  -.*\    is     a    son    of  Peter   and   Eva   (Grafusch) 

Simmon.      He  attended  the  district  school  of 


IP 

■\  \.      his  native   town,  at  intervals  engaging  in  the 

occupation  of  farming,  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  14  years,  when  he  came  to  Bedford  Co.,  Pa., 
and  settled  down  to  labor.  Here  he  remained  until 
1 84  r ,  when  he  rented  his  farm  and  ran  a  saw-mill  in 
Tusearora,  Pa.,  for  over  three  years;  but  again 
moved,  coming  this  time  farther  West,  locating  in 
Rock  Island,  111,  in  the  spring  of  1S45.  In  1S46,  he 
commenced  draying  at  the  latter  place,  an  occupa- 
tion he  has  since  followed,  and  at  which  he  has 
quietly  prospered,  winning  for  himself  the  solid  repu- 
tation of  being  an  honorable,  industrious  and  reliable 
man;  and  he  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  re- 
spectable of  the  old  settlers  there.  Mr.  Simmon  was 
elected  and  served  as  Alderman  during  1846-7. 

He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania,  March  19,  1S43, 
the  lady  chosen  to  share  his  successes  and  reverses, 
sorrows  and  joys,  being  Miss  Katherine  Miller;  but 
in  the  fall  of  that  year  (1850),  she  passed  away  to 
the  land  of  the  hereafter,  and  of  their  union  there 
were  born  two  children,  namely :  George  H.,  born 
Dec.  29,  1843:  Eliza  C,  Jan.  6,  1S46.  On  Sept.  10, 
1853,  Mr.  S.  was  again  married,  at  Rock  Island,  to 
Miss  Cornelia  Hitchcock.  Of  this  second  union 
there  were  born  four  children  :  Peter  C,  born  Feb. 
14,  1S55;  Harrison.  May  29,  1864;  Maria  E.,  March 
6,  1866,  and  Matilda  C,  Oct.  30,  1868.  The  mother 
of  Mr.  Philip  Simmon  died  in  1876,  and  the  father 
in  1877.  Mr.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  his  wife  of  the  Methodist.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat,  and  believes  it  to  be  a  party  which 
will  always  work  for  the    benefit    and    glory   of  the 


George    H.,    Eliza 


menti.  rried  Anna  D.    Richards,    nL 


country 

married. 

The  last 
Sept.  10,  1883;  she  is  the  daughter  of  W.  H.  and 
Xtttie  (Dixon)  Richards,  of  Moline.  Her  mother's 
father  was  John  Dixon,  a  pioneer  of  Lee  Co.,  111., 
after  whom  the  city  of  Dixon  was  named.  Peter  C. 
atended  school  in  his  native  town,  Rock  Island,  until 
he  was  about  1 S  years  of  age,  when  he  was  appointed 
clerk  in  the  postoffice,  under  Haverstick  in  1872, 
remaing  there  for  six  months,  and  then  went  to  the 
Davenport  Business  College,  which  he  had  previously 
attended  for  six  months.  For  three  years  thereafter 
he  kept  books  for  R.  Crampton,  of  Rock  Island.  In 
1876  he  came  into  the  office  of  Deere  &  Co.,  at  Mo- 
line, where  he  soon  became  cashier,  a  position  he  still 
holds. 

Like  his  father,  he  is  a  Democrat  in  political  be- 
lief, and  in  religion  is  a  Methodist,  as  is  also  his  wife. 
Mr.  P.  C.  Simmon  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows,  and 
is  also  Second  Lieutenant  of  Co.  F,  I.  N.  G. 


TMf:  evi   IT.  Cralle,  liveryman   at    Moline, 
born  July   16,   1850.  in   Richland  Co., 


was 
111., 
his  parents  being  Edward  M.  and  Sarah 
(Terry)  Cralle.  He  attended  school  in  his  native 
/\  district  but  a  short  time,  and  remembers  that  on 
the  first  day  of  his  attendance  he  had  to  plod 
along  through  two  miles  of  woods,  and  his  father 
went  along  to  show  him  the  way,  carrying  a  hatchet 
with  him  to  '"bla/e"  the  trees,  so  that  his  son  might 
be  able  to  find  his  way  back  to  the  paternal  cabin. 

He  came  to  Moline  in  1S64,  and  on  May  13,  that 
year,  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  James  St.  Clair's  Company, 
Co.  G,  136th  Regt.  111.  Inf.,  though  he  was  less  than 
14  \  ears  of  age.  He  was  tall  and  strong,  however, 
very  patriotic,  >us  to  enlist;  and  it  is  sad  to 

know  that  he  wickedly  and  with  malice  aforethought 
"  pulled  the  wool  over  the  eyes  "  of  the  recruiting 
officer  and  made  him  believe  he  was  a  raw  recruit  18 
years  of  age!  He  was  out  on  duty  six  months,  was 
stationed  at  the  fort  at  Columbus.  Ky.,  for  a  while, 
and  went  thence  to  Chicago,  and  finally  to  Spring- 
field,  111.,  where  he  was  mustered  out,  Oct.  2S,  1S64. 


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He  returned  to  Moline  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  and 
for  two  years  worked  for  George  Stephens  in  his  bed- 
stead factory,  on  the  island  of  Rock  Island;  then 
was  engaged  several  months  on  a  lath  machine  for 
Dimock  &  Gould,  then  for  a  while  for  T.  M.  Christy, 
in  his  cracker  b  tkery  ;  next  he  peddled  ice  for  George 
Heck,  and  afterward  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  one  summer;  next,  was  employed  in  the 
United  States  Express  business  for  L.  H.  Barker, 
thus  learning  most  of  what  he  now  knows  of  busi- 
ness. On  July  16,  1873,  he  owed  $ioo,  to  pay  a 
balance  due  on  some  furniture;  and  he  also  borrowed 
$500  of  Samuel  Bowles,  with  which  he  bought  out 
Joe  Bonham's  express  outfit,  consisting  of  one  team. 
Mr.  Bowles  charged  him  no  interest  for  the  use  of  the 
money,  and  thus  Mr.  Cralle  was  enabled  to  embark 
independently  in  business.  In  1882  he  owned  and 
ran  four  express  teams,  which  he  afterward  sold, 
and  Feb.  1,  that  year,  he  became  a  partner  in  the 
livery  business  with  Henry  Herwood,  who  died  May 
23,  1883;  and  Mr.  C.  bought  out  the  widow's  inter- 
est, Dec.  1,  following,  and  he  now  owns  five  carri- 
ages, nine  buggies  and  18  head  of  good  horses. 

Jan.  30,  1873,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  dalle's  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  Witherspoon,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, namely:  Maud  M.,  who  was  born  Jan.  28, 
1874,  and  Arthur  B.,  Aug.  1,  1880. 

Mr.  C.  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  and 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 


ohn  E.  Fleming,  County  Treasurer  of  Rock 
Island,  was  born  in  Steubenville,  Jefferson 
'^  Co.,  Ohio,  May  10,  1846,  and  was  married 
at    Davenport,   Iowa,  Oct.    4,    1S80,  to    Miss 
Minnie    R.    Graham.      During  his  boyhood  he 
attended  school  and  early  turned  his  attention 
to  the  mysteries  of  telegraphing,  which  business  he 
gp\   learned  in  the  most  thorough  manner.     He  removed 
to    Rockford,  111.,   with   his  parents  iu  April,  1852, 
where    he    attended    school,   and    in    leisure    hours 
learned   telegraphy,  which  he   put  in   practical  use 
for  the  first  time   in   the   spring  of  rS56.     His  tele- 
graph experience  ended   in    1873.      During  the  time 
engaged  in  telegraphing   he    was  employed  by  the 


m\i^c 


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company  in  various  cities  in  this  State,  viz.,G;'' 
Di.xon,  Fulton  and  Peoria.  His  residence  in  this 
city  dates  from  Dec.  12,  1S61.  In  1868  he  was 
appointed  Superintendent  of  Rockford,  Rock  Island 
&  St.  Louis  Railway  lines,  which  were  completed 
and  put  in  operation  under  his  superintendency. 
He  resigned  this  position  in  1870,  to  accept  that  of 
chief  operator  in  St.  Souis,  which  place  he  resigned 
in  1873,  to  engage  in  reportorial  duties,  etc. 


.__,pv 


-*s*» 


Kharles  O.  Nason,  architect   and   superin- 
tendent of  the  wood  department  of  Deere 
Co.  Plow  Works,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
&&      Hartford,  Windsor   Co.,  Vt,   Sept.    20,    1828, 
and  is  the  sun  of   Horace  and   Mary  Nason. 


f 


He  removed  to  Claremont,  N.  H.,  when  quite 
young,  where  he  received  the  training  afforded  by 
the  common  schools  in  the  way  of  an  education,  and 
in  early  manhood  became  a  practical  cot'on-weaver. 
Mr.  Nason  was  engaged  in  that  business  until  1857, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  located  at  Moline. 
He  at  once  found  employment  in  the  plow  works  of 
his  uncle,  John  Deere,  the  celebrated  plow  manufac- 
turer. A  few  months  later  lie  was  assigned  to  the 
management  of  the  wood  department,  of  which  he 
has  beeen  the  superintendent  continuously  since. 
For  28  years  he  has  held  this  responsible  position, 
and,  by  his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  details  of  the 
business  and  prompt  attention  to  its  management, 
has  contributed  largely  to  its  successful  develop- 
ment Mr.  Nason  has  had  the  satisfaction  of  wit- 
nessing the  growth  oft  he  great  "  Deere  &:  Co.  Plow 
Manufactory,"  from  a  modest  concern  of  small  pro- 
portions to  that  of  one  of  the  largest  institutions  of 
the  kind  in  the  world,  and  of  knowing" that  his  name 
is  deserving  of  honorable  mention  in  connection  with 
this  result. 

Mr.  Nason  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  at  Orford, 
N.  H.,  in  August,  1840,  with  Miss  Charlotte  A.  John- 
ston, daughter  of  Thomas  Johnston,  of  Plainfield,  N. 
H.  Mrs.  Nason  was  born  in  Meriden,  of  that  State. 
The  issue  of  their  marriage  is  two  children,  namely  : 
Clarence  E.,  who  married  Miss  Ella  Estelle,  and  re- 
sides at  Moline,  and  Ella  F.,  residing  with  her  pa- 
rents.    Mr.  Nason  votes  with  the  Republican  party. 


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ohn  Cain,  a  fanner  of  Canoe  Creek  Town- 
i^^llf  ship,  came  to  Rock  Island  County  when  he 
*    v  18    years    ol    age.   accompanying  his 

father's  family  hither.  He  was  born  in  Hun- 
jT  tingdon  Co.,  X.  J.,  Nov.  8,  1S32,  and  is  the 
youngest  son  of  John  B.  and  Annie  (Myers) 
Cain,  and  his  parents  were  also  natives  of  the  same 
State  where  the  son  was  horn.  The  father  was  born 
in  Huntingdon  Co..  X.  J.,  April  7,  1804.  He  married 
Anna,  daughter'  of  Albert  Meyers.  She  died  in 
April,  1882.  John  B.  was  a  member  of  the  Dunkard 
Church,  but  while  a  young  man  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  it  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  1855,  or  shortly  after  he  came  here.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  The  latter  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  obtained  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
an  agriculturist  while  he  was  still  a  resident  of  Ills 
native  State. 

The  family  set  forth  for  Illinois  in  1850,  traveling 
overland  to  Pittsburg,  where  they  embarked  with 
their  teams  on  a  steamboat,  and  journeyed  the  rest  ■  i 
the  distance  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers, 
landing  at  Cordova,  in  the  county  of  their  destination, 
in  the  month  of  November  of  the  same  year.  The 
father  rented  a  farm  in  Canoe  Creek  Township,  on 
which  they  lived  one  year.  In  1S52  the  senior  Cain 
entered  200  acres  of  land  on  section  20  of  the  same 
township,  and  also  bought  40  acres  on  the  same. 
On  the  latter  tract  15  acres  had  been  broken.  Xo 
other  improvements  had  been  made,  and  the  new 
owner  proceeded  to  build  a  log  house,  and  to  other- 
wise improve  the  condition  of  his  estate.  His  sons, 
John  and  Hiram,  were  old  enough  to  aid  materially 
in  the  work  of  placing  the  home  farm  in  profitable 
condition,  and  assisted  in  so  doing  until  1859,  when 
the  latter  went  to  California.  The  former  lias  since 
occupied  the  homestead,  in  company  with  his  father, 
who  died  Aug.  22,  1885.  In  1S67  he  built  the  pres- 
ent large  farm  house,  and  in  1880  he  built  a  barn. 
The  son  has  bought  additional  land,  and  the  place 
now  contains  325  acres.  The  brothers  are  engaged 
:i  ie  cattle,  and  show  some  good  specimens 
irt-horn  breed. 

Mr.  Cain  was    married   May  25,  1S61,  to  Julia   A. 


Beal.  She  was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  and 
to  her  and  her  husband  two  children  were  born — 
Ella  R.  and  Anna  E.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Cain, 
Tames  and  Elizabeth  (Williams)  Beal,  were  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  the  county 
of  Rock  Island  in  October,  1S54,  and  settled  on 
section  25,  Coe  Township.  The  mother  died  in 
June,  18S0.  After  her  demise  the  father  lived  with 
hw  son  George  until  his  death,  which  transpired 
in  December,  18S2.  Their  family  comprised  six 
children,  and  of  that  number  four  are  still  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cain  have  had  six  children,  and  lost 
one  by  death  :  Wesley  lives  in  Coe  Township  ;  Sarah 
is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Marshall,  a  fanner  in  the  same 
township  ;  Hiram  is  a  resident  there  also  ;  Hannah, 
widow  of  George  R  McMurphy,  married  Henry 
Ashdown. 


ite&WSi®"'*— §. 


t^S/ZJOTIv 


£  sraelCassel  is  a  dealer  in  stoves  and  house- 
furnishing  goods  at  Moline.  He  makes 
general  job  work  a  specialty.  He  was  born 
in  Bucks  ( !o.,  Pa,  Oct.  12,  1832,  and  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Susanna  (Bergey)  Cassel.  He  re- 
moved in  boyhood  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  began  learning  the  trade  of  a  tinner.  In  the  fall 
of  1S54  he  went  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  com- 
pleted his  trade  and  worked  as  a  journeyman  for  10 
years,  when,  in  1864,  he  came  to  Moline.  He 
worked  as  a  "  jour  "  in  the  latter  place  until  1S78, 
when  he  entered  into  a  co-partnership  with  Mr. 
E.  Smith  and  subsequently  with  E.  B.  McKeevever. 
In  March,  1S84,  Mr  Cassel  started  alone  in  the 
business  in  which  he  is  at  the  present  engaged,  and 
in  which  he  is  meeting  with  success.  He  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage,  in  Moline  on  the  5th  day  of  July, 
1858,  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Hutt,  a  daughter  of  Hiram 
and  Nancy  Hutt.  She  was  born  in  Schoharie  Co.,  N. 
V.,  and  came  to  Moline  with  her  parents  in  child- 
hood. Their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five 
children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  the  hand 
of  death  has  taken  three  to  the  land  of  the  hereafter. 
Mary,  the  only  daughter,  died,  aged  24  years.  Will- 
iam died  when  about  two  years  of  age.  Hiram  is  at 
present  employed  in  the  store  by  his  father.     Frank- 


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Walter  died   in 


lin   is  at  present  attending    school, 
iii  fancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cassel  are  both  members  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Moline.  Politically,  Mr. 
Cassel  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party.  His 
place  of  business  is  at  the  corner  of  17th  Street  and 
Third  Avenue. 


SOOC-fe 


orenzo  C.    Elliott,    Supervisor    of    Buffalo 
Prairie  Township,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lyle,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  31,   1S19. 
His   father,  Ittai  Elliott,  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  but   located    in    New  York  State 
when   a  young  man.      He  was  married  there  to 
Lusina  Page,  a  native  of  the  Empire  State. 

When  our  subject  was  six  years  of  age,  his  parents 
moved  to  Allegany  and  became  early  pioneers  of  that 
county.  His  father  bought  a  piece  of  timber  land, 
and  improved  a  farm  and  lived  there  until  his  death. 
Lorenzo  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  land,  and 
made  his  home  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  Nov.  29,  1S40.  He  selected  as  a 
life  companion  Mary  A.  Davis,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Barmore)  Davis.  Her  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut  and  her  mother  of  New  York 
State,  and,  like  the  parents  of  Mr.  Elliott,  they  were 
early  settlers  in  Allegany  County.  Her  birth  oc- 
curred in  that  county  .Aug.  21,  1823.  Her  father 
had  bought  120  acres  of  land  before  his  marriage, 
but  never  located  upon  it.  They  resided  in  Alle- 
gany County  until  the  fall  of  1845,  when  they  set 
out  with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon  for  the  West, 
where  they  expected  to  find  a  desirable  place  to  lo- 
cate. After  3r  days  of  wearisome  travel,  they  ar- 
rived in  Rock  Island  County,  and  Mr.  Elliott  erected 
a  log  cabin  in  Buffalo  Prairie  Township. 

The  first  winter  after  Mr.  Elliott's  arrival  in  this 
county  was  chiefly  spent  in  splitting  rails;  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  rented  a  farm,  which  he  cultivated 
for  two  years,  when  he  made'a  claim  on  section  25 
of  Buffalo  Prairie  Township;  upon  this  he  erected  a 
log  house,  into  which  he  immediately  moved,  and 
began  the  improvement  of  the  land.  Two  years 
later  he  entered  80  acres,  and  again   in   two   more 


years  he  entered  another  80  on  section  36;  he  now 
owns  222  acres,  all  nicely  improved.  He  has  planted 
upon  his  place  a  large  number  of  fruit  and  shade 
trees,  and  has  erected  for  his  family  a  comfortable 
frame  house,  and  provided  for  his  stock  and  grain  a 
substantial  frame  barn.  A  view  of  his  home  place  is 
presented  in  this  Album. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  elected  Supervisor  in  i860,  and 
served  five  years,  and  again  in  1867  was  re-elected 
and  served  two  years.  In  1885  he  was  again  elected, 
and  is  serving  at  the  present  time  (18S5).  He  has 
ever  been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  community 
since  living  here.  At  a  very  early  day  he  was  elected 
Supervisor  of  Highways,  and  was  called  to  act  as 
Judge  of  Election  when  the  county  was  divided  into 
precincts.  He  has  always  taken  a  great  interest  in 
educational  matters,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
district  School  Board  a  greater  part  of  the  time  since 
living  here.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  i88r,  and  has  served  continuously  since  that 
time.  In  politics,  he  is  and  has  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party  all  his  life,  and  is  influential 
in  its  ranks  in  this  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  have  had  n  children,  as 
follows :  Adelia,  wife  of  Marvin  Freeman,  resident 
of  Oregon;  Nelson  lives  in  Buffalo  Prairie  Town- 
ship ;  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Seth  Parmenter,  of  Jewell 
Co.,  Kan.;  Calista,  wife  of  William  Jennings,  of 
Edgington  Township,  this  county;  Lunaette,  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Campbell,  of  Carroll  Co.,  Iowa ; 
Esther,  wife  of  Thomas  Banghart,  Jasper  Co.,  Iowa  ; 
Willard  D.  lives  in  O'Brien  Co.,  Iowa;  Diana,  wife 
of  John  Caster,  resident  of  Mercer  County;  Erastus 
V.,  Nelson  and  Austin  are  in  the  mercantile  trade 
in  Buffalo  Prairie  Township. 


;"i'^; 


lished  at  his  native  town  afforded  ample  op- 
portunity for  his  education,  and  the  duties  of  farm 
life  developed  his  muscles,  so  that  when  he  came  to 
a  new  country  he  was   not  lacking  in   the  essential 


<S 


■  (  '  rancis  M.  Sinnet,  son  of  Alanson  and 
;  ^J£j^  Julia  (Webster)  Sinnet  (see  biography  of 
gP^5^   Alanson  Sinnet),   was    born   in   Granville, 

Ohio,  May  22,  1834,  and  at  the  age  of  22  years 
Mt   came    to    Rock    Island.     The    college    estab- 


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pre-requisites  to  success.  Soon  after  arriving  at  Rock 
Island,  he  embarked  in  the  ice  business,  and  followed 
it  about  25  years.  In  company  with  his  father  in 
1857  he  bought  a  55-acre  tract  of  land  adjacent  to 
the  town  of  Rock  Island,  and  later  on  laid  it  out  in 
town  lots,  and  platted  it  as  "  Sinnet's  Addition  to 
Rock  Island."  The  natural  appreciation  in  the 
value  of  this  property,  the  product  of  the  stone  quar- 
ries discovered  thereon,  and  the  profits  derived  from 
the  ice  business,  has  enabled  him  to  acquire  a  com- 
fortable competency. 

Mr.  Sinnet  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  push- 
ing to  completion  the  Moline  &  Rock  Island  Horse 
Railway,  large  interests  in  which  he  held  until  the 
year  1882.  In  addition  to  valuable  real  estate  in 
Rock  Island,  consisting  of  vacant  city  lots  and  tene- 
ment buildings,  he  owns  10,000  acres  of  fertile  prairie 
land  in  one  body  in  Nebraska.  He  was  chosen  Al- 
derman from  his  Ward  in  18S3,  and  re-elected  in 
1885.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
ever  since  1880,  and  at  this  writing  (June,  1885)  is 
the  presiding  officer  of  that  body. 

Mr.  Sinnet  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Peoria, 
111.,  in  the  fall  of  1S61,  with  Miss  Jennie  McLaugh- 
lin, a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  has  had  born  to 
him  three  children,  namely :  Jesse  K,  Julia  May 
and  Mary  F.,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  February, 
1873,  at  the  age  of  about  four  years.  Mr.  Sinnet  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  with  membership 
at  Moline,  and  Mrs.  Sinnet  is  a  member  of  the  Cen- 
tral Presbyterian  Church,  Rock  Island.  In  politics 
he  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of 
the  party. 

A  lithographic  view  of  Mr.  Sinnet's  residence  is 
given  in  this  Album,  on  page  297. 


|II}ilton  McKinley,  foreman  of  the  foundry 
'   department  of  the  Moline  Plow  Company 


^\-\ 


since  February,  1884,  was  born  in  White- 


water, Wis.,  June  2,  1854,  and  is  the  son    of 

T     James  and  Mary  McKinley.     He  came  to  Mo- 

I       line  in  i86t,  where   he   went   into  the  shops  of 

the   Barnard   &   Leas  Manufacturing  Company  and 

[®   learned  the    moulder's    trade,   remaining    with   that 

T  company  four  and  a  half  years.     He  then   went   to 


Chicago,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  Febru- 
ary, 18S2,  when  he  returned  to  Moline  and  engaged 
with  Deere  &  Co.,  working  continuously  for  two  years 
with  that  firm;  but  in  February,  1884,  accepted  the 
foremanship  of  the  foundry  department  of  the  Mo- 
line Plow  Company,  where  he  is  over  about  25  men. 
Mr.  McKinley  is  a  thorough  master  of  his  business, 
and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  company  and  their 
employes. 

Mr.  McKinley  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Rock 
Island,  Nov.  28,  1882,  to  Miss  Emma  Gore,  daughter 
of  Matthew  Gore.  She  was  born  in  Kalamazoo, 
Mich.     Mr.  McKinley  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


~+~*=±3ig8=± 


illiam  Cook,  an  extensive  farmer  of  Rock 
Island  County,  residing  on  section  22  of 
Hampton  Township,  is  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  the  county.  He  was  born  June 
18,  1813,  in  Connecticut.  His  parents  were 
\j  John  Y.  and  Hannah  Cook,  both  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, where  they  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming.  Early  in  the  history  of  the  West  they  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Wayne  County  as  early  as 
1824,  shortly  after  the  State  was  organized.  They 
remained  in  Wayne  County  for  ten  years,  when  they 
pushed  further  West,  coining  to  Hampton  Township, 
this  county,  where  they  purchased  160  acres  of  land 
on  section  22.  Here  they  remained  enduring  :.ll  the 
privations  and  hardships  of  frontier  life,  and  becom- 
ing honored  and  respected  citizens  until  their  death. 
William  Cook,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, remained  with  his  parents  until  20  years  of  age, 
enjoying  the  limited  advantages  for  an  education 
that  a  new  country  afford.  During  the  summers, 
while  at  home,  he  worked  out  by  the  month  most  of 
the  lime.  After  leaving  the  parental  roof  he  came 
to  Hampton  Township,  this  county,  and  located  160 
acres  of  land  on  section  22,  where  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  reside.  He  has  not  only  become  one  of 
the  prominent  and  respected  men  of  the  township, 
but  also  one  of  the  large  land  owners  of  the  county, 
having  at  the  present  time  663  acres  of  land. 

In  1833   Mr.  Cook  was  united  in   marriage  with 
Miss   Livy   Turner,   a  native  of  Illinois.     To  them 


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have  been  born  the  following  four  children,  all  of 
wheal  are  living:  Mabel,  the  wife  of  William  Cox, 
and  the  mother  of  two  children,  William  L.  and  Ray- 
mond; James  married  Amanda  Stewart,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  four  children,  as  follows :  William, 
Lillie,  Robert  and  James ;  Lucinda  is  the  wife  of 
James  Swisher,  and  the  mother  of  one  child — Fannie 
M.;  Laura  was  united  in  marriage  to  William  Zigler, 
and  is  the  mother  of  six  children,  namely  :  George, 
Maude,  James,  Ralph  W.,  Morris  and  Hattie.  Mrs. 
Cook  died  in  1871,  Mr.  Cook  was  re-married  to 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Fast,  she  being  the  oldest  daughter  of 
William  and  Margaret  (Krebs)  Baughman,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  She  came  to  this  county  at  an  early 
age,  and  was  married  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
in  June,  1876. 

Mr.  Cook  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  stanch  sup- 
porters of  the  Democratic  party.  Mrs.  Cook  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

A  view  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  Cook  appears  on 
another  page. 


/4)€>%->an  W.   Gould,  a  distinguished  citizen   and 

.ill  (I'll  /|<*  . 

business  man  of  Mohne,  was  born  at  Han- 


4m 


& 


'  over,  N.  H.,  Oct.  23,  1832.  His  parents, 
'j$K  Amos  and  Nancy  H.  (Bartlett)  Gould,  reared 
^  six  sons,  Dan  being  the  fifth  in  the  order  of 
i  birth.  He  was  inured  while  young,  to  the  toil 
incident  to  farm  life,  and  his  mind  received  proper 
training  at  the  Bradford  (Vt.)  Academy.  From  18 
to  22  years  of  age  he  taught  school  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  came  West  in  1854.  He  was  employed 
two  years  by  the  Moline  Paper  Company,  and  the 
three  succeeding  winter  seasons  he  taught  in  the 
public  schools.  After  a  brief  experience  as  Deputy 
Postmaster  at  Moline,  he  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  and  followed  it  up  to  1875,  when  he  em- 
barked in  the  clothing  trade.  To  this  he  has  since 
given  his  attention. 

From  1862  to  1865  Mr.  Gould  was  Tax  Collector 
for  Moline  Township,  and  later  he  served  the  town 
of  Moline  one  term  as  Trustee.  In  1882  he  was  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  Treasurer  of  Rock  Island 
County,  and,  with  an  average  majority  of  over    1,100 


against  him,  he  was  defeated  by  only  240.  Mr.  Gould 
is  an  active,  hard-working  Democrat,  and  at  one  time 
was  almost  wholly  alone  in  the  advocacy  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  that  party  in  Moline.  He  has  lived  to  wit- 
ness the  triumph  of  those  principles  for  which  he  so 
long  fought. 

Mr.  Gould  was  married  at  Viola,  111.,  in  1864,  to 
Abbie  A.  Walker,  a  native  of  Bangor,  Me.,  and  she 
has  borne  to  him  six  children  :  Lora  A.,  Ross  J., 
Charles  V.,  Daisy  M.  and  Dan  F.  Mr.  Gould  is 
Secretary  of  Doric  Lodge,  No.  319,  F.  &.  A.  M.,  and 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Order  of  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America. 


«VM&2'©"§@'"— i§jp§ 


«@$@<3OT». 


"■'  I (i^lfenry  C  BoSgess,  a  well-to-do  farmer  resid- 
l:\V0(%,  ing  on  section  15,  South  Moline  Township, 
)$&  and  a  gentleman  who  is  quite  well  known  in 

W  Rock  Island  County,  and  who  was  born  in  the 
J  county,  is  a  son  of  Harrison  and  Hannah 
I  (Parks)  Boggess,  natives  of  Kentucky  and  Penn- 
sylvania respectively.  They  were  early  pioneers  of 
this  county,  having  located  here  in  1S36.  Harrison 
Boggess,  the  father,  took  part  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  was  married  to  Hannah  Sparks  at  Moline,  and 
immediately  settled  in  Rock  Island,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  31,  1880.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  builder  by  occupation,  and  was 
well  known  in  that  city.  His  widow  survives  him, 
and  resides  at  Rock  Island.  They  were  the  parents 
of  live  children, —  Henry  C,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  Mary  E.,  Patrick  G.,  Julian  S.  and  Wil- 
liam S. 

Henry  C.  Boggess  was  born  in  Rock  Island,  Sept. 
24,  1844.  He  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
Of  that  city,  which  he  finished  by  two  terms'  attend- 
ance at  the  High  School.  He  lived  at  home  until 
he  was  27  years  of  age,  when  he  was  married.  Prior 
to  this  important  event  in  his  life,  he  was  engaged  at 
painting  in  Rock  Island  for  several  years,  and  also 
followed  other  occupations.  In  1871  he  removed  to 
South  Moline  Township. 

In  1882  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land,  upon  which 


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he  erected  good   buildings,  and  there   he   has  since 
resided. 

He  is  also  the  owner  of  valuable  property  in  Rock 
Island.  A  view  of  his  residence  is  shown  on  page 
249. 

Mr.  Boggess  was  united  in  marriage  at  Patch 
Grove,  Grant  Co.,  Wis.,  Dec.  28,  187  1,  with  Mary  I.. 
daughter  of  E.  M.  and  Susan  (Shelenberger)  - 
who  were  of  German  and  Swiss  ancestry.  Mrs. 
Boggess  was  born  in  Grant  County,  March  ir,  1850. 
and  is  the  mother  of  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living, — Vinnie  H.,  Robert,  Harrison  and  Lillie. 
John  M.  died  when  one  year  of  age.  Mr.  B.  has 
served  as  Assessor  and  School  Director  for  nine 
years,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  believer  in  the  princi- 
ples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party. 


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nuel  Whiteside,  a  resident  of  Port  Byron, 
came  to  Rock  Island  Countv  in  1S4.;.  He 
was  born  Feb.  14,  1822,  in  Jefferson  Co., 
Ind..  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Blanke)  Whiteside.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Kentucky.  When  their  son  was 
four  years  old  they  removed  to  Clark  Co.,  Ind.,  and 
where  they  resided  six  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  they  made  another  transfer  of  their  interests  to 
Jefferson  Co.,  Ky.  Two  years  later  they  returned  to 
Indiana.  The  father  bought  a  farm  in  Clark  County 
and  the  son  was  a  resident  there  until  his  marriage 
to  Calista  Allen.  She  was  born  in  Clark  County  and 
there  married  in  1840.  The  young  couple  lived 
there  two  years,  and  after  the  event  of  then  marriage, 
and  in  the  year  already  named,  came  to  Illinois. 
They  traveled  by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers 
and  were  about  four  weeks  on  the  way.  They  lo- 
cated at  Port  Byron,  and  Mr.  Whiteside  operated  a 
coopers'  shop,  in  which  business  he  continued  ten 
years.  He  then  began  to  operate  as  a  plaster-mason, 
and  after  following  that  business  three  years,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brick.  He  managed 
that  business  three  years.  In  T846  he  was  elected 
Constable,  and  served  in  that  capacity  several 
years.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at 
Port  Byron  and  held  the  office  until   1864.     In  that 


year  he  obtained  an  appointment  as  route  agent  on 
the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Railroad,  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  the  position  three  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  resigned  and  opened  a  grocery  at  Port 
Byron.  In  the  spring  following  he  was  burned  out 
and  having  no  insura-nce  suffered  total  loss.  He  re- 
sumed his  business  and  continued  it  until  fall,  when 
he  sold  out.  His  next  business  enterprise  was  that 
of  a  butcher,  in  which  he  was  interested  until  187 1. 
The  following  year  he  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of 
brick.  In  "1872  he  went  to  Nebraska  and  entered  a 
homestead  claim  of  land  in  Hamilton  County,  on 
which  he  operated  personally  five  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time,  in  1877,  he  rented  the  place  which  he 
had  put  in  excellent  agricultural  condition,  with  all 
necessary  frame  buildings.  He  returned  to  Port 
Byron  with  the  intention  of  making  it  his  permanent 
abode,  and  in  1S82  bought  a  lot,  where  he  erected  his 
residence. 

Following  is  the  record  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Whiteside,  six  in  number:  Elizabeth  married 
Abraham  Bruner;  John,  Emmons,  James,  Joseph 
and  Charles,  are  the  names  of  those  who  are  un- 
married. 

While  Mr.  Whiteside  was  Postmaster  the  Civil 
War  broke  out,  and  in  July,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
G,  126th  Regt.  111.  Inf.  He  was  in  the  military  ser- 
vice one  year  when  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge on  account  of  disability  and  resumed  the 
duties  of  his  office  at  Port  Byron. 


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:J. fiTjlirorin  A.  Shallene,  of  Moline,  is  a  son    of 

i^MmS'  Johannes   and  Christina    (Back)  Carlson, 

"^  and  was  born  June  10,    1845,  at   Karleby, 

i    Sweden, — Skaraborgs  Lan.      Until  John,  our 

",'     subject,  attained  the  age  of  23  years,  he  at- 

I       tended  school,  farming  a  little  now  and  then, 

engaged    in   carpentering,   making    sash,   doors   and 

blinds,  also  at  glazing;  and,  being  a  very  handy  and 

industrious  man,  he  worked  at  various  things. 

In  June,  1868,  he  came  to  Geneseo,  111.,  and  re- 
mained there  in  the  employ  of  Henry  Turpening 
farming  for  two  months,  then  came  to  Moline  and 
for  six  weeks  made  fanning-mills  for  H.  G.  Nourse. 
He  lalxxed  awhile  on  the  wing  dam  at  the  island,  did 


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some  plastering  for  J.  D.  Long,  and  so  pulled  through 
the  year,  finally  landing  in  the  grinding-room  of  the 
Moline  Plow  Company,  where  he  remained  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  went  down 
into  Mississippi  and  became  a  planter  for  one  season, 
raising  cotton.  He  then  returned  to  Moline,  and 
from  that  time  up  to  18S2  he  worked  during  the  win- 
ters with  the  Moline  Plow  Company  in  the  shipping 
and  wheel  departments.  He  was  then  foreman  of 
the  grinding-room,  stocked  plows  and  made  road- 
scrapers.  After  this  he  had  the  contract  for  two 
years  for  making  cultivator  wheels,  when  he  again 
engaged  in  stocking  plows.  During  his  summers  at 
this  time,  he  was  contractor  and  builder  for  the  erec- 
tion of  dwellings  about  the  city.  In  February,  1S82, 
he  was  engaged  by  the  Eagle  Manufacturing  Coirf- 
pany,  of  Davenport,  as  plow-stocker.  In  1876  he 
helped  organize  the  Gustaf  Adolph  Congregation, 
was  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  planned 
and  built  the  church. 

Mr.  Shallene  was  united  in  marriage  Oct.  26, 
1867,  with  Anna  C.  Larson,  and  of  their  union  have 
been  born  a  family  of  six  children,  viz.:  Hilma  J., 
born  Nov.  30,  1S68;  Ida  E.,  born  Jan.  18,  1872; 
Alvin  W.,  born  Feb.  18,  1S74;  Vivian  N.,  born  Dec. 
10,  1875;  Fred  W.,  born  June  6,  1878,  and  died 
Dec.  18,  r883;  Anna  Christina,  born  Sept.  7,  1880, 
and  died  July  18,  1 881.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  North  Star  Lodge  of  United 
Workmen.  In  1876-7  he  was  Alderman  of  the  First 
Ward,  and  in  1883  was  one  of  the  Assistant  Super- 
visors. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Svea 
Commercial  Union  of  Moline. 


P.  Barber,  farmer,  residing  on    sections  4 

and  9,  Hampton  Township,  was  born  in  Port 

Byron,  Jan.    14,    1843,    his    parents   being 

Parce  and  Helen  E.  (Sweet)  Barber,  natives  of 

Pennsylvania.     They  removed  from   Michigan 

to  Iowa  in  1836,  then,  in  1S42,   moved  to  Port 

Byron,   this  county/where  the   father  owned  a  grist 

and  saw  mill,  and  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 

Peace. 

Mr.  Barber,  subject  of  this  notice,  remained  with 


his  parents  until  1S71,  receiving  at  their  hands  a 
good  common-school  education.  In  1862  he  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself.  He  commenced  to 
learn  the  printing  business  at  ten  years  of  age,  and 
during  the  year  1873  established  a  paper  at  Port 
Byron,  known  as  the  Agent  M.  .  and  conduct- 

ed the  same  under  different  names  nine  years.  Since 
that  time  he  has  purchased  55  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 4  and  9,  Hampton  Township,  and  has  turned 
his  attention  to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
the  same.  In  1866,  he  went  to  Colorado  and  was 
looking  over  the  country  with  an  eye  to  business  as 
well  as  pleasure,  but  made  no  discovery  that  he 
thought  would  prove  a  financial  success.  In  1879, 
he  made  a  trip  to  Florida  for  his  health. 

Mr.  Barber  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Davis,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  Oct.  25,  1870. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  six  healthy  chil- 
dren, namely:  Eliza  A.,  born  Sept.  22,  1 S  7  3  ;  Emory, 
Aug.  24,  1S75;  Essie  A.,  July  23,  1878;  Jennie, 
Sept.  23,  rS8o;  Philip  R.,  Jan.  8,  1883,  and  Evie. 
April  29,  1S85.  Politically,  Mr.  Barker  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 


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ajli  saac  Wainwright,  a  retired  fanner,   resid- 
ing at  Rapids  City,  was  born  in  England, 
V     July   9,    1805.     He  attended   the  common 

,>'"  schools  of  his  native  country  and  at  the  age  of 
rT^      13  years  went  to  work  in  a  coal  mine,  which 

\  occupation  he  followed  for  a  period  of  two 
years.  He  then  emigrated  with  his  parents,  Samuel 
and  Sarah  (Gardner)  Wainwright,  natives  of  Eng- 
land, to  the  United  States,  the  dale  of  their  arrival 
being  1819.  His  parents  located  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  Isaac  worked  in  the  salt  works  at  Blairsville, 
Pa.,  for  a  time.  In  1826  his  father  bought  a  farm 
near  Blairsville,  Indiana  Co  ,  Pa.,  consisting  of  150 
acres,  where  the  parents  resided  until  their  deaths. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  lived  on 
the  parental  homestead,  assisting  in  the  mainten- 
ance of  the  family  until  he  attained  the  age  of  23 
years.  He  then  left  home  and  engrged  in  farming 
on  60  acres  of  land,  and  followed  that  vocation  until 
185 1.      During  that   year  he  sold   his  land  in  Penn- 


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sylvania,  and  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Hamp- 
ton Township,  this  county,  where  he  purchased  190 
acres  located  on  section  12.  He  continued  to  cul- 
tivate and  improve  this  land  until  1884,  when  he 
moved  into  Rapids  City  to  live.  He  made  a  suc- 
cess of  his  business  financially,  and  was  also  a  lead- 
ing factor  in  all  neighborhood  enterprises.  He  knows 
what  it  is  to  labor  and  struggle  to  gain  a  competency. 
His  early  experience  was  one  of  hard  toil  and  econ- 
omy, but  he  overcame,  and  he  is  now  enabled  to 
spend  the  declining  years  of  his  life  in  the  ease  of  re- 
tirement, enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  life  of  earnest  labor. 
He  is  a  man  highly  esteemed  for  the  many  excellent 
qualities  of  both  heart  and  mind  he  possesses.  His 
life  has  proven  that  he  is  worthy  tJie  regard  in  which 
he  is  held,  and  we  feel  confident  his  many  friends 
will  look  upon  his  portrait,  which  accompanies  this 
sketch,  with  no  little  pleasure. 

Mr.  Wainwright  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Rachel  Devinney,  May  6,  182 8.  She  was  a  native 
of  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  born  in  1803.  Nine 
children  were  born  of  their  union,  seven  of  whom 
survived.  The  record  is  as  follows  :  John,  born  in 
1829;  Sarah  A.,  born  in  1831;  Samuel  and  Rachel 
were  twins,  born  in  1833;  Isaac  in  1835  ;  Elizabeth 
in  1837;  Rebecca  in  1840;  Georye  in  1844  and 
Mary  in  1846. 

Mrs.  Wainwright  died  May  18,  1867,  mourned  as 
a  loving  wife,  a  kind  mother  and  a  generous  neigh- 
bor. Religiously,  Mr.  Wainwright  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  politically  is  a 
believer  in  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


athan  Shepard,  deceased,  a  former  resi- 
J£  dent  of  Coe  Township,  was  born  in  Balti- 
"^  more,  Md.,  Feb.  7,  1S01.  He  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
Jjfe  bought  a  farm  and  was  a  citizen  until  1854.  In 
'[  that  year  he  sold  the  place  and  came  to  Rock 
Island  County.  He  bought  710  acres  of  land  in  the 
townships  of  Coe  and  Canoe  Creek,  but  fixed  his 
residence  on  section  36  of  the  former.  He  died 
there  in  August,  1856. 

He  was  married  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  in  Decem- 


ber, 1825,  to  Eliza  Clark.  She  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, May  6,  1805,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Green)  Clark,  who  were  both  natives  of 
that  State.  They  went,  when  she  was  two  years 
old,  to  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio. 

To  her  husband  and  herself  14  children  were  born, 
of  whom  nine  are  now  living:  Hannah  J.  is  the  wife 
of  Robert  Donahue;  Elizabeth  married  John  Dona- 
hue; James  F.,  John  H.,  William  C,  Amos  C, 
Josiah,  Mary  I.  and  Jemima  M.  (the  wife  of  James 
T.  Arnold)  are  named  in  order  of  birth.  Samuel 
Nelson  died  in  the  army.  Josiah  and  Amos  C.  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  War.  Mrs.  Shepard  and  her 
daughter  live  on  the  homestead. 


ohn    S.    Smith,    who    is    engaged    in    the 
iSi?  occupation    of    a    farmer  on   section     16, 
South     Moline    Township,    was     born    in 
County  Kerry,  Ireland,  in  1825,  and  resided  in 
his  native  county   until    1836,  when  he  emi- 
grated  to   the   United   States  with  his  mother 
and  sister,  locating  in  New  York  city. 

Previous  to  the  emigration  of  Mr.  Smith  to  this 
country,  his  brother,  Jerry  Smith,  who  had  preceded 
him  to  the  land  of  possibilities,  sent  money  back  to 
the  Emerald  Isle  to  his  mother,  sister  and  brother, 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  they  were  thereby  enabled 
to  pay  their  passage  across  the  water.  Upon  arrival 
in  New  York,  after  attaining  a  sufficient  age,  Mr. 
Smith  of  this  notice  served  an  apprenticeship  of  six 
years  at  the  tailor's  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same 
for  six  years.  He  then  moved  to  Ohio  and  resided 
in  Chillicothe,  that  State,  for  four  years,  when  he 
came  to  this  county.  On  coming  here,  Mr.  Smith 
located  at  Port  Byron,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
for  a  while,  until  1849,  when  he  moved  to  Rock 
Island;  and  after  spending  a  little  more  than  a  year 
at  that  place,  in  185  1,  he  moved  to  Moline,  and  was 
there  occupied  in  working  with  the  "goose"  until 
1859.  During  the  year  last  named  he  purchased 
the  farm  on  which  he  at  present  resides,  the  same 
consisting  of  212  acres.  At  the  present  day  he  is 
the  proprietor  of  1 63  acres  of  as  good  farm  land  as 
can  be  found  in  this  county,  all  of  which  is  under  an 


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advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a  fine  two- 
story  residence  upon  his  farm,  an  A  i  barn  and 
good  substantial  outbuildings,  and  in  his  latter  voca- 
tion in  life  is  meeting  with  that  success  which  energy 
and  perseverance  are  sure  to  bring. 

Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  in  Chillicothe, 
Ohio,  with  Miss  Sarali  A.  Sullivan,  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  born  in  1820,  and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  seven  children, — Julia  A.,  Noble, 
William,  Louisa  and  Kate.  Sarah  died  in  her  30th 
year,  and  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Smith  has  held  the  office  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner, and  religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 


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l|rf"|iTohn  A.  Hofsteter,  retired   farmer,  residing 
SSm[c  on  section  ii  and  1  2,  Hampton  Township, 


4 


was  born  in  France,  Aug.  9,  1841.  He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1850,  loca- 
te ting  in  Hampton  Township,  where  his  younger 
days  were  spent  acquiring  an  education  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  t6  years.  He  then  com- 
menced to  work  on  his  father's  farm,  assisting  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family,  until  he  became  18  years 
of  age.  He  then  went  to  Kansas,  and  worked  on  a 
farm  for  the  period  of  a  year. 

Mr.  Hofsteter  returned  in  1861,  and  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Dorothy  Smith,  a  native  of  France, 
born  May  28,  1845.  The  issue  of  their  union  is  one 
son — George  W.,  born  Feb.  9,  1883.  Mr.  H.  pur- 
chased 20  acres  on  section  1 1  at  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  and  has  added  to  his  acreage  by  subse- 
quent purchases  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  220 
acres;  38  acres  of  his  land  is  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  Rapids  City.  His  landed  estate  is  valued 
at  $25,000,  and  he  is  also  somewhat  interested  in 
coal-mining. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hofsteter  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  held  various  offices.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Order. 

Mr.  H.  enlisted  in  a  Moline  company  in  186 1,  but 
owing  to  the  quota  being  filled  his  company  was  not 
accepted.     His  brother  George  enlisted  in  the  Ninth 


III.  Cav.,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  While  in  the  service  his  health  was  im- 
paired and  he  died  soon  after  returning  home. 


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enry  P.  Stoddard,  retired  farmer,  now  en 


^vfSsi  gaged  in  stock -buying  and  shipping,  residing 
#A*f  at  Edgington    village,  was    born  in   Greene 

County,  N.  Y.,  March  4,  1834.  His  father,  Har- 
vey Stoddard,  was  a  native  of  New  York,  of 
New  England  ancestry  and  parentage,  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  was  married  in  Greene 
County,  N.  Y.,  to  Emily  Hunt,  a  native  of  York 
State.  They  settled  on  a  farm  near  Greene  County, 
where  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was 
born,  and  on  which  he  resided  with  his  father,  as- 
sisting in  its  cultivation  and  attending  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  22  years  of  age.  Arriving  at 
this  age  in  his  life's  history,  he  came  West,  and  Oct. 
16,  1858,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  E., 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Myer) 
Boultinghouse.  Her  parents  were  farmers,  and  were 
married  in  Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  and  afterwards 
came  to  Knox  Co.,  this  State,  where  Mrs.  S.,  wife  of 
the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  born  June  13,  1840. 
The  parents  then  came  to  this  county,  and  located 
in  Edgington  Township,  when  Mrs.  S.  was  only  six 
years  of  age,  she  being  the  youngest  but  one  of  a 
family  of  six  children.  Her  father  died  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Edgington,  March  13,  1839,  having  been  born 
March  4,  1806.  The  mother  still  survives,  and  re- 
sides with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Stoddard,  and  is  82 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Stoddard  was  reared  at  home, 
where  she  remained  until  her  marriage.  She  is  the 
mother  of  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Stoddard,  subject  of  this  notice,  rented  a  farm, 
which  he  cultivated  for  a  time,  and  afterwards,  in 
1866,  purchased  one  of  his  own, on  which  he  settled 
in  1869,  and  which  has  since  been  his  place  of  abode. 
The  farm  consists  of  roo  acres,  and  his  residence  is 
one  of  the  finest  furnished  in  the  county,  and  is  pal- 
atial in  its  construction.  He  also  owns  the  largest 
storehouse  with  a  splendid  hall  in  the  village  of  Edg- 
ton.  As  a  splendid  illustration  of  the  finest  resi- 
dences of  Rock  Island  County,  we  are  pleased  to 


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present  a  view  of  Mr.  Stoddard's  dwelling  in  this  vol- 
ume, page  336.  In  company  with  the  view  of  the 
residence  is  shown  his  store  building. 

Besides  carrying  on  his  mercantile  business,  he  has 
been  very  extensively  engaged  in  the  buying  and 
shipping  of  stock.  Politically,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  man  whose  word  is 
as  good  as  his  bond,  and  whose  accumulation  of 
this  world's  goods  is  attributable  to  his  manly,  frank 
and  honest  dealings  with  his  fellow-man. 


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nent  citizen  of 
e  Township,  is  a  representalive  of  a 
1  class  who  form  a  conspicuous  element 
in  the  composite  nationality  of  the  United 
States.  Their  traits  and  habits,  which  are 
more  the  result  of  the  necessities  forced  upon 
them  by  their  circumstances  than  of  inclination  or 
temperament,  are  the  best  possible  foundation  for 
successful  careers  under  the  peculiar  privileges  of  a 
republican  form  of  government. 

Mr.  Hauberg  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany, 
Sept.  29,  1S37,  and  he  is  the  second  son  of  John  D. 
and  Margaret  (Griese)  Hauberg.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Holstein.  The  son  was  sent  to  school 
as  soon  as  he  was  of  sufficient  age  to  answer  the  re- 
quirements of  the  law,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  free 
from  that  obligation  he  aided  as  he  could  to  support 
the  family  by  selling  nuts  to  the  passengers  on  the 
steamships  in  the  harbors  of  Holstein.  He  drove  a 
double  business  by  buying  fish  with  the  money, 
which  he  peddled  on  his  return  home.  In  184S  his 
father  entered  into  a  contract  with  a  man  from  the 
United  States  to  come  to  Tennessee  and  work  a 
plantation.  The  senior  Hauberg  was  to  receive  §4 
a  month,  the  mother  ten  cents  a  day,  and  the  son, 
wlio  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  to  be  paid  at 
the  rate  of  seven  cents  daily.  He  had  a  younger 
brother,  who  was  hired  at  the  rate  of  five  cents  for  a 
sinnler  period  of  labor.  After  ten  months  the  con- 
tractor turned  them  off  and  bought  negroes  !  The 
Hauberg  family  then  went  to  Decatur,  Ala.,  and 
when  they  arrived  there  they  were  not  only  out  of 
money,  but  were   in  debt  for  their  passage.     The 


father  accepted  the  first  employ  that  offered  and  took 
contracts  to  dig  cellars,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by 
his  two  sons.  They  remained  at  Decatur  one  month 
and  went  thence  to  Paducah,  Ky.  There  the  father 
obtained  work  in  a  foundry  and  the  eldest  son  be- 
came an  assistant  in  a  hotel,  where  he  received  $4  a 
month  for  his  services.  They  went  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  at  the  end  of  a  month,  and  not  being  success- 
ful in  finding  something  to  do  they  went  thence  to 
Moline.  As  in  a  previous  instance,  they  were  en- 
tirely out  of  money.  They  found  a  small,  unoccu- 
pied cabin,  into  which  they  moved,  and  as  the  whole 
space  was  required  for  living  room,  the  cook-stove 
was  set  up  out  of  doors.  In  pleasant  weather  the 
cooking  was  done  without,  but  in  case  of  storms  the 
family  lived  on  cold  food.  The  father  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  obtaining  work  in  Moline,  and  at  the  end  of 
a  year  a  house  and  lot  was  bought  in  that  city.  The 
entire  property  cost  but  $75,  the  house  being,  in 
an  unfinished  state;  but  the  proprietor  soon  put  it  in 
a  condition  for  a  home  and  shelter  for  the  family,  and 
they  lived  in  it  until  1  854,  the  year  in  which  they 
removed  to  the  township  of  Coe.  A  farm  of  80  acres 
of  unimproved  land  had  been  bought  on  section  12. 
One  acre  adjoining  suitable  for  a  building  site  was 
also  purchased,  on  which  a  log  house  was  soon  built, 
which  the  family  occupied  five  years;  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  the  father  built  a  frame  house.  He  also 
bought  a  considerable  acreage  in  addition  to  his  first 
purchase,  and  improved  200  acres.  He  is  still  liv- 
ing and  is  77;  his  wife  is  74  years  old.  They  are 
passing  their  declining  years  in  an  ease  which  forms 
a  striking  contrast  to  the  circumstances  of  their  ear- 
lier lives. 

Mr.  Hauberg  was  but  ten  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  came  to  this  country.  While  in  Tennessee 
he  was  an  attendant  at  an  English  school  for  a  short 
time,  and  before  he  was  1 2  years  old  he  taught  a 
two-months  term  of  school,  and  he  spent  six  months 
after  that  as  a  mail-carrier  from  Kingston,  Tenn.,  to 
Pen  Rocks' Ferry,  in  the  same  State.  When  the  fam- 
ily came  to  Moline  he  was  first  employed  as  a  team- 
ster, in  Scott  County,  Iowa,  where  he  drove  a 
breaking  team,  at  $4  a  month.  He  was  accustomed 
to  spend  nine  months  in  the  country,  and  during  the 
remainder  of  the  year  lived  at  Moline,  where  he  at- 
tended school  a  part  of  the  time  and  at  others  worked 
in  a  saw-mill  and  at  chopping  wood.  In  1854  he 
came  to  Coe  Township  with  his  parents  and  he  there 


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spent  the   first  year  in  assisting  his  father.     At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  entered  the  employ    of  William 
G.  Marshall  for  two  years,   then    remained    at  home 
until  21  years  of  age.     When  that  period  arrived  he 
found  himself   his  own   man  with   a    cash  capital  of 
45  cents.     He  and  his   brother    rented    the    farm  of 
•  his  father,  for  the    use    of  which  they    paid  $600  a 
year.     '1  hey  were  both    unmarried   and   conducted 
their  domestic  affairs   themselves    after    the   pattern 
called    "baching  it."     They    had  the   misfortune  to 
lose  a  pair  of   horses  the  first  year,  and   also  a  yoke 
of  oxen,  the  amount  of  the  loss  being  in  round  num- 
bers $400.     At  the  end  of  three  years   they  divided 
and   each   had    three    horses,  three  cows  and  a  colt. 
Each  also  had  a  good   supply  of   farm   implements, 
grain  and  vegetables. 

Mr.  Haubergin  1862  made  a  contract  with  his  fa- 
ther for  120  acres  of  land  and  entered  into  the  busi- 
ness of  farming  in  his  exclusive  interest,  and  has 
since  operated  in  that  line.  At  a  later  date  he  bought 
40  acres  additional  on  section  12,  and  after  a  time 
another  similar  acreage  on  section  1 1,  another  of  40 
on  the  same  as  his  first,  and  also  80  acres  on  section 
1,  all  in  Coe  Township.  Later  he  bought  85  acres 
more  in  Erie  Township,  in  Whiteside  County,  20 
acres  on  section  1,  in  Coe  Township,  15  acres  in  the 
township  of  Canoe.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  160 
acres  in  Plymouth  County,  Iowa.  His  residence  is 
located  on  section  12.  It  is  a  large  structure  and  is 
built  of  stone.  His  barn  and  other  farm  buildings 
are  of  wood.  In  addition  to  general  farming  he  is 
largely  interested  in  the  raising  of  stock. 

Mr.  Hauberghas  been  quite  prominent  in  political 
matters.  He  was  formerly  a  Democrat  and  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  but  in  lo- 
cal affairs  he  votes  for  the  best  man  for  the  position. 
He  was  interested  in  the  Greenback  movement  from 
its  incipiency  and  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  Rock 
Island  County.  At  the  tune  when  the  party  was  in 
the  ascendency  he  was  twice  a  candidate  for  Sheriff 
and  came  near  being  elected  in  both  instances. 

Mr.  Hauberg  was  married  in  1862  to  Annie  M., 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Mandler)  Frels. 
The  parents  were  born  in  Germany  and  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  iS — .  The  birth  of  their  daughter 
occurred  in  Hampton,  of  which  township  her  father 
was  a  pioneer.  Mrs.  Hauberg  and  her  husband  have 
nine  children, — Amelia,  Emma,  Annie,  John  Henry, 


Rosina,  Lewis,   Elnora,  Ada  and  Walter, 
died  Aug.  20,  1885. 


Walter 


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\  B    Danforth,  editor  and  proprietor  of  The 
£  Pock  Islander ;  was  born  in  Barnard,  Wind- 


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sor  Co.,  Vt.,  Aug.  31,  iSr  9.  He  received  a 
common-school  education,  with  a  few  terms  at 
a  higher  school  called  the  Washington  County 
Grammar  School,  at  Montpelier,  Vt. ;  was 
clerk  in  his  father's  store  at  Barnard  for  a  while;  then 
in  Titus  Hutchinson,  Jr.'s  store,  in  Woodstock,  in 
1840.  It  was  there  that  he  cast  his  first  vote,  and 
it  was  for  Martin  Van  Buren  for  President,  Wood- 
stock giving  from  600  to  800  votes  for  Harrison 
against  75  to  80  for  Van  Buren.  In  (84r  he  went 
to  Boston  and  found  employment  in  Davis,  Bates  & 
Turner's  wholesale  dry-goods  house.  The  next  year  ,, 
he  returned  to  his  native  town  and  opened  business  ' 
for  himself,  where  he  was  afterwards  appointed  Post- 
master by  President  Polk,  and  also  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  in  his  native  village. 

On  the  rst  of  January,  1846,  he  became  joint  pro- 
prietor and  publisher  of  the  Vermont  Patriot  and 
State  Gazette,  at  Montpelier,  the  State  organ  of  the 
Democracy,  at  the  capital  of  the  State,  with  his 
cousin,  the  late  Maj.  Charles  G.  Eastman,  one  of 
Vermont's  most  noted  poets  and  editors,  the  author 
of  "The  Farmer  Sat  in  his  Easy  Chair,"  etc.,  etc.,  a 
song  that  has  had  a  wonderful  run  and  been  read 
and  sung  by  millions  of  people.  A  handsome  vol- 
ume of  Eastman's  poems  was  printed  at  the  Patriot 
office,  by  Eastman  &  Danforth,  which  had  a  large 
sale. 

While  publishing  the  Patriot,  Danforth,  by  the 
aid  of  personal  friends  among  the  Whigs,  was  elected 
Clerk  and  Recorder  of  Deeds  in  Montpelier,  in  1850, 
but  declined  a  re-election  in  the  spring  of  r  85  1,  as 
he  contemplated  removing  West.  He  also  held  the 
office  of  Notary  Public  in  Montpelier,  and  had  passed 
through  all  the  offices  in  the  subordinate  lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  to  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  l 
State  Lodge,  and  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand  En-  : 
campment,  which  offices  he  held  when  he  left  the 
State.     Soon  after  coming  to  Rock  Island  he  became 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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v,y., 


a  Roman  Catholic  and  therefore  did  not  renew  his 
connection  with  the  order.  He  has  honorable  cards 
of  clearance. 

In  the  summer  of  that   year  lie  sold  out  to  Major 
Eastman,  and  came  to  Rock  Island,  arriving  here  in 
October,  1851.    He  was  in  business  with  William  L. 
Lee  for  about  a  year,  when  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, and,  at   the   solicitation  of  many  prominent 
Democrats,  in  the  fall   of  1852,  he  connected  him- 
self with    the   Rock  Island    Republican   (afterwards 
changed  to  Argus).     He  was  elected  Alderman  from 
the  Second  Ward  in  1852— the  first  Democrat  ever 
elected  in  the  ward.     He  has  been  often  Chairman 
of  the  Democratic  County  Committee,  and   several 
times  a  member  of  the  State  Committee  for  this  Con- 
gressional District.     In  the  winter  of  1852-3  he  was 
appointed  to  the  military  staff  of  the  Governor  of  the 
State,  with  the  commission  and  rank  of  Colonel.     In 
1853  he  was  appointed,  by  President  Pierce,  United 
States  Custodian  for  the   Island  of  Rock  Island— a 
military  reservation  of  a  thousand  acres  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  the  site  of  old  Fort  Armstrong,  opposite 
this  city.     In   1854  he  started   the  first  daily  news- 
paper ever  published  in  Rock  Island  or  near  there. 
There  was  then  no  daily  in  this  city  or  in  Davenport. 
He  also  brought  here   the   first  steam-power  press 
ever  seen  in  this  region. 

In  1856  he  was  a  delegate  from  this  Congressional 
District  (then  in  the  Chicago  District)  to  the  Demo- 
cratic National  Convention  at  Cincinnati,  that  nom- 
inated Buchanan  and  Breckenridge.  He  was  offered 
the  same  position  to  the  National  Convention  of 
1868,  but  declined  it.  August  21,  1857,  he  was  ap- 
pointed, by  President  Buchanan,  a  Purser  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  unanimously  confirmed  by 
the  Senate.  He  was  oudered  to  the  west  coast  of 
Africa  upon  a  cruise  in  search  of  slavers.  Resign- 
ing his  position  as  Custodian  of  the  Military  Re- 
serve and  selling  his  interest  in  the  Argus  to 
Messrs.  Pershing  &  Connelly,  he  sailed  from  New 
York  in  the  war  ship  "  Vincennes,"  on  the  duties 
of  his  position.  His  diary  of  that  cruise  among 
the  Islands  and  along  the  West  Coast  would 
furnish  material  for  a  pretty  good  insight  into  the 
abominable  traffic  111  human  beings.  He  resigned 
his  position  the  following  year,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  letter  below,  the  original  of  which  is  in  his 
possession  : 

s&g^f~ ^^ 9tK>i 


Navy  Department, 
Washington,  October,  14,  1858.    f 

Sir  :  Your  resignation  as  Purser  in  the  Navy  of 
the  United  States,  tendered  in  your  letter  of  this 
date,  is  hereby  accepted. 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Isaac  Toucey, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
To  Mr.  J.  B.  Danforth,  Jr.,  late  Purser  U.  S.  Navy, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Settling  his  accounts  with  the  Navy  Department, 
and   finding  about  $1,000   his   due,  he  received  his 
pay,  and  in  the  spring  of  1859  returned  to  Rock  Isl- 
and  and   re-purchased  a  two-thirds   interest   in   the 
Argus,  and   again   became    its   editor.      In    1862,  in 
connection  with   Major  Connelly,  he  commenced  to 
raise  a  military  company  for  the  war.    He  was  sworn 
in  and  nearly  one-half  the  men  necessary  for  a  com- 
pany were  enlisted  in  two  days;  and,  while  engaged 
in  an  adjoining  county  making  speeches   in  aid  of 
General    Henderson's    Henry    County   regiment,   he 
met   the  order  of  the   Governor  to  stop  all  enlist-  ^ 
ments,  as   more  men   were  offering  than  the  State  /fe 
could    employ.     This    ended    his     aspirations    for  g 
"  goah,"  and  he  resumed  the  weapon  which  Bulwer  § 
makes  Richelieu  say,  "In  hands  of  men  entirely  great  = 
is  mightier  than  the  sword."     The  Argus  was,  how-  ^ 
ever,  a  war  paper,  and  while  under  his  management  4 
it  flourished.     At  one  time  during  the  war  it  was  the  ^ 
only  paper  printed  in  the  city. 

In  1869  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  Argus,  and 
went  to  New  York  city  and  engaged  in  business. 
While  there  he  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  Demo- 
cratic newspapers,  and  a  correspondent  of  the  Argus. 
Not  succeeding  in  business  as  he  expected,  he  re- 
turned to  Rock  Island  in  May,  1872,  and  re-pur-,-5 
chased  an  interest  in  the  Argus. 

The  Argus  was  owned  by  a  stock  company,  and 
Col.  Danforth  having  been  financially  crippled  by 
his  New  York  venture  to  such  an  extent  as  precluded 
his  controlling  sufficient  of  the  stock  to  enable  him 
to  direct  fully  the  policy  of  the  paper  in  political 
matters,  led  to  his  withdrawal  from  its  editorship.  In 
December,  1877,  he  revived  The  Rock  Islander,  a 
paper  first- started  in  1854.  Under  his  management 
and  direction  the  paper  is  an  abie  and  fearless  ad-« 
vocate  of  the  interests  of  the  working  men,  and  de-  j| 
serves,  as  it  is  receiving,  a  generous  and  hearty  . 
support  from  this  source;— not  alone,  however,  from  v 
this  source,  but  from  all  classes  of  citizens  ;  for  its  ^ 
subscription  price,  being  merely   nominal  compared \% 


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with  the  value  given  in  the  many  and  various  interest- 
ing subjects  discussed  and  information  given,  secures 
for  it  a  varied  and  wide  circulation.  In  advocating  the 
various  improvements  of  this  vicinity,  including  the 
Hennepin  Canal,  the  United  States  Arsenal  and 
Armory,  the  Mississippi  and  other  Western  rivers. 
The  Rock  Islander  has  been  very  zealous  and  done 
excellent  service. 

Col.  J.  B.  Danforth  was  for  several  years  a  director 
in  the  Public  Library  of  Rock  Island.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  State  Committee  of  the  Greenback 
Labor  party,  and  is  at  present  the  able  and  efficient 
Chairman  of  the  Congressional  District  Committee 
of  that  party.  He  is  the  oldest  editor  of  this  lo- 
cality, and  one  of  the  very  oldest  in  the  State,  and  is 
probably  the  widest  and  most  favorably  known  edit- 
orial writer  in  Western  Illinois.  He  has  always  been 
a  friend  of  the  laboring  classes,  and  has  devoted 
much  of  his  time  to  the  advancement  of  their  inter- 
est. In  fact  the  Greenback  Labor  party  of  Rock  Isl- 
>  and  and  vicinity  owes  the  strength  of  its  organiza- 
ifS  tion  to  his  efforts.  In  no  place  in  the  West  was  the 
encroachment  of  consolidated  wealth  and  monopo- 
;  listic  power  more  perceptibly  felt  than  at  Rock  Isl- 
3  and  at  the  birtli  of  the  Greenback  Labor  party. 
:  Here  a  handful  of  railroad,  coal,  manufacturing  and 
.  money  kings,  taking  advantage  of  the  extraordinary 
opportunities  offered  by  a  comparatively  new  coun- 
try, where  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  people  were  poor 
and  dependent  upon  their  labor  for  support  of  them- 
selves and  families,  co-operating  with  Eastern  and 
other  capitalists,  had  so  systematically  laid  and 
worked  their  plans  for  absolute  capitalistic  suprem- 
acy that,  at  the  time  of  which  we  write,  the  commu- 
nity was  but  a  remove  from  a  moneyed  dictatorship. 
It  was  this  stale  of  affairs  all  over  the  country  that 
gave  rise  to  the  "  Labor"  party,  which  at  Rock  Isl- 
and and  vicinity  arose  at  once  to  positive  command 
of  the  balance  of  power.  And  thus  we  now  find  it 
with  Col   Danforth  and  The  Rock  Islander  at  its  head. 


g  lsworth  Mapes,  Justice  of  the    Peace   at 
Moline,   was  born  Sept.  n,  1805,  in  Mon- 
roe, Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.     He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  he  attained   his   majority,   at- 
tending the  common  schools   until  he  was  16 
years  old,   and   assisted   in    the   labors   on   the 
The   marriage  of  Mr.   Mapes  took    place   in 


Y 


1826,  at  which  time  Miss  Permelia  Pettibone  became 
his  wife.  She  was  born  March  4,  1809,  in  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  has  borne  her  husband  six  children, 
four  boys  and  two  girls,  namely:  Charles  W.,  born 
March  31,  1827;  L.  B.,  born  May  2,  1834;  H.  E., 
Feb.  2,  1836;  E.  A.,  in  1839;  Lucy  E.,  Dec.  18, 
1841;  Anna  L.,  April  16,  1847. 

In  1854  Mr.  Mapes  came  to  this  county,  and  in 
July  of  that  year  located  at  Moline.  The  first  year 
after  his  arrival  at  that  place,  he  kept  a  hotel,  known 
as  the  Buffalo  House,  which  was  located  on  Wells 
Street,  now  Second  Avenue.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  last  38  years,  and  is 
at  present  Police  Justice  of  the  city  of  Moline.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
Mr.  Mapes  in  his  religion  is  very  liberal.  As  a  pol- 
itician, he  labors  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
always  voted  with  that  party  since  the  nomination 
and  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

From  1821  to  1853,  Mr.  Mapes  was  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.,  but  since 
his  removal  to  this  county  has  been  occupied  the 
major  portion  of  his  time  as  stated.  He  is  of  Eng- 
lish, Holland  and  French  extraction,  and  comes  of  a 
family  noted  for  longevity. 


-■Jjjjj^fc onn  L  Noan>  a  farmer  residing  on  section 
BBiMfc  T^)  Zuma  Township,  was  born  in  Washing- 
WsT^  ton  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  1,  1844,  his  parents  be- 
%&  ing  James  and  Cassia  A.  (Madden)  Noah, 
Y  natives  of  Vermont  and  Ohio.  Mr.  Noah  was 
\  an  inmate  of  the  parental  household  until  he 
was  16  years  of  age,  during  which  time  lie  attended 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  county.  Soon  after 
attaining  the  age  of  17,  he  enlisted  in  the  War  for 
the  Union,  joining  Co.  D,  13th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  for  three 
months'  service.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
enlistment,  he  re-enlisted  in  Co.  I,  Eighth  Kan.  Vol. 
Inf.  for  three  years;  served  out  time  of  enlistment 
and  again  re-enlisted  for  three  years  more  as  a  vet- 
eran in  the  United  States  Army  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  the  entire  time  in  which  he 
was  engaged  in  fighting  for  his  country  being  four 
years,  six  months  and   19  days.     He  was  first  en- 


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gaged  in  the  Buel  Campaign,  then  under  General 
Rosencrans,  afterwards  Gen.  Grant,  and  finally,  un- 
der the  command  of  General  Sherman,  in  his  famous 
march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  He  was  also  under 
command  of  Gen.  Thomas  through  the  entire  Hood 
raid,  and  then  went  to  Texas,  where,  at  San  Antonio, 
he  was  mustered  out  of  service,  receiving  his  final 
discharge  at  Leavenworth,  Kan.  After  the  war  was 
over,  and  Mr.  Noah  had  received  his  discharge,  he 
came  home  and  engaged  in,  farming  on  section  17, 
Zuma  Township,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Noah  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Almeda 
Sturtevant,  March  30,  1864,  during  the  time  he  was 
engaged  as  a  soldier  for  the  Union,  having  returned 
home  on  a  furlough.  She  was  a  native  of  Illinois,  in 
which  State  she  was  born  May  14,  1S44.  The  issue 
of  their  union  was  two  children, — Daniel  B.,  born 
May  4,  1869,  and  Eddie  W.,  born  March  25,  1S73. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  July  28,  r873,  and  Mr. 
Noah  was  again  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  be- 
ing Miss  Cynthia  R.  Pardee,  a  native  of  Rock  Island 
County,  where  she  was  born  July  12,  1857.  Of  their 
union  two  children  were  born, — Effa  A.,  born  April 
5,  1S79,  and  Cassia  M.,  Sept.  14,  1881. 

Politically,  Mr.  Noah  is  identified  with  the  princi- 
ples advocated  by  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a 
Supervisor  and  Road  Overseer,  and  likewise  Treas- 
urer of  Drainage  District.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  is  one  of  the  progressive  farmers 
of  Rock  Island  County. 


3*     In  1862,  Mr. 


j^ifSl    H.  Wheeloek,  residing  at  Moline,  is  a   son 
jf  J.   Adams  and  Sophronia  Wheeloek,  na- 
rm>  tives  of  Erie   Co.,   N.   Y.,    who    moved  to 
Wisconsin    when   it   was    a   Territoiy,  settling 
near  Fox  Lake,  Dodge  County,  where  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born,  Sept.  21,  1S46. 

Wheeloek  of  this  notice  mo\  ed  to 
L  Brighton,  Iowa,  where,  March  29,  1868,  he  was 
r';  united   in   marriage   with    Miss   Eliza  Moore.     Soon 

J  afterward  he  engaged  in  business  with    his    father,    I 
ad  upon  the  death  of  the  latter,  which  occurred  in    ! 
368,  he  assumed  the  management  of  the   estate,   I 
hich  consisted  of  a  flouring-mill,  and  was  thus  oc-   I 
,A&  2        — ^MM 


cupied  until  June,  1880,  when  he  came  to  Moline 
and  took  a  position  with  the  Moline  Paper  Company 
as  book-keeper.  After  remaining  in  this  capacity  for 
three  years,  he  was  made  Superintendent  of  the 
company's  mill,  which  position  he  at  present  holds. 
Mrs.  Wheeloek,  daughter  of  Anson  and  Lucia 
Moore,  was  born  in  Iowa,  Aug.  27,  .1S46,  and  is  a 
descendant  of  the  Adams  family  of  Revolutionary 
fame.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeloek  are 
Adams  N,  Bertha  K.,  Anson  M.  and  Vera  C. 


^ 


Mnjlkaniel  Mosher,  one  of  the  well  known  farm- 

^  y  ' ;.     ers  of  H  impton  Township,  residing  on  sec- 

■'  'xr    '     tion  24,  was  born  in  Oppenheim  Township, 

rjfii      Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  9,  1802.     His 

f*    parents,   Israel   and    Ester  (Ingerson)   Mosher. 

*     natives   of  New    York   and   North    Carolina   re- 

tively,  died  in  Montgomery  County. 
The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  remained 
at  home  until  he  attained  the  age  of  18  years,  when 
he  bought  his  time  of  his  father  for  $50,  and  engaged 
to  work  out  by  the  month  until  23  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Mosher  then  mairied,  and  resided  on  a  purchase  of 
of  40  acres  of  land,  which  he  had  obtained  in  1826, 
for  five  years,  when  he  sold  it  and  rented  a  small 
piece  of  land.  Realizing  that  the  West  had  better 
inducements  for  procuring  a  competency,  he  packed 
his  household  goods  and  started,  locating  at  Rock 
Island,  where  he  engaged  as  carpenter  and  boat- 
builder  for  ten  years.  He  bailt  a  house  on  a  lot  he 
purchased,  and  resided  there  several  years,  finally 
selling  out  to  the  railroad  company.  Preferring  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer,  he  made  a  purchase  of  130 
acres  of  land  on  sections  13  and  24,  where  he  moved 
in  1853  and  has  since  resided  ;  and  by  subsequent 
purchases  of  227  acres  he  is  at  present  the  possessor 
of  257  acres,  all  in  excellent  farming  condition. 

Dec.  31,  1826,  Mr.  Mosher  formed  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Phebe  Churchill,  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery Co..  \  V..  and  their  union  wis  blessed  with 
three  children, — Samuel,  Louisa  and  Nelson.  Sam- 
uel died  in  18S0.  His  wife  dying,  Mr.  Mosher  was 
again  united  in  marriage  to  Jane  Benson,  in  1843, 
she   being   a   native   of  New  York.      Mr.    and    Mrs 


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Mosher  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  all 
living,  namely:  Elenora,  Janette,  Mary,  John,  Mc- 
Clellan,  Emily  and  Douglass.  Mrs.  Mosher  died 
July  20,  1883.  Mr.  Mosher  affiliates  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  has  held  various  offices  here, — 
Commissioner  of  Highways  and  School  Director. 
Before  coming  West  he  served  two  years  as  Con- 
stable. Mr.  Mosher  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
here,  and  belongs  to  the  Old  Settlers'  Society,  and  is 
a  respected,  representative  citizen  of  Rock  Island 
Co.,  111. 


j:(dolph  Weekel,  a  reliable   citizen  and   an 

JjL    enterprising  and  progressive  farmer,  located 

a  on  section  7,  South   Moline  Township,  was 


S, 


born  in  Germany,  Dec.  18,  1822.  In  con- 
formity with  the  laws  of  his  country  lie  at- 
tended the  common  schools  and  also  a  high 
school  until  18  years  old,  and  received  a  good  edu- 
cation. He  remained  in  the  "  Faderland  "  until  19 
years  of  age,  when,  expecting  to  better  his  financial 
condition  in  life,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  soon  after  his  arrival  came  to  Springfield,  this 
State,  where  he  remained  two  years,  from  1842  to 
1844. 

During  the  latter  year  Mr.  Weckal  came  to  this 
county,  and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  He  is  the 
the  proprietor  of  170  acres  of  land  in  South  Moline 
Township,  120  of  which  is  under  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation. On  his  place  he  has  a  good,  substantial 
residence,  besides  suitable  barn  and  outbuildings. 

Mr.  Weekel  was  united  in  marriage  in  Illinois  City, 
this  county,  April  29,  1S47,  w'tn  Miss  Catherine 
Heincel,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  in  which  country 
she  was  born  March  12,  1826.  They  have  been  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  only  four  of  whom  sur- 
vived. The  living  are:  John,  born  April  8,  1848; 
•  Louis,  July  2,  1854;  Rosa  A.,  Oct.  3,  1855,  and  Eva 
C,  March  26,  1869.  Those  deceased  are:  Jacob, 
George,  Edward  and  Otto. 

Mr.  Weekel  has  held  the  offices  of  School  Director, 

Highway  Commissioner  and  Overseer  of  Highways. 

i  He  and  his  wife  are  attendants  of  the  German   Lu- 

...  theran  Church,  and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the 


Democratic  party,  and  for  about  five  years  was  the 
only  Democrat' who  cast  a  vote  in  South  Moline 
Township. 


E .jiiSSftaeiiry  S.  Case,  general  farmer,  residing  in 
SSft  South  Rock  Island  Township,  was  born  in 
Rock  Island,  Nov.  11,  1833,  and  is  there- 
fore one  of  the  oldest  born  residents  now  living 
in  the  county.  His  father,  J  H.  Case,  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  of  New  England  parentage, 
by  occupation  a  farmer,  and  came  West  in  the  early 
part  of  1829,  previous  to  his  marriage,  settling  tin  a 
lot  which  is  now  a  part  of  Rock  Island  City.  After 
his  marriage  he  "took  up"  land  in  company  with 
Judge  Spencer,  now  deceased,  and  laid  out  a  40-acre 
tract,  now  occupied  by  the  city.  It  lies  between  the 
river,  Eighth  Avenue  and  17th  and  23d  Streets.  For 
a  time  Mr.  Case  lived  in  Black  Hawk's  wigwam. 
He  always  maintained  that  the  great  Sac  Chief  was 
really  friendly  to  the  whites,  and  that  it  was  not  his 
fault,  but  that  of  the  whites,  that  the  troubles  in  this 
part  of  the  State  occurred.  He  was  also  connected 
in  some  way  with  the  troops  sent  out  by  our  Govern- 
ment to  suppress  the  Indian  insurrection.  Mr.  Case 
also  owned  property  outside  of  the  city,  now  in  South 
Rock  Island  Township.  It  was  a  tract  of  land  com- 
prising a  half-section,  50  acres  of  which  is  now  owned 
by  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Case's 
wife,  Julia,  was  a  sister  of  the  late  Judge  Spencer, 
who  published  a  book  entitled  "  Pioneer  Life  of  Rock 
Island  County."  Both  the  parents  of  Henry  S.  died 
on  the  old  homestead  in  South  Rock  Island  Town- 
ship— his  father  in  August,  1864,  and  his  mother  in 
May,  1868. 

Our  subject  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  yet  living, — Henry  S.  Case 
and  Sarah  J.  Aiken;  the  latter  is  now  residing  in 
Colorado,  where  her  husband  is  the  owner  of  large 
herds  of  sheep  and  cattle.  For  him  Aiken  Street  in 
Rock  Island  is  named.  Mrs.  Eliza  H.  Richmond, 
now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Roswell,  who  now 
lives  in  South  Rock  Island. 

At  the  age  of  18  years  Mr.  Case  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, during  the  gold  excitement  of  1852,  and  re- 
mained most  of  the  time  in  different  parts  of  Nevada 


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County,  that  State,  for  four  years.  Somewhat  dis- 
appointed in  his  expectations,  he  returned  home  and 
began  farming.  About  18  months  later  he  was  mar- 
ried, in  South  Rock  Island,  to  Miss  Anna  Elizabeth 
Frost,  who  was  born  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  Oct.  22, 
1843.  She  came  with  her  parents  when  young  to 
Rock  Island  County,  where  her  mother  yet  resides 
with  her  children.  Her  father,  now  deceased,  was  a 
carpenter  by  vocation.  Mrs  Case  died  at  her  home 
in  South  Rock  Island,  in  June,  18 — ,  after  having  be- 
come the  mother  of  two  children,  one  of  whom, 
Anson,  is  deceased,  and  the  other,  Mary,  is  residing 
at  home  with  her  father.  Mr.  Case  was  afterward 
again  married,  at  Chicago,  to  Miss  Jane  E.  Hanna, 
who  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  Nov.  17, 
1855,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  her  native 
State.  She  went  to  Iowa,  in  April,  1857,  where  she 
taught  school  some  years,  and  went  to  Chicago  a 
short  time  before  her  marriage.  By  the  present  mar- 
riage they  have  three  children, — Charles  S.  and 
Edith,  living,  and  Harry,  deceased. 

Mr.  Case  has  been  interested  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  for  a  number  of  years,  in  connection  with  his 
farming  operations.  He  has  been  Supervisor  of  his 
township,  and  Assistant  Supervisor  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  a  reliable  Republican.  Mrs.  Case  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


'-'fccS'  S.  Beat,  a  firmer,  residing  on  section  10, 
IQ^  Zuma  Township,  was  born  Jan.  2,  1843, 
"•  his  parents  being  Daniel  and  Betsey 
(Spencer)  Beal.  The  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice  remained  on  the  parental 
homestead,  receiving  such  advantages  as  w,as 
obtainable  at  the  common  schools,  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  25  years.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he 
attended  Lombard  University  at  Galesburg,  Knox 
Co.,  this  State,  for  two  winters. 

He  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  joining  Co. 
A,  156th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  received  an  honorable  discharge 
and  returned  home.  In  1867  he  purchased  160 
acres  of  land  on  section  10,  Zuma  Township,  to 
which  he  added   by   subsequent  purchase  47  acres, 


and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  207  acres,  with  a  good 
residence,  barn  and  outbuildings,  and  has  the  place 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Beal  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  Sept.  20, 
1866,  with  Miss  Sarah  Wainwright,  a  native  of  this 
county.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  eight 
children,  and  their  record  is  as  follows :  Charley 
Milton,  born  Nov.  7,  1867,  died  April  29,  1879; 
Gertie,  born  May  15,  1869;  Nettie,  Nov.  23,  1870 ; 
Bessie,  April  12,  1873;  Allie,  April  14,  1875;  Sadie, 
Oct.  22,  1876;  Samuel  S.,  July  30,  r88o,  and  an  in- 
fant born  Dec.  5,  1884,  and  died  Feb.  13,  1885. 

Politically,  Mr.  Beal  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter 
of  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party. 
Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Although  a  man  never 
seeking  office,  he  has  held  that  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner, and  is  one  of  the  respected  and  esteemed 
citizens  of  Rock  Island  County.  His  wcrd  is  his 
bond,  and  his  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods  is 
attributable  to  his  honest,  straightforward  dealings 
witli  his  fellow  man. 


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C.  Adams,   deceased,  was  one  of  the  pio- 


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f  neers  of  Rock  Island  County.  He  was 
*"  born  in,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1799,  and 
was  the  son  of  Anthony  Adams,  who  was  of 
ancestry.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
lve  country,  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  was  well  educated 
in  both  the  German  and  English  languages  ;  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  large  enough  to  be  of  assistance  he 
was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Berwick,  Co- 
lumbia Co.  He  followed  this  occupation  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  in  order  to  better  his  condition,  and 
get  into  a  field  where  there  was  some  opportunity 
for  developing  his  abilify  and  accumulating  some- 
thing for  himself  and  family,  he  came  West,  which 
he  did  in  1838.  At  that  time  his  family  consisted 
of  his  wife  and  two  children.  They  came  in  a  wagon 
drawn  by  a  pair  of  horses,  camping  out  on  their  way. 
After  a  journey  of  six  weeks,  the  little  emigrant  train 
arrived  in  Rock  Island.  Here  he  left  the  family  in 
comfortable  quarters,  and  started  out  to  hunt  up  a 


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location.  He  bought  a  claim  on  sections  7  and  8,  of 
township  20,  range  2,  since  known  as  Cordova. 
There  was  a  log  cabin  thereon,  in  which  the  family 
moved,  and  where  they  resided,  suffering  many  priva- 
tions. As  soon  as  the  land  was  put  on  the  market 
by  the  Government,  Mr.  Adams  entered  his  farm  and 
erected  a  good  frame  house,  which  was  destroyed  in 
1844  by  a  tornado.  He  then  erected  another  good, 
substantial  residence,  where  he  lived  until  the  date 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  22,  1876. 

Our  subject  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  be- 
ing Amanda  Goble,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania ;  she 
became  the  mother  of  five  children,  three  of  whom 
survive:  Bethuel;  Rachel,  who  is  the  wife  of  John 
M.  Boies,  and  lives  in  Carroll,  Co.,  Iowa,  and  Sam- 
uel. His  second  wife,  Sarah  Brown,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  that  State.  She  became  the  mother  of  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely  :  An- 
gelina is  the  wife  of  John  F.  Elsbury,  who  is  living 
in  Calhoun  Co.,  Iowa;  Victoria  is  the  wife  of  C.  M. 
Riel,  a  resident  of  Cordova  Township.  Bethuel 
and  Samuel  now  own  and  manage  the  old  home- 
stead, the  residence  of  which  was  burned  Jan.  6, 
1885.     They  have,  however,  since  erected  another. 


-*~~VbSi»- 


5'Ww-j- 


Skharles  Edward  Piper,  M.  D.,  a  practicing 

J|**"  physician  of  Moline  since  1865,  was  born 

kIUs?*1  in  Norway,  May  22,  1842,  and  is  the  son 
$|ii>  of  Niels  and  Sophia  Piper.  He  received  his 
ytj  medical  education  at  the  University  of  Chris- 
j  tiana.  In  1863  he  went  to  Germany,  and 
from  there  to  England,  where  he  shipped  as  surgeon 
of  the  blockade  runner  "  Pevensey,"  bound  for 
Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  The  steamer  touched 
at  Funchal,  Madeira,  and  at  the  Bermuda  Islands, 
where  she  was  transferred  to  the  Confederate  States' 
authorities,  and  ran  the  blockade  at  Wilmington, 
under  a  hot  fire  from  the  blookading  squadron.  He 
received  the  appointment  as  Assistant  Surgeon  at 
Richmond,  Va.,  and  was  stationed  at  Charlestown, 
S.  C,  in  the  field,  and  at  the  Winder  Hospital,  Rich- 
mond, where  he  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  1  >r. 
Piper  then  came  North,  spent  a  few  months  in  Chi- 


cago, practicing  his  profession,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1865  came  to  Moline,  where  he  has  continued  his 
practice  to  this  date.  In  1873  he  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  at  Moline,  and  continued  the  same  till 
1 88 1,  when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Henry  Sandstrom. 

During  the  last  six  years  he  has  devoted  consider- 
able time  to  the  study  of  electricity,  and  has  invented 
several  electrical  devices,  batteries,  etc.,  and  a  motor. 

I>r.  Piper  was  united  in  marriage  at  Moline,  May 
6,  1869,  to  Miss  Anna  S.  Jackson,  daughter  of  Major 
S.  P.  and  Mary  J.  (Evans)  Jackson.  Major  Jackson 
is  a  nephew  of  the  late  D.  B.  Sears.  Mrs.  Piper  was 
born  at  Rock  Island,  Aug.  26,  1848,  and  she  and  her 
husband  are  the  parents  of  two  children — Charles 
E.,  born  Aug.  8, 1870;  and  Ralph  Samuel,  born  Aug. 
1,  1877. 

Dr.  Piper  has  been  President  of  the  Moline  Board 
of  Health  three  years.  He  entertains  liberal  views 
on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  in  politics  is  a  Demo- 
crat. His  office  is  at  1514  Third  Avenue,  and  he 
resides  at  No.  708  19th  Street. 


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gOHfohn  William  Potter,  editor  and  proprietor 

\§isM,[~  of  the  Rock  Island  daily  and  weekly  Argus, 

fj£/        was  born  in  Skibbereen,  county  of  Cork,  Ire- 

and,Aug.  17,  1861.     His  parents  were  married 

in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,Sept.  16, 1856,  his  father  being 

of  Irish  and  his  mother  of  American  extraction. 

They  lived   in    the  Emerald  Isle  for  several   years, 

returning  to   this  country  in    1865.      Mr.  Potter  is  a 

practical  printer,  having  set  his  first  type  when  only 

11  years  of  age,  on  the  Bolivar  (Mo.)  Herald,  owned 

by  his    father.     In    1872    he    removed    to  Freeport, 

where  his  father  had  published  the  Bulletin,  and  was 

connected  with  that  paper  until  August,  1882,  when 

the   Rock  Island  Argus  was   published,  and   he  was 

sent  there  to    conduct   that    paper,  which  had  been 

struggling  against  fate   for  several  years,  and  which 

was  finally  compelled  to  suspend  publication. 

To  rescue  the  Argus  from  its  extreme  debility 
would  seem  to  require  the  experience  of  an  older 
and  wiser  head  than  Mr.  Potter's;  but  having  un- 
doubtedly inherited  the  energy  and  business  tact  of 
his  father,  he  assumed  the  responsibility  with  a 
determination  to  succeed.     A  glance  at  the  Argus 

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of  to-day  is  convincing  proof  that  his  efforts  have 
not  been  misdirected,  and  that  he  has  accomplished 
his  aim — to  place  the  paper  once  more  in  a  com- 
manding position  among  the  leading  journals  of 
the  Northwest.  He  commenced  the  republication 
of  the  daily  Argus  as  a  six-column  folio,  and  it 
is  now  an  eight-column  folio,  while  the  weekly 
has  been  enlarged  from  an  eight-column  folio  to  a 
seven-column  quarto.  With  its  growing  circulation 
and  patronage,  it  commands  great  influence,  and  is 
consequently  a  strong  champion  of  the  Democratic 
faith.  The  future  of  the  Argus  looks  bright  and 
promising,  and  it  certainly  deserves  the  favorable 
recognition  it  is  receiving. 

Mr.  Potter  has  a  brother  and  sister — Osier  F. 
Potter  and  Marion  E.  Potter — living  in  Freeport. 
The  former  is  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Freeport 
daily  and  weekly  Bulletin,  Democratic  in  politics, 
and  the  leading  paper  in  that  city  and  county. 

Mr.  Potter's  mother  died  in  Freeport,  Feb.  21, 
1880,  and  his  father  May  23,  1885. 


illliam  W.  Pearsall,  who  ranks  among  the 
leading  and  prominent  agriculturists  of 
Rock  Island  Countyr  lives  on  section  33, 
Coe  Township.  He  is  a  native  of  this 
county  and  was  born  Aug.  19,  1S52,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  C.  and  Jane  (Ellingham)  Pear- 
sall, well-known  pioneers  of  the  county  and  of  whom 
an  extended  sketch  is  given  in  this  volume. 

Our  subject  is  largely  engaged  in  breeding  Hol- 
stein  cattle  and  has  also  bought  and  shipped  stock  to 
the  Eastern  markets.  He  has  r6o  acres  of  excellent 
land,  upon  which  he  has  erected  a  good  dwelling 
and  a  substantial  barn.  A  view  of  his  dwelling  and 
surroundings  is  shown  on  page  555.  A  group  of 
his  Holsteir.  stock  is  also  represented. 

In  1877,  May  20th,  Mr.  Pearsall  was  married  to 
Miss  Ella  Trent,  also  a  native  of  Rock  Island  County, 
the  date  of  her  birth  being  May  19,  1857.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Henry  C.  and  Flora  (Van  Order)  Trent. 
The  former  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1830,  and  the 
latter  in  New  York  in  1836.     They  were  married  in 


Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  in  1854,  and  have  eight  children  vr^ 
living,  namely :     Ella,   Cassius   C,    Lincoln,    Lucy,  fk 
Philip,  Flora,  Mary  and  Henry.     Mr.   Trent  lives  at  ^ 
Port  Byron,  where  he  is    engaged   in   the   mercantile 
business.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearsall  have  four  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living:     Flora  C.  was  born  March  20,  ^ 
18795  s.  Ross,  Feb.  5,  1881;  Jane  E.,  April  20,  1883, 
and  Robert  L.,  April  18,  1885. 

Politically,  Mr.  Pearsall  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  con- 
nected with  the  Lodge  at  Port  Byron,  and  also  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  that  place. 


wan  J.  Johnson,  deceased,  was  a  promin 
\  fa3s4X*    ent    farmer   and  stock-raiser,    residing  on 


A 


Big  Island,  section  15,  Black  Hawk  Town 
ship.  He  was  born  Dec.  2,  1825,  in  Neff 
stadt,  Sweden,  where  he  was  reared  and  edu 
cated.  His  father,  John  Swanson,  was  a  z 
Swedish  fanner.  Our  subject  married  at  the  place  J 
of  his  birth,  April  22,  1S49,  to  Miss  Hannah  S.,  - 
daughter  of  George  and  Christiana  Pearson,  natives 
of  Sweden,  where  they  were  farmers  by  occupation, 
and  where  they  died.  Mrs.  Johnson  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools. 

Immediately  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  prepared  to  set  out  for  America,  where  they 
duly  arrived  and  located  in  the  city  of  Rock  Isl- 
and. Here  Mr.  Johnson  was  engaged  by  Capt. 
Wilson  to  act  as  pilot  for  the  ferry-boat  crossing  the 
river  between  Rock  Island  and  Davenport.  He  was 
thus  engaged  for  15  years.  He  then  went  to  Big 
Island  and  purchased  210  acres  of  land,  on  sections 
22  and  15.  It  was  partly  improved  at  the  time,  but 
he  subsequently  made  considerable  improvement, 
and  built  upon  it  a  splendid  residence  and  good  farm 
buildings.  He  served  the  community  as  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways  and  School  Director.  Politically,  f. 
he  is  a  stanch  and  reliable  Republican.  He  died  at 
his  home,  Jan.  29,  1876,  and  was  interred  in  the  J 
Chippiannock  Cemetery. 

Mrs.  Johnson,  who  survives    her    husband,  is  the    ; 
mother  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  save 
two.     Albert  was  married  to  Tillie   Muse,  and   re-    Z/ 


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sides  at  Washington,  Kan.  They  have  one  child, 
Stella.  Mary  C.  is  the  wife  of  John  P.  Soderstrom, 
and  resides  at  Moline,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Llewella  and  James  W.  :  Emma  is  the 
wife  of  Lawrence  Martin  and  resides  on  the  home- 
stead, and  he  is  a  grocery  dealer  at  Milan  ;  Edward 
S.  resides  at  home  and  is  completing  a  course  of 
civil  engineering  at  Champaign,  111.  ;  Charlie  S.  and 
Fred.  W.  reside  at  home. 

Mrs.  Johnson  is  a^nember  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  which  Mr.  J.  was  also  a  member 
and  Trustee.  He  was  a  prominent  and  well  esteemed 
citizen  of  the  community,  known  for  his  honesty  and 
integrity  of  purpose,  and  was  a  kind  and  generous 
father  and  noble  husband. 


••<«4*#4^>" 


on.  Charles  Atkinson,  prominent  as  a 
founder  of  the  original  town  of  Moline,  has 
«p^"°*  continued  ever  since  a  conspicuous  pro- 
moter, not  only  of  prosperity  built  upon  that 
foundation,  but  of  the  whole  region  of  which  it 
is  a  center.  His  career  has  been  one  peculiarly 
characteristic  of  those  strong  qualities  of  character 
which  have  given  to  the  Mississippi  Valley  its  >olid 
growth  and  sterling  culture.  He  was  born  in  New- 
buryport,  Mass.,  May  18,  1808.  His  parents,  Will- 
iam and  Nancy  (Little)  Atkinson,  were  of  pure 
English  ancestry,  who  settled  in  Old  Newbury  prior 
to  1635.  He  was  the  second  of  eight  children,  seven 
sons  and  one  daughter.  The  sister  became  the  wife 
of  Mr.  G.  D.  Dickinson  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Charles 
H.  Deere,  of  Moline.  The  six  brothers  all  achieved 
unusual  success  ;  William  as  an  officer  of  the  Atlantic 
Mutual  Marine  Insurance  Company,  of  New  York 
city;  Joshua  as  a  farmer  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Whiteside  Co.,  111.  ;  Joseph  as  a  farmer  and  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Newbury,  Vt.  ;  Moses  as  a  leading 
physician  at  Lawrence,  Mass.  ;  George  as  the  Super- 
intendent of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society 
for  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  ;  and  Josiah  as 
a  real-estate  dealer  in  Portland,  Ore. 

When  Charles  was  but  three  years  of  age  all  his 
father's  property  was  destroyed  by  the  great  New- 
buryport  fire  of   iSn.     As  a  result  he  received  only 


the  common-school  education  of  the  winter  months, 
his  summers  being  spent  in  work  on  the  farm.  Al- 
ready in  boyhood  there  were  evidences  of  the  cour- 
age, tenacity  and  dauntless  confidence  in  the  winning 
qualities  of  hard,  honest  work  which  have  since 
distinguished  his  life. 

At  the  age  of  16  he  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Nashua,  N.  H.  In  1829, 
with  his  brother  William,  he  opened  a  dry-goods  and 
hatter's  store  in  Nashua,  but  in  the  same  year  sold 
out,  and  removing  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  engaged  in  the 
business  of  real  estate  and  hat-manufacturing.  On 
Ian.  4,  1830,  at  Suncook,  N.  H.,  he  married  Miss 
Ann  Eliza  Bates,  born  at  Nashua,  N.  H.,  May  20, 
1809,  the  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Nancy  (Thurs- 
ton) Bates.  To  the  rare  qualities  which  were  thus 
brought  to  his  side  and  which  have  brightened  dur- 
ing all  the  years  of  their  childless  home,  is  largely 
indebted  not  only  the  success  of  his  own  life  but  also 
the  happiness  of  many  others. 

The  real-estate  venture  at  Lowell  resulted,  after 
two  years,  in  the  loss  of  all,  so  that  in  1832,  turning 
over  the  business  to  his  brother  William,  he  went  to 
Newbury,  Vt.,  and  there  assumed  the  management 
of  a  hotel.  Two  years  here  showed  a  saving  of 
$t, 000,  which  being  invested  in  a  patent  right  was 
sunk.  In  1834  Mr.  Atkinson  began  once  more  at 
the  foot  of  the  ladder  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
Commercial  Marine  Insurance  Company,  of  New 
York  city.  Here,  his  health  becoming  impaired,  he 
set  out  in  the  spring  of  1835  in  company  with  his 
brother  Joshua,  by  way  of  Pittsburg  and  the  Ohio 
River  for  St.  Louis.  Thence  they  journeyed  by 
stage,  horse  and  on  foot  northward  through  Illinois, 
carefully  prospecting  the  sparsely  settled  country  as 
far  as  Grundy  County,  near  where  the  city  of  Morris 
is  located.  Here  these  brothers  separated — Joshua 
remaining  to  further  reconnoitre  and  Charles  jour- 
neying on  alone  to  Chicago  and  thence  to  Detroit  on 
horseback.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  brought 
Mrs.  Atkinson  and  his  brother's  wife  west  to  Detroit 
and  thence  by  wagon  to  Prophetstown,  on  the  Rock 
River,  where  they  arrived  Oct.  8,  1835.  A  week's 
survey  of  the  new  country  and  the  difficulties  they 
must  encounter  in  a  region  still  freely  traversed  by 
the  Indians,  decided  them  to  make  their  new  begin- 
ning in  the  then  incipient  city  of  Chicago.  To  secure 
supplies  of  food  for  their  immediate  wants,  Mr.  At- 
kinson went  with  his  brother  to  the  little  settlement 


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V 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


•§*i^C 


at  Rock  Island.  Returning,  they  were  overtaken  by 
one  of  the  fierce  prairie  fires  incident  to  that  early 
day.  In  the  effort  to  secure  a  retreat  by  setting  a 
"back-fire,"  a  powder-flask  burst  and  so  terribly 
burned  and  mutilated  Mr.  Atkinson's  right  hand  as 
to  deform  it  for  life.  It  was  two  months  and  more 
before  the  wound  was  healed,  and  then  there  re- 
mained of  his  money  but  $[2.50.  Thus  the  Chicago 
plan  was  vetoed  by  necessity,  and  although  such  re- 
peated misfortune,  together  with  physical  injury, 
would  have  disheartened  most  men,  he  braced  up 
with  determined  purpose  to  succeed,  and  entered  a 
claim  of  farm  land  in  Henry  County,  upon  which  he 
soon  constructed  a  log  cabin.  Early  in  1836  another 
small  tract  was  purchased  on  credit,  which  was  in 
part  platted  as  the  town  of  Cleveland.  Upon  this 
site  he  began  in  1836  and  finished  in  1837  the  first 
frame  house  in  Henry  County,  the  siding  of  which 
was  split  out  of  logs  shaved  down  and  pressed 
straight;  all  the  studdings,  braces  and  rafters  were 
also  split  and  hewn.  In  this  house  and  on  his  farm 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atkinson  lived  seven  years  with  varied 
experiences  of  abundance  and  scarcity.  Going  16 
miles  to  Rock  Island  for  a  pair  of  boots,  but  finding 
his  credit  insufficient  and  having  no  money,  he  re- 
turned home,  worked  till  the  amount  was  earned,  and 
again  made  the  expedition,  this  time  successfully. 
It  was  thus,  by  indomitable  perseverance  in  a  hard 
struggle  with  reverses  and  hard  times,  there  was 
gained  in  these  years  the  victory,  and  here  was  de- 
veloped the  necessary  economy,  on  which  hinged  all 
his  future  success.  As  a  citizen  of  Henry  County 
he  was  most  energetic  in  the  pushing  of  every  good 
interest,  botli  secular,  moral  and  religious.  As  early 
as  July  4,  1837,  the  best  people  of  the  county  fortified 
themselves  against  the  arch  enemy  of  homes,  by  a 
temperance  celebration  at  his  house.  He  was  the 
county's  first  Probate  Judge  in  1837-8,  and  was  for 
five  years  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  property  and 
life  were  openly  threatened  by  the  lawless  band  of 
horse-thieves  and  counterfeiters  then  infesting  the 
borders,  but  who  found  in  him  a  fearless  opponent. 

In  1843,  the  distant  market  for  his  produce,  to- 
gether with  the  low  prices  it  afforded,  induced  him  to 
find  a  new  home  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
city  of  Moline,  but  where  was  then  only  a  mill  and  a 
half-dozen  houses,  constituting  the  settlement  of 
"  Rock  Island  Mills."  In  company  with  D.  B.  Sears 
and  others,  Mr.  Atkinson  purchased  a  portion  of  the 

— :s>€3^ — eating 


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farm  of  Huntington  Wells,  and  laid  out  the  town 
plat  of  Moline.  To  this  he  later  added  a  first,  and 
subsequently  a  second,  addition.  From  that  date 
to  the  present  he  has  been  a  commanding  figure  and 
potent  factor  in  all  Mobile's  business,  educational 
and  religious  welfare.  In  1844  he  joined  with  his 
wife  and  sixteen  others  in  organizing  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Moline,  of  which  he  has  ever 
since  been  a  leading  member  and  supporter.  To  the 
erection  of  each  of  the  successive  church  edifices, 
as  well  as  to  those  of  other  denominations,  he  has 
been  a  large  contributor.  In  1877  he  erected  and 
presented  to  his  Church  a  commodious  parsonage,  at 
a  cost  of  $2,500.  This  is  but  one  item  of  the  many 
benevolences  for  religious  and  educational  work  at 
home  and  elsewhere,  which  have  mounted  up  in 
the  aggregate  to  many  thousands  of  dollars. 

From  the  first,  Mr.  Atkinson  has  been  largely  in- 
terested in  real  estate,  both  at  home  and  in  Henry 
County,  where  in  1S57  he  purchased  a  third  interest 
in  44,000  acres  of  land.  In  1846  he  built  the  second 
saw-mill  in  Moline,  and  afterwards  set  in  motion  the 
first  planing-machine  above  St.  Louis. 

During  several  years  of  the  War  Mr.  Atkinson  was 
the  Town  Supervisor.  He  was  one  of  the  organiz- 
ers of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Moline,  of  which, 
for  eight  or  ten  years  past,  he  has  been  the  Vice- 
President  ;  of  the  Deere  &  Mansur  Corn-Planter 
Works,  now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  popular  con- 
cerns of  the  city,  as  well  as  of  the  world-famous 
Deere  Plow  Works,  he  was  formerly  a  part  propri- 
etor. 

But  that  for  which  the  community  stands  chiefly 
indebted  to  Mr.  Atkinson,  is  the  remarkable  execu- 
tive ability,  combined  with  an  accurate,  far-sighted 
knowledge  of  men  and  affairs,  which  constituted  him 
a  natural  and  eminent  leader  in  great  enterprises. 
From  his  first  arrival  he  recognized  the  strategic 
characteristics  of  Moline  as  the  natural  and  certain 
center  of  vast  future  industries.  As  one  of  the  first 
trustees  of  the  town  he  then  and  ever  after  bent 
himself  with  tireless  energy  to  the  encouragement, 
and  personal  assistance,  of  whatever  could  aid  sub- 
stantial growth.  Hardly  a  business,  of  large  pro- 
portions, exists  in  the  city  to-day,  which,  either  in 
its  conception  or  at  some  critical  point  of  its  progress, 
has  not  been  strengthened,  or  tided  over  financial 
shallows,  by  his  timely  aid.  Few,  save  those  who 
are  cognizant  of  the  business  history  of  a  growing 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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''  city,  can  estimate  the  value  to  every  business    in- 

v    terest    of  strong,    resolute    conservative    men    upon 

whom  others  may  lean.     Such   a  man,  in  many  re- 

;?  spects  a  general,  wise  to  counsel  and   strong  to  lead, 

Mr.  Atkinson  has  been. 

Up  to  about  185  t,  the  only  passenger  transit  from 
Chicago  to  Rock  Island  was  by  stage  to  Albany,  111  , 
and  down  the  river  road  to  Rock  Island,  or  otherwise 
by  canal  to  La  Salle,   and  steamboat  to  St.    Louis, 
and  thence  up  the  Mississippi  to  Rock  Island.     Mr. 
Atkinson,  discerning  the  imperative  need  of  a  direct 
4  stage  route  between  Rock  Island  and  La  Salle,  ap- 
;  plied    for  the    establishment   of  such     a    route    to 
^  Messrs.  Frink  &  Walker,  of  Chicago,  the  great  stage 
proprietors  of  the  Northwest.     Upon  their  refusal,  he 
went  direct  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and   made  a  similar 
proposition  to  the  Ohio  Stage  Company,  who  at  once 
assented  and  entered  upon  the  preliminary  arrange- 
ments.    Messrs.  Frink  &  Walker,  learning  of  the  de- 
cision, anticipated  its  execution  by   themselves   put- 
,  ting  on  a  daily  stage  from  La  Salle  to   Rock   Island, 
f?S  which  was  continued  until  the  completion  of  the  Chi- 
a  cago  &  Rock  Island  Railroad.     Prior  to  the  organiza- 
;,  tion  of  the  last  named  company,  Mr.  Atkinson,  with 
s  others,  had  been  actively  engaged  in  the  project  of  a 
railroad  from  La  Salle  to  Rock  Island,  and  for  such 
a  road  a  charter  had  been  secured.     Consultation  as 
to  this  enterprise  with  Messrs.  Sheffield  &  Farnham, 
of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  who  were  then   building   the 
Michigan  Southern  road  into  Chicago,  developed  the 
thought  of  a  railroad  from  Chicago  to   Rock  Island, 
instead  of  from  La  Salle  to  Rock  Island,  which   cul- 
minated in   an  examination   of  the    route    by    these 
gentlemen.     The  result  was  so  satisfactory  that  they 
made  a  definite  proposition,   to   build  and   equip  the 
entire  road  from  Chicago  to   Rock   Island,   provided 
the  proper  amendment  could  be  obtained  to  the  ex- 
isting charter,  and  a  local  subscription  of  $600,000 
be  secured  to  the  stock    on    the    through  line.     Mr. 
Atkinson  was  an  indefatigable  worker  in  securing  the 
fulfillment  of  these  conditions,  and  so  in  the  acqui- 
sition to  this  region  of  one  of  these  grandest  of  mod- 
1  ern  civilizing  and  developing  agencies,  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad.     And  here  may  be 
*  noted  one  of  these  items  of  history  on   which   hung 
the  whole  future  of  Moline,  elected   at  the  outset  a 
Director  of  the   road,  it    was   by    his   sagacious    and 
timely  action  at  the  very  nick   of  opportunity,  that  a 
policy  was  averted,  whose  aim  was  to  bring  the  road 


V 


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into  Rock  Island  by  way  of  the  Rock  River  valley, 
thus  leaving  Moline  completely  out  in  the  cold.  But 
they  who  plotted  so  deliberate  a  thrust  at  Moline's 
prosperity  did  not  count  on  the  keen  alacrity  with 
which  the  man,  to  whom  Moline's  prosperity  was 
dear,  would  signally  foil  the  attempt. 

So,  again,  when  in  1861  the  Committee  of  the  Tri- 
Cities,  of  which  he  was  an  active  and  enthusiastic 
member,  visited  Washington  to  urge  the  locating  of  a 
general  arsenal  on  Rock  Island,  they  were  met  with 
spirited  opposition,  not  only  from  the  regions  already 
equipped  and  coveting  enlargement,  but  from  able 
statesmen  like  Zachariah  Chandler,  Timothy  Howe, 
OH.  Browning,  and  others,  who  persistently  urged 
the  claims  of  other  points.  When  some  of  the  Com- 
mittee were  discouraged  and  seemed  ready  to  give 
up  the  effort,  the  difficulties  only  served  to  strengthen 
Mr.  Atkinson's  faith  and  persistence.  He  proposed 
the  immediate  and  careful  preparation  of  a  map, 
which  should  show  at  a  glance  and  prove  beyond 
dispute  to  every  Congressman  the  immensely  supe- 
rior advantages  of  Rock  Island  over  every  other 
locality  suggested  for  a  national  arsenal.  Nerved  by 
his  courage,  the  plan  was  adopted,  the  map  was  com- 
pleted, and  with  a  memorial  laid  on  the  desk  of  each 
Member  of  Congress.  The  result  was  a  final  decision 
for  Rock  Island,  and  the  appropriation  of  $100,000 
on  July  1  r,  1S62. 

From  the  organization  of  the  Moline  Water-Power 
Company  Mr.  Atkinson  has  been  its  President  and 
manager.  He  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  perfecting 
the  contract  by  which,  in  1867,  the  Government 
agreed,  by  virtue  of  the  company's  cession  of  its 
water-power  interest,  to  develop  and  maintain  the 
power  at  its  own  cost,  and  give  the  company  the  use 
in  perpetuity  of  one-fourth  of  the  whole,  free  from 
rent,  repairs  and  expense  of  every  kind.  As  is  well 
known,  the  agreement  between  the  Water-Power 
Company  and  the  United  States  was  made  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  high  Government  officials  and 
sanctioned  by  Congress.  Yet  the  Government  has 
utterly  failed  to  carry  out  its  agreement,  and,  in  con- 
sequence, the  value  of  the  water  power  to  the  manu- 
facturing interests  of  Moline  has  not  been  realized. 

It  is  difficult  to  believe  that  the  Government  of 
this  great  country  will  continue  to  ignore  its  solemn 
obligations  and  withhold  the  justice  so  clearly  due 
to  its  loyal  citizens.  When  such  justice  is  done  and 
the  work   is   completed,  Moline  will   possess,    as   a 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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monument  to  the  sagacity  and  unremitting  toil  of 
Mr.  Atkinson,  one  of  the  first  water  powers  in  the 
world. 

It  is  thus  seen  that,  measured  by  length  of  service 
and  magnitude  of  advantages  secured  to  the  city  of 
his  founding,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  stands  pre- 
eminent. The  best  thought  and  effort  of  his  life  are 
wrought  into  Moline's  prosperity.  He  stands  to-day, 
in  his  old  age,  when  clothed  with  the  honor  of 
wealth  and  hosts  of  friends  his  life-work  has  won, 
just  where  he  stood  fifty  years  ago,  when  a  poor 
young  man  beset  with  difficulties,  for  the  best  ele- 
ments of  Christian  progress,  for  education,  for  tem- 
perance, for  absolute  justice,  for  the  dignity  of 
manual  labor,  for  the  Bible,  the  Church,  and  the 
widest  spread  of  the  Gospel.  Such  lives  are  well 
worth  a  study. 

Though  his  early  education  was  meagre,  yet  he 
has  achieved  for  himself,  by  conflict  with  obstacles 
and  continuous  interest  in  every  great  question  of 
the  age  an  education  which  the  profoundest  student 
might  covet,  and  which  the  thoughtful  lines  of  his 
face,  and  the  simple  dignity  of  his  bearing  at  once 
reveal.  As  one  of  the  first  Trustees  of  Iowa  College, 
and  by  assistance  at  many  points,  he  has  shown  his 
deep  appreciation  for  the  best  educational  facilities. 
The  strong  qualities  which  have  made  him  so  useful 
in  one  locality  would  have  ensured  his  eminence 
anywhere.  Though  never  a  seeker  for  political 
honors,  he  has  exerted,  by  his  wide  acquaintance 
with  the  leaders  of  political  and  business  life,  an 
influence  exceeding  that  of  many  whose  names  are 
familiar  in  public  affairs.  Thoroughly  in  sympathy 
with  the  sentiments  which  gave  the  Republican 
party  being,  he  has  been  its  devoted  supporter 
since.  Mr.  Atkinson's  early  vigor  of  mind  and  body 
are  remarkably  preserved,  so  that,  at  the  age  of  77, 
there  is  no  harder  worker  in  the  community.  Keen 
and  clear-headed,  always  busy,  always  careful  and 
conservative  in  financial  matters,  moving  slowly  but 
surely  in  every  transaction,  lie  has  few  superiors  in 
the  steady  progress  which  invariably  reaches  the 
objective  point. 

On  Jan.  4,  1880,  the  golden  wedding  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Atkinson  was  celebrated,  at  which  two  were 
present — Mrs.  S.  B.  Head,  sister  to  Mrs.  Atkinson, 
and  Miss  Mary  Bergin,  of  Concord,  N.  H. — who  con- 
gratulated them  on  their  marriage  fifty  years  before. 


Mr.  Atkinson  will  leave  no  children  to  inherit  his 
success  ;  but  the  story  of  his  achievements,  through 
many  reverses  and  great  obstacles,  must  inspire  all 
young  men  who  read  it  with  a  truer  estimate  of  the 
value  and  sure  rewards  of  character. 

Perhaps  the  portrait  of  no  man  in  Rock  Island 
County  will  be  looked  upon  with  greater  interest 
than  that  of  Mr.  Atkinson.  From  its  earliest  his- 
tory he  has  been  so  intimately  identified  with  it  as 
to  be  justly  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  fathers  of  the 
county.  We  also  present  a  full-page  view  of  his 
splendid  residence. 


2i   A.  Searl,  one  of  the  energetic  and  prosper- 

Jlj?  ous  farmers  of  Zuma  Township,  this  coun- 

1    ty.  residing  on  sections  9  and  16,  was  born 


in  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  March  3,  1834.  His 
parents  were  Ambrose  and  Hannah  (Searles) 
Searl,  natives  of  Ohio,  who  moved  to  Illi- 
nois,from  Michigan,  and  settled  on  Rock  River, 
Zuma  Township,  in  1838,  and  who  are  still  living  in 
this  county. 

Mr.  Searl,  subject  of  this  notice,  remained  with  his 
parents,  assisting  in  the  labor  on  the  farm  and  at- 
tending the  common  schools  of  his  native  county, 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  21  years.  He  then 
worked  his  father's  farm,  and  has  continued  to  culti- 
vate the  same  until  the  present  time,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  five  years.  In  1866  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  224  acres,  and  afterward  sold  100  acres  of 
the  same,  and  has  since  purchased  80  acres.  In 
1883,  he  purchased  the  old  homestead  of  100  acres, 
and  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  358  acres  of  land, 
also  a  good  residence,  barn  and  outbuildings, and  has 
his  farm  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  identified  with  the  Greenback  party.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years, 
Constable  ten  years,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and 
trustworthy  citizens  of  Zuma  Township. 

Mr.  Searl  was  united  in  marriage,  Feb.  1,  1854,  to 
Miss  Isabelle  Bryan.  She  is  a  native  of  Moline, 
111.,  where  she  was  born  in  1836.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children, — Ambrose,  Jr.,  born 
Jan.  20,  1858,  and   John,  born  Feb.  3,  i860.     Am- 


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brose  married  Estella  Wake,  and  they  have  one 
child, — Alvia.  John  married  Harriet  E.  Deviney. 
Mr.  Searl  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
was  made  a  Mason  in  1868,  and  is  connected  with 
Philo  Lodge,  No   436,  at  Port  Byron,  111. 


<s 


■  ohn 


A.  P.    Berg,    mason,   contractor  and 
builder,  now  engaged  in   the  construction 
'**  of  the  new  building  of  the  Augustana  Col- 
lege of  Rock  Island  and  the  new    Postoffice 
Block  at  Moline.     The  subject  of  our  sketch 

T  was  born  in  Sweden,  Feb.  13,  1839,  and  is  the 
son  of  Peter  Nelson  Berg.  His  ancestors  on  both 
sides  were  soldiers  in  the  Swedish  Army  during  the 
reign  of  Charles  XII  and  afterwards.  He  learned 
the  mason's  trade  in  his  native  country  and  was  mar- 
ried March  26,  1864,  to  Miss  Johanna  Fredrica, 
daughter  of  Jonas  Johnson.  Mrs.  Berg  is  also  a  na- 
i  tive  of  Sweden.  They  have  become  the  parents  of 
one  child,  born  in  Sweden,  named  Antonia  Augusta 
born  Sept.  n,  1865. 

Mr.  Berg  emigrated  from  Sweden  to  America,  with 
his  family,  in  the  spring  of  186S,  arriving  in  the 
United  States  June  1st  of  that  year.  He  came  di- 
rectly to  Rockford,  111.,  where  he  resided  about  two 
years,  at  which  place  he  had  a  son  born  to  him, 
Aug.  9,  1868,  named  Anton  Theodore.  In  April, 
1870,  he  removed  to  Moline  and  was  employed  two 
years  on  the  Government  works,  constructing  the 
Arsenal  buildings  on  Rock  Island. 

The  younger  portion  of  Mr.  Berg's  family  were  all 
born  at  Moline,  namely:  Oscar  Gottfried,  Dec.  1 
1870,  died  Dec.  12,  1871;  Hannah  Eugenia,  Dec.  17, 
1872,  died  Jan.  13,  1880;  Henning  Wilhelm,  May 
25,  1875;  Carl  August,  Aug.  15,  1878;  John  Fred- 
erick A.,  Nov.  4,  1880;  Gustaf  A.  R.,  Nov.  25,  1883. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berg  have  a  family  of  six  children 
living. 

Mr.  Berg  has  been  identified  with  the  construction 
of  several  prominent  public  buildings  and  business 
blocks  in  the  city  of  Moline.  He  was  associat- 
ed with  Mr.  Peter  Colseth  in  the  building  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church,  of  Moline,  the  largest  and 
most    imposing    religious    edifice    in    Rock    Island 


County.  He  had  the  sole  contract  for,  and  built,  the 
Swedish  Baptist  church  of  Moline.  He  superin- 
petend  the  mason  work  in  the  original  Augustana 
College  buildings  at  Rock  Island,  and  has  charge  of 
the  mason  work  of  the  extensive  new  College  build- 
ings now  in  course  of  erection.  He  built  the  Metro- 
politan Block  on  Third  Avenue,  Moline,  and  is  now 
in  charge  of  the  mason  work  of  the  new  Postoffice 
Block,  being  erected  at  the  corner  of  1 6th  Street  and 
Third  Avenue.  Mr.  Berg  is  an  enterprising  con- 
tractor  and  builder,  and  always  has  his  hands  full  of 
business.  He  usually  employs  from  25  to  30  men, 
and  at  times  as  high  as  60.  He  began  in  life  a  poor 
man,  but  has  by  enterprise  and  hard  work  secured  a 
valuable  property. 

Mr.  Berg  and  family  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  Deacon 
twelve  years.  In  political  sentiment  lie  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Berg  very  appropriately  appears 
in  connection  with  the  above  biographical  sketch. 


-vw* — 5- 


V© 


£ugh  Gilchrist  came  to  Rock  Island  County 
in  1S73,  and  settled  in  Rapids  City.  He 
was  born  in  Dumfrieshire,  Scotland,  April 
2,  1831.  Prior  to  the  age  of  15  years,  Mr.  Gil- 
christ spent  two  years  at'  school  in  his  native 
country.  On  arriving  at  that  age  he  engaged 
to  work  in  the  lead  mines  and  followed  the  vocation 
of  mining  until  1872.  During  that  year,  Mr.  Gil- 
christ realizing  that  the  New  World  offered  advan- 
tages for  the  accumulation  of  a  competency  far  in 
advance  of  his  "  Bonny  Scotland,"  and  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  locating  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  remained  for  one  year.  Concluding  that  the  West 
offered  additional  facilities  for  the  accumulation  of 
property,  he  concluded  to  come  to  this  county,  and 
on  his  arrival  here  leased  100  acres  of  coal  land  for 
a  period  of  15  years.  He  at  once  began  mining  for 
coal,  sunk  a  shaft  on  the  land  he  had  leased,  and 
continued  in  the  business  until  the  year  1884.  To 
facilitate  the  delivery  of  coal  to  the  river,  he  built  a 
railroad  to  the  same,  and  for  the  transportation  of 
his  coal  to  market  constructed  barges  and  also  built 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


'0  a  steamboat,  but  in  1884  sold  half  of  the  latter.  Mr. 
Gilchrist  is  the  owner  of  a  brick  store,  occupied  by 
Taylor  Williams,  and  the  house  next  to  it.  He  has 
a  farm  in   Mercer  County,  this  State,  consisting  of 


250  acres,  all  underlaid  with  coal,  and  is  constructing 
J  a  railroad  two  and  a  half  miles  in  length,  extending 
to  the  track  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  for 
the  purpose  of  getting  out  his  coal,  and  has  also  sunk 
a  shaft  100  feet  deep  on  his  land.  Mr.  Gilchrist 
gives  employment  to  some  300  men,  and  in  addition 
to  his  possessions  named,  he  has  some  400  acres  of 
5  coal  land  in  Jasper  Co.,  Iowa,  which  he  is  working, 
I  and  also  a  railroad  track  of  three  miles  in  length, 
connecting  with  the  Rock  Island  Road.  He  is  also 
interested  in  coal  mines  in  Watcher  (Crescent  Mines) 
and  a  one-third  interest  in  a  saw-mill  in  Camden, 
Ark. 

Mr.  Gilchrist  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Weir  in  1856,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  they  have 
two  children, — John,  born  Sept.  28,  1857,  and  Jane, 
born  June  10,  1859.  John  married  an  accomplished 
young  lady,  Miss  Caroline  Shuler,  and  they  have 
three  children, — Hugh  M.,  Mary  and  John.  Jane 
married  Charles  Shuler,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren,— Hugh,  Anna  and  Elspeth.  Mrs.  Gilchrist 
died  in  1866,  mourned  by  a  host  of  relatives  and 
friends,  as  a  kind  mother,  loving  wife  and  respected 
citizen. 

Politically,  Mr.  Gilchrist  is  a  Republican,  and  so- 
cially, is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry  and 
the  United  Workmen.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial 
business  men  of  Rock  Island  County,  and  his  accu- 
mulations are  due  to  his  good  judgment,  energetic  ef- 
fort and  straightforward,  manly  dealings  with  his 
fellow-man. 


*"# 


N*. 


eorge    W.   Weaver,  an   energetic    farmer, 
residing     on     section     2,    South    Moline 
"K    Township,  is  a  son  of  George  and  Cissley 
(Schooley)  Weaver.     Mr.  Weaver  was  born  in 
South  Moline   Township,   July  5,  1854.     He 
received  a  good  common-school  education  in 
the   schools    of   his   native  county  and    has    resided 
there  all  his  life,  engaged  almost  exclusively  in  agri- 


cultural pursuits.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  120  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  resides,  and  is  actively  engaged 
in  its  improvement  and  cultivation.  Mr.  Weaver 
formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Oct.  25,  1877,  in 
South  Moline  Township,  with  Miss  Mary  C,  daugh- 
ter of  Hans  and  Hannah  Nave,  natives  of  the  "  Fa- 
derland.  "  Mrs.  Weaver  was  born  in  Moline  Town- 
ship, Nov.  3,  1858.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children, — Maggie  E.,  born  June  29,1879;  Harry 
W.,  born  April  21,  1881  ;  Frank  F.,  born  March  2, 
1883;  and  Vida  A.,  born  March  22,  1885. 

Politically,  Mr.  Weaver  is  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  Democratic  party. 


■«£(2rf&f€r* 


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ohn  E.  Wray,  Supervisor  of  Drury  Town- 
ship and  a  resident  on  section  2 1  of  the 
same  township,  where  he  follows  the 
vocation  of  a  farmer,  is  a  son  of  Elliott  and 
Elizabeth  (Amos)  Wray,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia.  They  were  united  in  marriage  and 
settled  in  Ohio,  where  they  both  died.  Their  family 
comprised  eight  children,  namely:  Susan,  Jemima, 
Amos,  Harvey,  Martin,  Martha,  John  and  Sarah. 

John  E.  Wray,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Gallia  County,  Ohio,  July  20,  1833.  His 
school  privileges  were  limited  on  account  of  the  thin 
settlement  of  the  county  and  the  requirements  that 
made  it  necessary  to  labor  on  the  farm,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  early  demise  of  his  parents.  They 
died  when  he  was  quite  young  and  he  lived  with  dif- 
ferent people,  and  when  ten  years  old  he  went  to 
Iowa  and  hired  out  to  work  on  a  farm  for  $4  per 
month  and  board.  He  continued  to  work  in  Iowa 
until  1849,  when  he  came  to  Rock  Island  Coun- 
ty and  worked  out  by  the  month  for  eight  years. 
At  this  time  he  had  economized  sufficient  to  enable 
him  to  purchase  40  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  is 
to-day  residing.  His  habits  of  economy,  persever- 
ance and  pluck,  together  with  his  good  judgment, 
never  forsook  him  and  he  was  enabled  subsequently 
to  add  to  his  original  purchase  until  he  is  at  present 
the  proprietor  of  460  acres  of  land  in  Drury  Town- 
ship, the  accumulation  of  which  is  due  to  his  own  in- 


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domitable  energy,  together  with  the  assistance  of  his 
good  help -meet. 

Mr.  Wray  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  first  in 
Muscatine,  Iowa,  April  7,  1859,  with  Frances  Mc- 
Laughlin, a  native  of  England.  She  died  May  29, 
1880,  in  Drury  Township,  and  he  was  again  married 
in  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  Dec.  12,  1883,  to  Helen 
Blackman,  daughter  of  Darius  and  Charlotte  (Smith) 
Blackman,  natives  of  Vermont.  Their  family  com- 
prised six  children,  namely:  Frederick  E.,  Burt, 
Gertrude  E.,  Emma,  Holen  and  Katie.  Mrs.  Wray 
was  born  in  Michigan,  Nov.  6,  1852,  and  has  borne 
to  her  husband  one  child,  John,  born  in  Drury  Town- 
ship, May  25,  1884.  Mr.  W.  has  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor  for  five  years,  Highway  Commissioner  for 
six  years,  Collector  14  years  and  other  minor  offices. 
Religiously,  Mrs.  \V.  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Wray  is  a  believer  in 
and  a  supporter  of  the  principles  advocated  by  the 
Republican  party.  Mrs.  Wray  held  a  commission 
as  Postmistress  for  one  year. 


ImIPsIj: 


ames  B.  McDonald,  farmer,  section  29, 
Rural  Township,  is  a  son  of  Jesse  and 
Mary  (Butler)  McDonald,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Kentucky.  In  his  father's  family  were 
four  children,  as  follows :  John,  David,  James 
B.  and  Jesse.  Mr.  McDonald  was  born  March 
5,  1822,  in  Kentucky,  and  when  very  young  his 
parents  moved  with  him  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  and 
12  years  afterward  to  Tippecanoe,  Ind.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  arrived  at  the  age 
of  26  years,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and 
receiving  a  common-school  education.  At  the  age 
mentioned  he  married,  and  came  to  Mercer  Co.,  111., 
where  he  rented  land  for  two  years,  and  then  came 
to  this  county,  and  purchased  137  acres.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  525  acres  in  this  county,  besides  160 
in  Henry  County.  He  is  a  judicious  and  prosperous 
farmer  and  an  estimable  citizen. 

Feb.  15,  1848,  in  Tippecanoe,  Ind.,  he  married 
Jane  Spivey,  who  was  a  native  of  that  State.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McDonald  have  five  children,  named  Jas- 


per, N.",  Francis  M.,  Lawrence  M.,  Ettie  and  Sher- 
man. 

Mr.  McDonald  has  held  the  offices  of  School 
Trustee,  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Director. 
In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

_i3 ^g|5~ a- 


;"vpf  $£"  acob  M.  Wilson,  farmer,  residing  on  section 


Tlr 

§al£  8,  Rural  Township,  is  a  son  ot  William  and 
<igi>'"1  Rachel  (Mills)  Wilson,  natives  of  Penn- 
J»  sylvania.  They  lived  in  Pennsylvania,  Ken- 
it     tucky,  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  in  1852  emigrated 

I  to  Rock  Island  County,  and  settled  in  Rural 
Township,  where  they  resided  until  their  deaths. 
The  family  comprised  12  children,  of  whom  Jacob 
M.  was  second  in  order  of  birth. 

He  was  born  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  4, 
i8t3,  and  resided  there  until  six  months  old,  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Green  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  lived 
until  1850.  His  early  years  were  spent  mostly  on  the 
farm,  and  in  obtaining  an  education  at  the  common 
schools;  but  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  learning 
the  trade  of  carpenter. 

Mr.  Wilson  first  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  27,  1838,  with  Miss 
Mary  Thompson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  She  bore  him 
seven  children,  viz.:  William  T.,  born  Oct.  8,  1839; 
John  L.,  born  April  2,  1S41  ;  Enoch,  born  July  28, 
1842;  Franklin  W.,  born  July  2,  1844;  Vincent  C, 
born  Feb.  12,  1846  ;  Harmon  S.,  born  May  15,  1848  ; 
Mary  L.,  born  Dec.  8,  1849;  and  Rachel  M.,  born 
Nov.  19,  1855. 

In  the  fall  of  1850  Mr.  Wilson  came  with  his  wife 
and  five  children  to  this  county,  and  settled  in  Rural 
Township.  His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted  of 
180  acres,  on  which  he  located,  and  entered  vigor- 
ously and  energetically  upon  its  improvement  and 
cultivation;  and,  by  economy  and  energetic  effort, 
he  has  been  enabled  to  make  additional  purchases, 
and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  about  575  acres,  all 
being  in  Rural  Township. 

Mrs.  Wilson  died  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec. 
31,  1849,  and  Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  a 
second  time  in  that  county,  Sept.  17,  1850,  to  Miss 
Margaret   Evans.     She  was   born  in  Virginia,  Feb. 


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14,  1815,  and  of  their  union  two  children  have  been 
horn,  Rachel  M.,  and  an  infant,  both  of  whom  died 
in  childhood.  Mr.  Wilson  has  held  the  positions  of 
Road  Commissioner,  School  Director  and  Overseer 
of  Highways.  Politically,  he  votes  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  progress- 
ive farmers  of  Rural  Township,  and  is  a  gentleman 
whose  word  is  accepted  on  all  occasions.  He  has  a 
fine  farm,  in  advanced  state  of  cultivation,  with  good 
residence  and  substantial  outbuildings,  and  is  meet- 
ing with  success  in  his  chosen  vocation.  His  wile  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


fohn  Tindall,  general  fanner  and  stock- 
|f  raiser,  section  11,  Bowling  Township,  was 
born  in  Worcester  Co.,  Md.,  July  21,  1815. 
His  father,  a  New  England  miller,  married 
Margaret  Wiley,  a  Virginia  lady,  of  Scotch 
descent,  who  died  in  Bowling  Township,  a 
number  of  years  ago;  her  husband  died  in  1826 

Mr.  Tindall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  11 
years  of  age  at  the  death  of  his  father,  and  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  conducting  the  farm  for  his  mother 
and  the  rest  of  the  family  devolved  upon  him  until 
he  was  of  age.  He  then  sold  his  interests  there, 
came  West,  resided  in  Rock  Island  city  two  years, 
and  then  purchased  200  acres  of  Government  land 
in  Bowling  Township,  upon  which  he  moved,  and 
commenced  the  improvement  of  the  place.  He  has 
since  made  his  home  here — a  magnificent  one — and 
he  is  now  the  proprietor  of  nearly  1,300  acres  of 
land  in  this  county,  mostly  in  the  townships  of  Black 
Hawk,  Coal  Valley,  Rural  and  Bowling.  Nearly  all 
his  land  is  fenced  in  and  is  in  good  condition  for  the 
raising  of  all  farm  -crops  common  to  this  country. 
He  is  the  most  extensive  land-owner  in  Bowling 
Township.  In  addition  to  general  farming  he  also 
raises  a  large  number  of  domestic  animals. 

Mr.  Tindall  was  united  in  marriage  March  31, 
1836,  in  Worcester  Co.,  Md.,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Cropper,  who  was  born  in  that  county  in  1816.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  a  sea  captain,  and  was  brought 
up  and  educated  in  her  native  State.  Of  the  nine 
children  bom  to  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Tindall,  six  are  living, 


namely:  Harriet  Brasier,  residing  in  Bowling  Town- 
ship; Edward,  Frank,  Samuel,  Joseph  and  Wynn. 
Mrs.  Tindall  died  at  her  home  Dec.  4,  1876.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
with  which  body  Mr.  Tindall  was  once  connected. 
He  has  never  sought  any  public  office,  but  has 
always  been  regarded  as  a  worthy  and  intelligent 
citizen.  In  his  political  views,  he  sympathizes  with 
the  Republican  party. 


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/■I'fffmr.  Calvin  Truesdale,  a  resident  of  Rock 

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and  City,  to  which  place  he  came  in 
1854,  is  a  native  of  northern  Ohio,  in 
jr)«*  which  country  he  was  born  Oct.  2,  1822.  He 
■fe  spent  his  younger  days  under  the  parental  roof- 
f  tree  and  attending  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  country,  and  when  17  years  of  age  finished  an 
academical  course  of  study.  At  the  age  of  18  years 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  attending  the 
the  Western  Reserve  Medical  College  three  terms, 
and  pursuing  the  entire  curriculum  of  that  institution 
and  graduating  with  honors. 

After  graduating,  Dr.  Truesdale  went  to  Poland, 
Mahoning  Co.,  his  native  State,  where  he  first  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1854, 
concluding  that  there  was  a  wider  field  for  operation 
in  the  West,  and  also  a  better  chance  to  replenish  an 
exchequer  that  had  been  considerably  diminished  by 
the  prosecution  of  his  studies,  and  the  limited  prac- 
tice of  a  young  physician  in  the  East,  he  came  to 
Rock  Island,  and  has  since  been  in  active  practice 
in  this  place,  covering  a  period  of  some  31  years. 
He  is  the  local  surgeon  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad,  and  is  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  those  who  know  him,  not  only  for  his 
ability  as  a  medical  practitioner  and  surgeon,  but  al- 
so for  the  interest  he  takes  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  and  in  which  he  has 
been  such  an  important  factor.  He  has  built  up 
quite  an  extensive  practice,  and  is  regarded  as  a 
physician  who  leaves  nothing  undone  to  allay  the 
sufferings  of  his  patients  and  restore  them  to  original 
strength  and  vigor. 


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ets  of  the  Republican  party,  and  socially,  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  Order. 

Dr.  Truesdale  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Charlotte  M.  Haynes,  a  native  of  the  Green 
I  Mountain  Stale,  June  i,  1851.  She  was  born  in  May, 
1826.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  them,  name- 
ly :  William  H.,  November,  1851  ;  Charles  C,  June, 
1858;  Henry  C,  Feb.,  i860;  and  Mary  S.,  Sept., 
1853.  William  H.  married  Anna  Topping  in  1878, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Marie  Truesdale.  Mary 
S.   married  Jos.  Gaskill-  in  1883. 

Religiously,  Dr.  Truesdale  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  wnich  denomination  Mrs. 
Truesdale  also  attends.  Mr.  T.  is  a  member  of  the 
Rock  Island  Medical  Society,  the  Illinois  State  Med- 
ical Society,  and  the  American  Medical  Association. 


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j  ev.  T.  N.  Hasselquist,  D.  D.,  Professor  of 
|."  Theology  and  President  of  Augustana  Col- 
JT^RK5,  lege  and  Theological  Seminary,  Rock  Isl- 
and, was  born  in  the  parish  of  Ousby,  in  the 
southern  part  of  Sweden,  March  2,  181 6.  He 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Lund  in  1835, 
and  was  ordained  to  the  holy  ministry  by  the  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  of  Lund  in  June,  1839.  He  labored 
as  minister  in"  the  established  Church  of  Sweden 
(the  Lutheran)  for  13  years.  In  1852  Dr.  Hassel- 
quist accepted  the  call  extended  to  him  from  the 
Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Galesburg, 
Knox  Co.,  111.,  and  arrived  in  October  of  the  same 
year.  With  great  zeal  and  self-denial  he  entered 
upon  his  new  field  of  labor.  While  serving  the  con- 
gregation of  Galesburg  he  also  organized  congrega- 
tions at  Knoxville,  Wataga,  Altona  and  at  many 
other  places  in  Knox,  Henry  and  Bureau  Counties. 
When  the  Scandinavian  Evangelical  Lutheran  Au- 
gustana Synod  was  organized  in  i860,  Dr.  Hassel- 
quist was  chosen  its  first  President,  which  position 
he  held  for  ten  years,  until  1S70,  when  he  made  a 
visit  to  his  native  country,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Jonas  Swensson,  of  Andover,  111. 

In  1863  Dr.  Hasselquist  was  called  to  fill  the  im- 
portant position  of  Professor  at  Augustana  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  of  Paxton,  Ford  Co.,  111.     He  was  the 


only  professor  of  the  institution,  and  the  enrollment 
of  students  the  first  year  was  only  12.  Under  his 
wise  management  and  by  his  incessant  labors  the 
institution  has  witnessed  an  extraordinary  growth, 
and  now  ranks  among  the  best  institutions  of  learn- 
ing in  the  West.  (See  history  of  Augustana  College 
and  Theological  Seminary,  page  760.) 

The  venerable  Doctor  still  holds  his  position  as 
Theological  Professor  and  President  of  the  institu- 
tion. 

Besides  his  many  and  important  duties  as  Pastor, 
Professor  and  President,  he  has  also,  since  1855, 
been  constantly  engaged  in  editorial  work.  In  that 
year  he  started  the  Gamla  och  Nya  Hemlandet  (Old 
and  New  Homeland),  the  first  Swedish  political  pa- 
per in  the  West,  which  is  now  published  in  Chi- 
cago and  is  still  prosperous.  In  1856  he  began 
publishing  the  Retta  Hemlandet  (True  Homeland), 
a  Swedish  religious  paper.  The  name  of  this  has 
since  been  changed  to  Augustana  och  Missionaren, 
of  which  he  is  still  editor-in-chief. 

Dr.  Hasselquist  has  at  all  times  taken  a  deep  in- 
terest in  educating  and  elevating  his  countrymen  in 
America  and  will  be  gratefully  remembered  by  com- 
ing generations  of  Swedes  and  Americans. 

As  the  most  distinguished  gentleman  of  his  na- 
tionality in  America,  the  publishers  of  this  Album 
take  great  pleasure  in  presenting  the  portrait  of  Mr. 
Hasselquist  in  connection  with  this  very  brief  outline 
of  his  life. 


oseph  F.  Tindall,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  28,  Rural  Township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Cropper)  Tindall,  na- 
tives of  Maryland.  The  parents  came  to  Rock 
Island  County  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in 
the  township  of  Bowling,  where  the  mother  died. 
The  father  still  survives.  (See  sketch  of  John  Tin- 
dall.) 

Joseph  F.  Tindall  was  born  in  Bowling  Township, 
this  county,  Feb.  2r,  1845.  With  the  exception  of 
one  year  spent  in  Kansas  he  has  lived  in  this  county 
until  the  present  time.     He  is  the  proprietor  of  280 


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acres  of  land  in  Rural  Township,  one-half  of  which 
is  under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  His  mar- 
riage took  place  in  Milan,  March  31,  1S73,  at  which 
time  Miss  Rebecca  Bridgford,  daughter  of  John 
Bridgford,  became  his  wife,  and  of  their  union  rive 
children  have  been  born.  In  politics,  Mr.  Tindall 
votes  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  Overseer  of  Highways  and  is  one  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  his  vocation  in  Rural  Town- 
ship. 


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'rt|i  ill  Gray,  editor  of  the  Record,  published  at 
OS™,\!r  Milan,  was  born  at  La  Salle,  this  State,  in 
1863.  In  1870  he  moved  to  Rock  Island 
with  his  parents  and  at  the  age  of  15  years 
•A\1S'  entered  the  newspaper  fraternity  by  publish- 
ing an  amateur  paper,  which  was  called  the 
Friend.  This  paper  was  published  successfully  for 
a  year  and  a  half  and  was  then  merged  into  a 
professional  paper,  which  was  called  the  People's 
Friend.  The  People's  Friend  w as  published  until 
June,  1885,  when  it  was  merged  into  the  Record, 
now  being  published  at  Milan.  The  paper  is  a  spicy 
one,  and  its  editor,  having  had  a  life  experience  in 
the  newspaper  business,  will  undoubtedly  make  it  the 
peer  of  any  in  Rock  Island  County.  Its  subscrip- 
tion price  is  only  $1  per  year  and  advertising  rates 
reasonable,  and  we  speak  for  the  Record  a  good 
word  and  for  its  smiling  and  genial  editor  many. 


=$<s*HSiH®><^ 


,    ■)""(?; fl J.'  rederick  Wendel,  engaged  in   the   furni- 
-■"  yJs'H    ture  and  undertakers,  business  at  Hamp- 

r!C"n  ton,  came  to  that  village  from  St.  Louis, 
in  1850.  He  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
June  19,  1824,  and  emigrated  from  that  coun- 
try to  the  United  States  in  1848.  Mr.  Wendel 
attended  school  in  his  native  country  until  15  years 
of  age ;  then  learned  the  cabinet  trade,  at  which  he 
served  three  years;  then  traveled  over  Germany  and 
France  and  worked  at  his  trade.     On  coming  to  this 


country  he  landed  at  New  Oileans,  where  he  re- 
mained for  six  months  working  at  his  trade,  receiving 
therefor  $3  per  day.  He  then  came  to  Galena,  this 
State,  and  worked  during  the  summer  at  the  furniture 
business,  receiving  the  same  amount  per  diem.  After 
this  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  through 
the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  1850  came  to  Hamp- 
ton, this  county,  and  engaged  in  the  furniture  busi- 
ness for  himself.  He  has  followed  the  same  since 
that  time  and  keeps  a  full  line  of  all  kinds  of  furni- 
ture and  coffins  on  hand.  Mr.  Wendel  is  the  oldest 
living  German  settler  at  that  place. 

He  was  married  in  1853  to  Miss  Louisa  Weaver,  a 
native  of  Rock  Island.  In  politics,  Mr.  Wendel 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  and  his  wife 
belong  to  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  their  residence 
is  on  Water  Street.  The  business  house  of  Mr. 
Wendel  is  located  on  Oak  Street.  For  nine  years 
Mr.  W.  was  School  Trustee  and  for  one  year  acted 
in  the  capacity  of  Alderman.  He  is  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative business  men  of  Hampton  Village,  and 
his  success  is  due  to  his  fair  and  honest  dealings 
with  his  fellow-man. 


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^FfiEi  eorge  Weaver,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
HyflJfc  tion  2,  South  Moline  Township,  is  a  son 
K  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  Weaver,  natives  of 
Germain',  whose  family  comprised  six  chil- 
dren ;  of  these  George  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  Mr.  Weaver  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, Dec.  16,  i  S 1 7 .  He  was  n  years  old  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  with  his  father. 
They  lived  in  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  until  1836,  when  they 
came  to  Rock  Island  County,  this  State,  where  the 
father  died.     The  mother  died  in  Germany. 

Geoige  Weaver  has  lived  in  this  country  almost 
continually  since  his  father  came  here,  and  has  de- 
voted his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  the 
owner  of  136  acres  of  land  in  South  Moline  Town- 
ship. 

His  marriage  took  place  in  Rock  Island,  June  15, 
rS43,  at  which  time  Miss  Scisley  Schooley  became 
his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  Feb.  12,  1S23,  and 
has  borne  her  husband  12   children,  eight  of  whom 


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survive,  namely  :  John,  Jacob,  Amos,  Anna,  George 
W ,  Lotta,  Lizzie  and  Maria.  The  deceased  are : 
Catherine,  Ellen,  Louis  F.  and  Francis  Mr.  W.  has 
been  School  Director,  and  in  politics  is  a  believer  in 
the  principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic  party. 


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eneral  Thomas  J.  Rodman  was  born  in 
Salem,  Ind.,  July  30,  1815.  He  was  the 
son  of  James  Rodman,  a  farmer,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Kentucky, 
there  married,  and  afterward  removed  to  Indi- 
ana. His  brother  John  remained  in  Kentucky, 
and  his  descendants  are  now  prominent  in  that 
State. 

General    Rodman    graduated   at    West    Point    in 
1841,    and   was   assigned   to   the  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment,  in   which    he   served    continuously   until    his 
death,    June    7,   187 1,  being  promoted  successively 
from  Brevet  Second  Lieutenant  to  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nel and  Brevet  Brigadier  General.     He  served  in  the 
Mexican  War  as  Ordnance  Officer  at  Camargo  and 
Point  Isabel.     During  the   Rebellion    he  was  Con- 
structor of  Ordnance  and  in  command  at  Watertown 
Arsenal.     He  was    in    command    at    Rock    Island 
Arsenal  from  1866  till  his  death. 

During  his  entire  military  career  of  30  years  he 
devoted  his  earnest  attention  to  the  development 
and  improvement  of  the  manufacture  of  metals,  gun- 
powder and  heavy  ordnance,  and  every  advance 
made  in  this  direction  by  the  United  States  was  the 
direct  result  of  his  elaborate  experiments  and  re- 
searches and  his  wise  deductions  from  them. 

He  is  chiefly  known  to  the  scientific  world  by  the 
inventions  in  his  favorite  field,  and  to  the  world  at 
large  by  the  famous  "Rodman  Gun."  He  began 
this  work  at  the  very  bottom,  by  the  selection  of  the 
iron  ore.  He  improved  and  adapted  the  furnaces 
for  their  proper  reduction,  invented  an  elaborate 
machine  for  testing  the  metal,  and  for  years,  with 
wonderful  patience  and  skill,  made  those  long  series 
of  tests  and  experiments  of  which  even  the  record 
seems  almost  interminable.  He  then,  with 
mathematical  skill,  constructed  the  equation  for  the 
proper  form  of  a  gun.     He  invented  the  method  of 


casting  the  gun  and  the  machinery  for  finishing  it, 
even  to  the  smallest  details.  In  the  same  laborious 
manner  he  designed  the  projectiles,  chose  his  metals, 
tested  and  combined  them,  and  produced  what  was 
best  for  his  purposes. 

Powder  was  also  subjected  to  his  stern  and  patient 
analysis.  The  theory  of  its  power  had  not  been 
thoroughly  understood,  and  it  was  not  adapted  for 
use  in  heavy  guns.  General  Rodman  changed  its 
form  and  size  and  density,  and  molded  the  unruly 
agent  to  his  will.  He  made  his  gun  and  powder 
and  projectile.  No  fort  then  built,  no  armor  then 
afloat  could  withstand  them.  His  country  used 
them  in  stilling  the  turbulence  of  rebellion;  all  na- 
tions modeled  their  ordnance  on  his  ideas  ;  but,  with 
the  philosophic  modesty  of  true  knowledge,  he  said, 
"  I  have  but  contracted  the  limits  of  uncertainty." 

The  last  years  of  his  life  he  devoted  mainly  to  the 
plan  and  development  of  the  Arsenal  of  Rock  Island. 
To  him  it  was  a  vast  factory,  comprehensive,  almost 
boundless  in    its  scope,  on  which    the    Government 
should    some   day  depend    in    time   of  need.      His 
strong  individuality  and  earnest  ability  commanded 
the  respect  of  the  National  Legislature;  and  to  this 
fact  we  largely  owe  the  liberal  appropriations  neces-  ': 
sary  to  place  the  great  arsenal  on  its  proper  footing.  ' 
It  has  been  extremely  fortunate  that  General  Rod-  ' 
man  was  succeeded  in  command  by  so  able  an  officer 
as  Col.  D.  W.  Flagler,  who  has  done  so  much  to  ex- 
tend and  develop  the  plans  of  the  arsenal. 

General  Rodman  married  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
John  Black,  who  preached  for  fifty  years  in  the  same 
church  in  Pittsburg.  Mrs.  Rodman  is  still  living, 
and  also  her  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 


ja  amuel  W.  Heath,  who  is  engaged  in  gener- 
p£  al  farming  and  the  raising  of  live  stock, 
*^  and  residing  on  section  17,  Bowling  Town- 
ship, was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  March 
12,  1S36.  His  father,  Joseph  Heath,  was 
a  native  of  Allegheny  County,  that  State;  was 
married  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  after  a  residence  there 
of  25  years  came  West,  settling  in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa, 
where  he  died  May  22,  1863,  aged  64  years.     His 


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wife,  ««  Sarah  Lake,  was  the  daughter  of  an  Alle- 
gheny Co.  (Pa.)  farmer,  died  in  Rock  Island  Coun- 
ty, township  of  Bowling,  at  the  age  of  67  years,  at 
the  residence  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Mi  - 
Cullough. 

Mr.  Heath,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  educat- 
ed in  his  native  city,  and  resided  at  the  parental 
home  until  he  was  23  years  of  age,  learning  the  trade 
of  blacksmith.  At  the  age  mentioned  he  emigrated 
West,  locating  in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa,  about  five  miles 
from  the  city  of  Davenport.  He  followed  farming 
there  12  years,  purchasing  during  the  time  ten  acres 
of  land.  This  he  sold  for  $2,000  and  came  to  Bow- 
ling Township,  where  he  bought  88  acres,  which  at 
the  time  was  unimproved.  He  has  since  made  this 
his  permanent  residence,  now  being  the  proprietor  of 
2ooacres  altogether,  well  unimproved  and  in  fine  con- 
dition for  all  the  purposes  of  agriculture  and  stock- 
raising.  The  place  is  equipped  with  a  sufficient 
number  of  good  farm  buildings. 

At  McKeesport,  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  17, 
1859,  Mr.  Heath  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  M. 
Cunningham,  who  was  born  in  that  county  Dec.  11, 
1 840.  She  was  the  daughter  of  a  coal  merchant,  and 
was  reared  and  educated  at  that  village.  The  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heath  are  eight  in  number, 
one  of  whom  is  deceased.  The  living  are  Joseph 
A.,  who  married  Ellen  McBurney  and  resides  on  a 
farm  in  West  Bowling;  Elizabeth  F.,  William  H., 
Samuel  O.,  Jessie  V.,  Georgie  and  Sadie  A. 

Mr.  Heath  is  independent  in  his  selection  of  can- 
didates for  public  office ;  has  been  Road  Commission- 
er, School  Director,  etc.,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mrs.  H.  is  also  a 
member  of  the  same  church. 


iapt.    Robert    S.    Montgomery,     a    well 
known  farmer  and   business  man  of  Edsr- 


mgton  Township,  was  born  March  30,  1836, 
in  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in   the  fall  of  the 
same  year  his  parents  brought  him  with  them 
on    their   removal  to    Edgington    Township. 
(See  sketch  of  Daniel  Montgomery.)   His  early  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Ma- 


comb, 111.,  and  his  boyhood  days  when  not  at  school 
were  employed  in  assisting  on  the  farm.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war  he  was  prompt  to  respond 
to  the  call  of  duty,  and  on  the  1st  of  August,  1S61, 
he  enlisted  at  Moline,  111.,  for  three  years,  soon  after 
which  the  command  was  ordered  to  the  front;  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  where  he 
was  taken  prisoner;  soon  after  his  release,  was  dis- 
charged and  mustered  out.  In  March,  1862,  he  again 
enlisted,  and  was  commissioned  Captain  of  Co.  B, 
65  th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  with  his  regiment  was 
first  sent  to  the  Shenandoah  valley:  was  present  at 
the  surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry,  where  he  was 
captured,  was  paroled,  and  then  sent  to  Chicago, 
where  he  was  subsequently  exchanged;  after  which 
he.  with  others,  was  ordered  to  Kentucky,  and  on  the 
formation  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  his  com- 
mand became  a  part  of  the  same;  was  at  the  siege  of 
Knoxville,  Tenn. ;  served  in  the  East  Tennessee  and 
Atlanta  campaigns.  Under  Thomas,  he  took  part 
in  the  ba'.tles  of  Columbus,  Franklin  and  Nash- 
ville, and  after  the  defeat  of  Hood  they  were  trans- 
ported to  North  Carolina.  He  served  through  the 
entire  Atlanta  campaign,  and  took  part  in  the 
captuie  of  Wilmington,  N.  C.  At  the  battle  of 
Atlanta  Captain  Montgomery  received  a  slight  flesh 
wound  in  the  shoulder.  He  was  also  wounded 
at  Columbus,  Tenn.  With  the  exception  of  about 
one  week,  he  commanded  his  company  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  after  which  he  was  honorably  discharged. 
He  returned  home  and  turned  his  attention  actively 
to  business.  Subsequently  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Titterington,  daughter  of  James  Titterington,  of 
Buffalo  Prairie.  They  have  five  daughters  and  three 
sons.  Their  names  in  order  of  birth  are  Alexander 
B.,  born  June  19,  1870  ;  Elizabeth  S.,  Sept.  4,  187  1 ; 
Anna  Bell,  Sept.  26,  1873;  Margaret  J.,  Nov.  4, 
1875;  Elinor  Ruth,  March  14,  1877;  Louisa  Reed, 
Aug.  5,  1879;  Daniel  T.,  Feb.  6.  1881;  James  H., 
Sept.  10,  1882.  Captain  Montgomery  and  his  brother 
Daniel  have  for  many  years  been  engaged  in  part- 
nership in  their  business  transactions.  They  are 
largely  engaged  in  forming,  stock-raising  and  grain- 
buying.  (See  sketch  of  Daniel  Montgomery.)  Views 
of  the  splendidly  equipped  forms  of  these  gentlemen 
are  given  on  the  opposite  page. 

Capt.  Montgomery  is  a  very  enterprising  man,  and 
has  done  his  share  in  adding  to  the  wealth,  develop- 
ment and  prosperity   of  the   township   in  which  he 


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RES. OF    DANIEL     MONTGOMERY.  SEC.  26,  EDG  I  N  GTON  TP. 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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lives.  His  comfortable  and  pleasant  home,  a 
view  of  which  is  shown  on  another  page,  is  on 
section  26  (near  the  Prairie  Union  School-house), 
where  he  dispenses  a  generous  hospitality.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  principles 
as  promulgated  by  the  Republican  party. 


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J^aniel  Montgomery,  a  substantial  and  en- 
pllJe^k'  terprising  farmer  of  Edgingto'n  Township, 
jj^y'^  was  born  at  the  old  Montgomery  Home- 
^W  stead,  Jan.  S,  1840,  and  is  the  third  son  of 
Daniel   and    Margaret   (Simmington)   Mont- 


it 


gomery.  The  father,  Daniel,  was  born  in 
Danville,  Montour  Co.,  Pa.,  July  1,  1794,  and  he 
and  his  wife  were  among  the  early  colonial  settlers  of 
Danviile,  Pa.  They  were  influential  citizens  and 
prominent  manufacturers  of  that  section  of  the  coun- 
try. 

The  older  Daniel  Montgomery  was  liberally  edu- 
cated in  the  private  schools  of  his  native  town. 
After  attaining  the  age  of  manhood,  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  milling  business  and  the  manufacture 
of  cloth.  Two  of  his  brothers  were  ministers  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  one  of  them,  John,  being  an 
early  settler  of  Mercer  County,  this  State.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  ministers  to  preach  the  Presbyterian 
faith  in  Edgington  Township. 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  married  Aug.  10,  1825,  to 
Miss  Christiana  Griffin,  and  the  issue  of  that  union 
was  one  son,  William  Montgomery,  who  resides  in 
this  township.  Mrs.  Montgomery  survived  their 
marriage  only  a  few  years.  Mr.  Montgomery  sub- 
sequently married  Miss  Margaret  Simmington,  their 
wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  17th  of  February, 
1835,  and  the  following  autumn,  1836,  they  removed 
to  Edgington  Township,  where  Mr.  Montgomery  en- 
tered 1,000  acres  of  land  and  engaged  in  farming  on 
quite  an  extensive  scale.  He  was  possessed  of  con- 
siderable means,  and  was  able  to  enter  upon  the  im- 
provement of  his  estate  in  a  much  better  condition 
than  most  of  the  early  residents.  The  fall  of  1842, 
he  had  a  large  flock  of  sheep  driven  from  Ohio 
to   his  place,  which  were  the  first   brought  to   the 


m. 


township.     He  was  one  of  the  largest  stock- raisers 
and  wheat-growers  in  the  county. 

By  the  latter  union  Mr.  Montgomery  has  had 
four  children,  their  names  given  in  order  ot  birth,  as 
follows  :  Robert,  born  March  30,  1836;  John,  April 
10,  1S38,  now  .1  resident  of  Mercer  County;  Daniel, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Jan.  8,  1840,  and  James, 
Jan.  3,  1842,  and  residing  in  Rock  Island,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business.  The  elder 
Montgomery  and  his  wife  are  were  both  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Edgington.  He  was  for 
many  years  an  Elder  in  the  Church.  In  politics  lie 
was  a  Whig,  and  his  death  occurred  May  17,  1849; 
his  widow  still  survives  him,  and  now  at  the  age  of 
76  years,  is  in  fair  health.  Her  home  is  at  Milan, 
though  she  spends  a  portion  of  each  year  with  her 
children.     She  was  born  Aug.  11,  1809. 

1  taniel  Montgomery  received  his  rudimentary  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools,  and  supplemented  the 
same  by  attendance  at  Knox  College,  at  Galesburg, 
this  State,  and  on  leaving  school  he  returned  home, 
and  formed  a  partnership  in  business  with  his  brother 
Robert,  which  still  continues.  They  are  the  largest 
farmers  in  the  township,  and  rank  among  the  largest 
in  the  county.  They  are  extensively  engaged  in 
stock-raising  and  feeding,  and  besides  their  home 
place  they  are  in  the  cattle  business  in  Montana. 
They  are  also  engaged  in  the  grain  business  at  Rey- 
nolds, where  they  have  an  elevator.  The  brothers 
also  own  two  elevators  in  Iowa,  where  they  are 
dealers  and  shippers  of  grain.  They  are  part  owners 
in  the  paper-mill  at  Milan. 

The  home  estate  of  the  brothers  comprises  a  beau- 
tiful tract  of  very  fertile  prairie  land  of  880  acres, 
which  is  well  improved  and  under  a  good  state  of 
cultivation.  They  each  have  a  commodious  resi- 
dence and  outbuildings,  elegant  views  of  which  may 
be  seen  on  another  page,  and  both  home  places  are 
on  section  26,  near  the  Prairie  Union  School-house. 
They  are  men  of  experience  and  ample  capital  and 
have  enlarged  their  operations  into  several  fields  of 
business  enterprise.  As  indicated  in  the  above  sketch, 
their  cattle-feeding  in  past  years  has  been  extensive, 
feeding  sometimes  upwards  of  5C0  head.  They  are 
also  engaged  in  raising  thoroughbred  Norman  horses. 
In  the  spring  of  1864,  Daniel  Montgomery  became, 
like  many  others,  interested  in  the  gold  excitement 
in  Idaho  Territory,  whither  he  went  and  remained  a 
short  time.     He  was  only  fairly   successful  from  a 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


business  point  of  view,  though  his  experience  was 
both  interesting  and  varied.  On  the  3d  of  January, 
1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Parks, 
daughter  of  H.  H.  Parks,  an  old  resident  of  Edging- 
ton  (see  sketch  of  Mr.  Parks).  Mrs.  Montgomery 
was  born  Feb.  1,  1842,  and  has  become  the  mother 
of  eight  children:  Walter  L.,  born  July  7,  1872; 
Mary  \\\,  Aug.  20,  1873;  Ella  P.,  Dec.  4,  1874; 
Sadie  S.,  Dec.  22,  1875;  John  P.,  Aug.  27,  1877,  de- 
ceased; Harriet,  Sept.  18,  1S78,  her  death  being 
caused  by  an  accidental  shot;  Charles  (deceased), 
Jan.  4,  1880;  Martha  A.,  Feb.  3,  1885. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Montgomery  are  both  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Edgington,of  which  he  is 
a  ruling  Elder.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Church  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  the  life  and 
career  of  Mr.  Mongomery  we  have  an  example  of  a 
successful  farmer  and  business  man,  one  who  has 
carved  out  succes  by  the  exertion  of  energy,  tact  and 
good  judgment.  In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party. 


homas  Bowes,  a  general  farmer  on  section 
19,  Bowling  Township,  was  born  in  Pre- 
emption, Mercer  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  5,  1847. 
His  father,  Robert,  Sr.,  was  born  in  County 
Fermanagh,  Ireland,  married  there  Miss  Jane 
Adams,  a  native  of  the  same  country,  and  had 
eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  Ireland  before  the 
emigration  of  the  family  to  this  country  in  1846.  On 
coming  to  the  New  World  they  first  located  in  Gale- 
na, 111.,  and  afterward  removed  to  Pre-emption,  and 
three  years  subsequently  into  Edgington  Township, 
this  county,  and  finally,  in  1849,  into  Bowling  Town- 
ship, where  Mr.  B.  purchased  a  quarter-section  of 
land  on  sections  19  and  30  and  settled  upon  the 
same.  He  is  now  77  years  old  and  is  residing  with 
his  son  Thomas,  his  wife  having  died  in  June,  1875. 
Our  subject,  Mr.  Thomas  Bowes,  was  the  only 
member  of  the  family  who  was  born  in  America,  and 
i^  therefore  the  youngest.  He  remained  at  home 
until  his  marriage,  being  educated  in  Bowling  Town- 
ship and  at  Rock  Island.  He  was  married  in  the 
latter  city  Feb.  11,  1869,  to  Miss  CossaA,  Ball,  who 


was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  10,  1845.  Her 
parents  resided  in  that  State  until  their  deaths,  and 
she  afterward  came  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Taylor 
Ridge,  this  county;  a  short  time  afterward  she  re- 
moved to  Rock  Island,  where  she  learned  the  art  of 
dress-making.  The  only  living  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bowes  is  Thomas  E.,  who  was  born  Feb.  9 
1870.  Two  are  deceased,  namely :  Lenna  W., 
born  June  5,  1S73,  died  March  1,  1874,  before  he 
was  a  year  old;  and  Dottie  A.,  who  was  born  Dec.  12, 
1876,  and  died  March  13,  i88r. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Bowes  located  on  the 
homestead,  where  he  now  owns  80  acres  of  land. 
He  has  erected  a  fine  residence  for  himself,  has  also 
a  good  barn  and  other  farm  buildings.  The  family 
are  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Bowes  held  the  offices  of  Township  Collector, 
etc.,  and  in  his  political  views  sympathizes  with  the 
Republican  party. 


C.  Rasmussen,  who  stands  pre-eminently 
at  the  head  of  professional  photography  in 
Rock  Island,  is  a  native  of  Heide  in  the 
province  of  Holstein,  Germany,  and  was  born 
Aug.  9,  1856.  His  parents  came  to  America 
in  1857,  and  lived  in  New  York  city  up  to  the 
death  of  the  senior  Mr.  Rasmussen,  which  occurred 
in  1865. 

Mrs.  Rasmussen  then  removed  to  Davenport,  Io- 
wa, where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  began,  in  1S67, 
to  learn  the  art  of  photography  in  the  gallery  of 
Polmsted.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he  came  to  Rock 
Island  to  take  a  position  in  Gayford's  gallery,  and 
remained  there  until  December,  1881,  when  he  es- 
tablished a  splendidly  equipped  gallery,  corner  Sec- 
ond Avenue  and  Eighteenth  Street,  and  at  once  put 
into  effect  the  advanced  ideas  of  artistic  effects 
through  the  liberal  use  of  rich  accessories  and  back- 
grounds. Heretofore  the  photographic  business  in 
this  vicinity  had  been  conducted  with  an  eye  solely 
to  financial  results.  Mr.  Rasmussen  on  the  contrary 
aimed  first  for  artistic  results,  believing  that  financial 
success  was  sure  to  follow  of  its  own  accord.  This 
feeling  came  of  a  conviction  that  as  a  community  it 
had  reached  maturity,  and  as  such  could,  in  matters 


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of  art,  distiguisb  between  the  artistic  and  the  common- 
place. That  this  estimation  was  correct  may  be 
judged  from  the  fact  that  in  less  than  a  year  after 
he  had  opened  his  gallery  he  was  acknowledged  the 
leader  in  his  profession  here,  and  at  this  writing  the 
working  force  of  the  gallery  over  which  he  presides 
is  more  than  "twice  that  of  the  total  working  force 
(including  principal),  of  all  the  other  galleries  com- 
bined. In  addition  to  his  Rock  Island  gallery,  Mr. 
Rasmussen  owns  the  leading  photographic  gallery  of 
Davenport,  Iowa,  which  is  located  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  northeast  corner  Second  and  Main  Streets. 

Mr.  Rasmussen  is  very  enthusiastic  regarding  his 
art,  and  does  more  than  his  share  to  advance  the  po- 
sition of  photography.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Pho- 
tographers' Association  of  America,  and  sent  a  very 
elaborate  display  of  his  work  to  the  Association's 
Exhibition,  held  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,in  July,  1SS5.  His 
display  was  not  only  highly  spoken  of  as  illustrating 
his  skill  as  a  positionist  and  his  perfect  control  of 
light  and  shadow,  but  it  called  forth  a  very  pretty 
letter  from  the  manufacturer,  whose  plates  Mr.  Ras- 
mussen uses,  stating  that  the  work  was  of  such  unu- 
sual merit  that  it  proved  to  be  an  excellent  adver- 
tisement for  their  plates,  for  which  they  showed  their 
appreciation  by  sending  him  a  beautiful  gold  medal. 

Mr.  Rasmussen  has  been  married  about  six  years, 
and  has  one  child.  His  mother,  who  has  reached 
the  age  of  67,  is  also  a  member  of  his  family. 


w 


Simeon  P.  Ash,  general   merchant   at   Rey- 
nolds, was  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  March 
|S  11,  1850.      His  father,  William,  was  a  son 

Iv,  °f  John  Ash,  a  native  of  Allegheny  Co  ,  Pa.,  of 
German  ancestry,  whose  ancestors  came  from 
England  previous  to  his  emigrating  to  this 
country.  The  great-grandfather  was  an  early  settler 
in  Pennsylvania,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  located 
in  Lehigh  County,  that  State,  sometime  in  the  17th 
century.  The  grandfather  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Mercer  County,  the  same  State,  before  the 
Indians  had  left  that  country.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
kept  the  first  public  hotel  in  that  county.  The  father 


of  the  subject  of  this  notice  accompanied  his  pa- 
rents to  Mercer  County  when  he  was  quite  young, 
and  there  was  married  to  Lydia  Bortz.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  a  Pennsylvania  farmer,  and  of  German 
descent.  William  Ash  and  his  wife  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  resided  until  the 
death  of  the  latter,  which  occurred  Feb.  n,  1851. 
He  then  went  to  California  to  prospect  for  gold, 
but  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1855,  and  was 
again  married,  and  of  his  second  union  ten  children 
were  born. 

Simeon  P.  Ash  was  the  only  child  of  his  father's 
first  marriage.  After  the  death  of  his  mother,  he  lived 
two  years  with  his  grandparents,  when  he  went  to  ' 
live  witli  his  uncle,  J.  G.  Shearard.  The  uncle  came 
West  in  1855,  locating  in  Henry  County,  where  he 
remained  until  1865,  when  he  returned  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  again  settled  in  Mercer  County,  where 
the  subject  of  this  notice  completed  his  education. 
He  continued  to  reside  with  his  uncle  in  that  county 
until  his  marriage,  but  before  that  important  event, 
in  1868,  he  engaged  in  clerking  in  the  mercantile 
establishment  of  G.  W.  and  W.  Porter,  of  Mercer 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  remained  with  that  firm  for  about  ten 
years. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ash  took  place  Feb.  9,  1871, 
in  Greenville,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  at  which  time  Miss 
Mary,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Aaron  an  Maria 
(Butler)  Sand,  natives  of  Mercer  Co.,  became  his  wife. 
Her  parents  were  of  German  descent,  and  her  father 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Nash  was  born  in 
Greenville,  Mercer  County,  Nov.  26,  1850.  She  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native  county, 
and  learned  the  millinery  trade  before  her  marriage, 
which  she  is  at  present  prosecuting  at  Reynolds  in 
her  husband's  store.  She  has  borne  her  husband  one 
child, — Thaddeus  J.,  born  May  27,  1S73. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Ash  continued  clerking  with 
Porter  Bros,  until  1877,  when,  with  his  wife  and 
child,  he  came  to  this  State,  locating  at  Reynolds, 
where  he  became  clerk  in  the  store  of  W.  John- 
son, with  whom  he  remained  one  year.  In  May, 
1878,  he  established  the  mercantile  business  in  which 
he  is  at  present  engaged  with  a  small  stock,  it  is 
true,  but  by  fairdealing  with  his  customers  and  keep- 
ing articles  necessary  to  their  wants,  he  has  increased 
his  trade  until  at  present  it  is  a  good-paying  one, 
with  a  stock  of  about  $9,000.     He  owns  the  store- 


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house  in  which  he  is  doing  business,  together  with 
the  lot  and  a  residence  and  four  lots  in  the  village. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  which  denomination  Mr.  Ash  is 
Steward.  In  politics,  he  is  an  active,  working  Re- 
publican. 


-<*«- 


^ohn  Forgy,  general  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
L;ilSJi|f"  section  8,  Bowling  Township,  was  born  in 
'  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  28,  1835.  His 
father,  also  named  John,  was  brought  up  as  a 
farmer  in  the  Slate  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
married  in  Washington  County,  that  State,  and 
moved  to  Ohioafterthe  first  child  was  born:  five  others 
1  were  born  in  the  family  after  his  location  in  Ohio.  His 
wife  dying  in  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1843,  at  the  age 
of  47,  he  married  again  and  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
^  in  South  Rock  Island  Township,  this  county,  where 
;  he  died  in  1872.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this 
~  township  and  was  holding  that  office  at  the  time  of 
■'  his  death.  In  his  political  principles  he  sympathized 
with  the  Democratic  Party,  and  in  religious  matters 
he  took  a  zealous  part,  being  a  Presbylerian  in  his 
earlier  life,  but  at  the  date  of  his  death  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Union. 

Mr.  Forgy,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
educated  in  his  native  county,  and  resided  at  home 
until  his  marriage,  working  upon  his  father's  farm. 
He  was  married  in  Canaan  Township,  Morrow  Co., 
Ohio,  Jan,  8,  1861,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Brown,  a  native 
of  that  township;  she  was  born  in  August,  1836. 
Her  parents,  Dr.  Ira  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Brown,  were 
settlers  in  that  section  of  Ohio  (in  Knox  County), 
locating  there  previous  to  the  War  of  t8r2,  in  which 
contest  her  grandfather  was  a  soldier.  The  male 
members  of  the  family  are  all  noted  for  their  great 
skill  in  performing  on  the  drum.  Her  people  were 
prominent  lights  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  She 
became  the  mither  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  The  living  are  Frederick  M.,  born 
May  31,  1S64;  William  O.,  born  July  15,  1S65; 
Isaac  P.,  Dec.  12,  186S;  andMary  J.,  Jan.  25,  1871. 
The  deceased  were  Martin  D.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  ten  years,  and  an  unnamed  infant. 


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Mrs.  Forgy  died  in  Milan  April  29,  1SS5 ,  her  loss 
being  greatly  mourned  by  the  family  and  the  com- 
munity, as  she  had  been  an  excellent  woman  in  all 
respects.  She  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
when  15  years  of  age,  but  three  years  before  her 
death  she  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Taylor 
Ridge. 

During  the  late  war  Mr.  Forgy  served  a  year  for 
the  Union  m  Co.  B,  43d  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Cols. 
Swan  and  Smith,  and  was  mostly  on  guard  duty,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  about  the  last  of  Septem- 
ber, [863.  In  1866  he  emigrated  to  this  State  and 
located  permanently  in  Bowling  Township,  this 
county,  where  he  purchased  a  quarter-section  of 
land ;  to  that  he  has  since  added  80  acres  by  pur- 
chase, and  most  of  the  land  is  improved,  and  in  good 
condition  for  the  raising  of  grain  and  stock.  Mr. 
Forgy  is  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  having  now  been  a  Deacon  in  that 
body  for  about  six  years.  In  his  political  principles, 
he  is  a  reliable  Democrat. 


Jj\§*ee* ^^    '  Q^  <^TOdf>^9 


toward  McCulloch,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  McCulloch  &  Heath,  general  deal- 
ers in  groceries,  etc.,  at  Milan,  was  born  in 
Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  14,  1841.  His  par- 
ents, J.  G.  and  Maria  (Langhead)  McCulloch, 
were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  who  came 
West  in  185 1,  settling  in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa.  His  fath- 
er was  a  pioneer  farmer  in  that  county,  but  before 
coming  West  he  demonstrated  his  patriotism  by  rais- 
ing a  company  of  soldiers,  of  which  he  was  commis- 
sioned Captain,  and  which  he  commanded  in  the 
Mexican  War,  proving  a  valuable  factor  in  that 
struggle.  He  died  in  the  fall  of  1851,  the  year  in 
which  he  located  in  Scott  County.  The  mother  of 
Mr.  McCulloch,  subject  of  this  sketch,  died  in  the 
same  county  near  Davenport,  in  May,  1873. 

Mr.  Howard  McCulloch  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  of  a  family  of  eight  children — five  sons  and 
three  daughters — and  was  seven  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  West.  After  the  death  of  his  father 
he  remained  with  his  mother  until  her  death,  having, 
at  the  age  of  15  years,  begun  to  carry  on  the  farm 
under  her  direction.     In   1874  he    came    to    Milan, 


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this  county,  and  established  a  grocery  store,  but  after 
a  year's  time  he  closed  there  and  returned  to  Daven- 
port, where  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  business. 
He  sold  out  there  in  1878,  and  came  again  to  Milan, 
continuing  in  the  same  enterpise,  with  Mr.  Heath  as 
the  junior  member  of  the  firm.  He  is  a  member  of 
A.  0.  U.  W.  and  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  both  which 
bodies  he  is  Treasurer.  He  is  also  President  of 
the  Village  Council.  In  his  political  views  he  sym- 
pathizes with  the  Republican  party. 

In  1880  he  was  married  in  Milan  to  Miss  Mary 
E.  Work,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  came  West 
with  her  parents,  settling  in  Iowa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCulloch  are  the  parents  of  two 
children  :  Pearl  and  Bella.     Pearl  died  Oct.  9,  1885. 

§^-»5£# 


\ion.  Henry  Clay  Cleaveland,   residing    at 
Rock  Island,  was  born  at  Woodstock,  Vt., 
Oct.    25,    1843.     His    parents,  Alonzo   W. 
and  Betsey  (Pratt)  Cleaveland,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  Green  Mountain  State;  there  grew 
to  man    and    womanhood,    were    married    and 
1    reared    a    family   consisting   of  two   sons    and    two 
daughters,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  second  in 
order   of  their    birth.     In   his    youth  Mr.  Cleveland 
learned  the  machinist's    trade   and   at   the    common 
schools  of  Ludlow,  Vt.,  acquired  a  good  English  ed- 
ucation. 

May  9,  i86r,  Mr.  Cleaveland  was  mustered  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States  as  a  private  in  Co. 
B,  First  Vt.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  Aug.  16  fol- 
lowing. In  October  of  the  same  year,  he  again 
enrolled  and  was  mustered  into  Co.  E,  Sixth  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  for  a  three  years' term,  and  veteranized  in  the 
same  command  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  15,  1863, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his 
discharge,  which  bears  date  March  21,1866.  He 
was  promoted  May  29,  1862,  to  the  rank  of  Color 
Sergeant,  and  it  was  while  in  discharge  of  the  duty 
of  this  position,  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May 
5,  1864,  he  received  a  serious  gunshot  wound  in  his 
right  forearm,  which  sent  him  for  about  a  four  months 
term  to  the  hospital.  He  was  afterward  transferred 
to  theioSth  U.  S.  Vol.  Inf.  (Colored),  and  was  com- 
missioned First  Lieutenant  and  A.  Q.  M.,  a  position 
he  held  up  to  the  time  of  leaving  the  service. 


While  stationed  at  Rock  Island,  in  1864-5,  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  Miss  Olivia  S.  Hayes,  to  whom 
he  was  married  Sept.  17,  1866.  Their  children  are 
named  Harry  H.,  Louis  K.,  and  Bessie  C.  Since 
coming  to  Rock  Island,  in  [866,  Mr.  Cleaveland  has 
been  almost  continually  in  public  service,  but,  unfor- 
tunately for  him,  in  such  capacity  as  gave  him  much 
labor  and  small  remuneration.  Therefore,  he  has 
been  compelled  to  carry  on  various  private  enter- 
prises to  the  end  that  he  might  lay  by  something  for 
a  season  wherein  he  may  be  too  old  for  anything  but 
the  public  service.  However,  Mr.  Cleaveland  has 
small  reason  to  complain  ;  nor  does  he  complain  at 
all,  in  fact,  for  his  efforts  have  been  crowned  with 
much  success.  He  has  a  well-balanced  head,  set 
upon  a  herculean  body ;  enjoys  a  good  dinner,  with 
all  its  concomitants;  entertaining  in  private  conver- 
sation and  fluent  and  ready  in  debate,  whether  upon 
the  stump  or  in  the  Legislative  hall.  He  enjoys  his 
various  lodges  in  an  eminent  degree  ;  and  that  his 
fellow  craftsmen  appreciate  him  is  attested  by  the 
fact  that  he  has  filled  all  the  official  chairs  in  the 
local  Masonic  Order  up  to  presiding  officer  of  the 
commandery,  which  position  he  has  held  for  the  past 
13  years,  and  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Slate  up  to 
Senior  Grand  Warden.  He  is  Past  Master  of  the 
Blue  Lodge  and  was  12  years  presiding  officer.  Mr. 
Cleaveland  is  also  in  full  affiliation  with  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  the  Red  Men  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  was  Secretary 
of  the  Rock  Island  County  Agricultural  Society  from 
1869  to  1876;  City  Collector  in  1872-3;  six  years  in 
the  School  Board  ;  one  term  County  Supervisor;  and 
is  now  upon  his  second  term  as  Representative  of 
Rock  Island  County  in  the  State  Legislature.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  John  A.  Logan  Republican. 


sharles  G.  Thulin,  dealer  in  boots  and  sta- 
"3!fc!S|'  tionery  and  Treasurer  of  the  Moline  Cab- 
inet Organ  Company,  was  born  in  Sweden, 
July  26,  1835,  and  is  the  son  of  Lars  and 
Sophia  Thulin.  He  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation in  his  native  country  and  went  to  Ger- 
many in  1862.  He  resided  in  Berlin,  Prussia,  eight 
years,  during  which  time  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk 
in  the  mercantile  business.  He  returned  to  Sweden 
in  June,  1870,  and  the  fall  following,  in  October,  em- 
igrated  to  the  United    States.     On  arriving  in  this 


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country  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Paxton, 
where  he  spent  one  year  as  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile 
house.  From  Paxton  he  removed  to  Chicago,  where 
he  was  manager  of  a  book  and  stationery  store  for 
Messrs.  Engberg  &  Holmberg,  book  publishers  and 
dealers.  He  then  came  to  Moline  and  established 
a  branch  house  for  that  firm,  of  which  he  is  manager. 
In  1882  he  bought  stock  in  the  Moline  Cabinet  Or- 
gan Company,  and  was  elected  treasurer  the  same 
year. 

He  was  married  July  9,  1876,  at  Moline,  III,  to 
Miss  Josephine  A.  Johnson,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Johnson.  Mrs.  Thulin  was  born  in  Knoxville,  111. 
They  have  three  children,  — Ernst'C,  born  May  25, 
1877  ;  Luther  C,  born  Nov.  6,  1879  ;  and  Milton  S., 
born  May  30,  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs  Thulin  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Thulin 
is  a  Republican  in  his  politics. 


illiam  Jordan,  farmer,  section  36,  Rural 
Township,  was  born  in  Thomaston,  Me., 
Sept.  15,  181 1.  For  a  sketch  of  his  par- 
ents see  the  biography  of  Capt.  J.  A.  Jordan, 
his  brother,  in  this  work.  William's  school 
privileges  in  his  youth  were  limited,  and  his  life 
up  to  about  22  years  of  age  was  spent  in  Thomaston 
and  vicinity,  most  of  the  time  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1S33  or  1834,  he  made  a  journey  through  the 
West  as  far  as  Michigan  City,  Ind.,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  La  Porte,  Ind.,  one  year.  In  the  fall  of 
1833  he  left  Maine  and  came  to  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  cleared  two  farms,  which  cost  him  his 
health.  Remaining  in  Ohio  until  November,  1865,  he 
came  to  Rock  Island  County  and  purchased  120 
acres  of  land  in  Rural  Township,  on  section  36, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has  a  fine 
farm,  well  equipped  with  good  buildings,  etc.  He 
also  owns  at  present  120  acres  of  land  in  Ne- 
braska. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  united  in  marriage  in  Clinton, 
Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  March  23,  1837,  with  Sarah  I)., 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Keating)  Bart- 
lett;  her  parents  were  natives  of  Maine,  who  emi- 
grated to  Ohio,  finally  settling  in  Seneca  County,  that 
State,  where  they  died.  Mrs.  J.  was  born  in  Colum- 
bia, Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.   24,   18 17.     Mr.  and 


Mrs.  J.  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living,  namely  :  Amelia  J.,  William 
B.  and  Sarah  E.  The  deceased  were  Adeline,  Le- 
land,  Thomas,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jordan  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  he  was  a  Deacon  for  some  30  years. 
In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Republican. 


-13- 


-E2- 


1853- 


5-arl  August  Sehrnid,  of  Rock  Island,  was 
born  at  Wittenburg,  Kirchheim-on-the- 
Tick,  in  Germany,  Sept.  4,  1S36,  and  after 
attending  school  the  regulation  period,  and 
working  a  while  at  cabinet-building,  came  to 
America,  landing  at  Castle  Garden,  in  June, 
In  New  York  city  he  worked  about  three 
years  at  his  trade,  and  in  1856  came  to  Rock  Island, 
where  he  has  since  followed  carpentering,  contract- 
ing and  building.  Up  to  1869  or  '70,  he  was  a  sala- 
ried man  ;  since  that  he  has  been  the  "  boss  "  of  his 
own  affairs,  and  as  such  has  erected  some  of  the 
finest  and  largest  buildings  in  the  city. 

In  1880  he  was  elected  Alderman  from  the  old 
Third  (now  Fifth)  Ward  and  was  the  first  Republican 
ever  returned  from  that  precinct.  In  1884  he  aban- 
doned the  Republican  party  and  voted  for  Cleve- 
land ;  and  now,  while  he  is  honestly  independent  in 
politics,  there  are  persons  who  call  him  a  "  Mug- 
wump." However,  as  all  political  economists  know, 
it  is  the  independent  voter,  more  than  all  else,  that 
compels  dominant  partisan  politicians  to  maintain  a 
degree  of  decency  in  public  affairs.  Mr.  Schmid,  and 
the  thousands  of  other  independents,  may  laugh  at 
the  title  of  "  Mugwump." 

Mr.  Schmid's  parents,  John  Christoph  and  Anna 
Maria  (Schwarzman)  Schmid,  died  in  Germany,  the 
father  in  1878,  aged  about  75  years,  and  the  mother 
in  1874,  at  the  same  age.  The  old  people  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  brought  their 
children  up  in  that  faith. 

Jan.  20,  1856,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  mar- 
ried in  New  York  city,  to  Charlotte  Caroline  Rind,  a 
native  of  Bavaria,  and  has  had  born  to  him  12  chil- 
dren :  Charles  F.,  deceased:  Anna  Maria  (Mrs.  John 
Peters)  :  Sarah  (Mrs.  William  Bundenbach);  Caro- 
line, deceased ;  Louisa,  deceased  ;  August  F.,  Emma, 
George  L.,  Charlotte,  Louis  Frederick,  Robert  and 


0; 


4) 


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I ___ 

Amelia  L.  In  the  acquirement  of  a  handsome  com- 
petency, Mr.  Schmid  has  been  wholly  dependent 
upon  his  own  industry.  He  has  always  been  a  hard 
worker,  though  by  no  means  forgetting  the  virtue  of 
i  interspersing  labor  with  fun.  He  probably  enjoys 
life  as  well  as  any  man  in  Rock  Island.  He  belongs 
to  the  Order  of  Woodmen,  is  Treasurer  of  the  Society 
of  Druids,  and  Trustee  and  Inner  Guard  of  the  Red 
Men. 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


•;-  amson  Kennedy,  one  of  the  leading  news- 

iipbl    paper  men  of  Western   Illinois,  residing  at 

Vvr         Moline,  was  born  of  Scotch-Irish  Presbyte- 

*    rian  parents,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tombigbee 

River,  in  Green  County,  Ala.,  Feb.   22,  1839. 

Though  located  in  the  heart  of  the  South,  his 
parents  were  strongly  opposed  to  slavery,  and  soon 
after  determined  to  remove  to  the  North,  where  they 
1  might  raise  their  children  away  from  the  corrupting 
influences  of  the  "  peculiar  institution."  In  1847, 
therefore,  the  family  moved  to  Chicago,  then  a  city 
of  12,000  to  14,000  people.  In  1853  Mr.  Kennedy 
entered  the  office  of  the  Democratic  Press,  published 
by  John  L.  Scripps  and  William  Bross,  as  an  appren- 
tice. In  1857  lie  went  to  Red  Winy,  Minn.,  with 
young  L.  F.  Hubbard  (now  Gov.  Hubbard),  and  as- 
sisted him  in  getting  his  newspaper  started.  In  the 
following  year  he  went  South,  and  spent  two  years  in 
Memphis,  where  he  cast  his  first  vote  in  i860,  for 
Stephen  A.  Douglas.  A  week  after  the  election  he 
went  to  West  Point,  and  Searcy,  Ark.,  where  the 
outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  found  him.  For  six  weeks 
he  remained  in  that  hot-bed,  utterly  unable  to  devise 
any  way  of  getting  home  without,  perhaps,  getting 
into  worse  trouble.  Finally  a  vigilance  committee 
solved  the  difficulty,  and  sent  him  to  Memphis,  where 
another  vigilance  committee  advised  him  to  leave 
for  home,  which  he  was  glad  to  do.  He  says,  though, 
that  from  first  to  last  he  was  treated  courteously  and 
kindly.  On  reaching  Cairo  he  was  surprised  to  learn 
that  he  had  been  hung  by  a  mob  ten  days  before, 
and  a  day  or  so  later  had  the  rare  privilege  of  read- 
ing his  own  obituary  in  the  Times  and  Tribune  of 
Chicago.  Six  weeks  later  he  enlisted  in  Bat.  A,  1st 
111.  Art.,  and  served  three  years,  participating  in 
11   engagements,   including   Fort    Donelson,  Shiloh, 

^€^ — &<m 


Arkansas  Post,  Champion  Hills,  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
siege  of  Jackson,  and  Mission  Ridge  (Chattanooga). 
For  three  years  after  his  discharge  he  traveled  for 
a  Chicago  grocery  house,  and  then  got  married  and 
drifted  back  into  the  printing  business.  His  marriage 
occurred  in  Monmouth,  111.,  Nov.  6,  1866,  to  Miss 
Addie  Whitney.  In  September,  187  1,  he  located  in 
Moline,  since  which  time  he  has  been  connected 
successively  with  the  Review  (weekly),  the  Dispatch 
(daily),  the  Review-Dispatch  (weekly),  and  the  Re- 
publican (daily  and  weekly),  besides  managing  an 
extensive  job  printing  business  until  the  fall  of 
1882.  In  May,  18S3,  the  firm  of  Kennedy  &  Co. 
was  incorporated,  and  began  the  publication  of  the 
Republican,  of  which  Mr.  Kennedy  is  the  active 
manager.  He  is  both  an  able  business  and  news- 
paper man,  and  the  publications  in  which  he  has 
been  intereted  bear  the  impress  of  the  stirring,  enter- 
prising and  efficient  Samson  Kennedy. 


f 


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A 


% ^ '®Ms  regory  Brown,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
|f  residing  on  section  27,  Zuma  Township, 
K  was  born  in  Rome,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug. 
15,  1824,  his  parents  being  Chancy  and 
Electra  (Talcott)  Brown,  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut. Gregory  Brown  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
performing  such  labor  as  is  common  to  farmers'  sons, 
and  receiving  a  good  English  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county.  He  remained 
under  the  paternal  roof-tree  until  he  attained  the  age 
of  23  years,  and  July  1,  1847,  came  to  this  county 
and  located  in  Zuma  Township,  where  he  purchased 
190  acres  of  land.  He  afterwards  purchased  160 
acres  on  section  21,  then  426  acres  on  section  22, 
and  subsequently  90  acres  on  section  27,  and  50 
acres  on  section  28,  then  88  acres  in  Henry 
County.  He  has  made  farming  the  business  of  his 
life,  and  has  actively  been  engaged  in  that  vocation 
all  his  years,  except  two  that  he  taught  school  in 
York  State. 

Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the  principles  ad- 
vocated by  the  Republican  party.  He  has  lately 
turned  his  attention  to  stock,  and  at  the  present  time 
has  a  fine  herd  of  Durham  cattle,  and  kee[  s  a  large 
flock  of  sheep.  He  is  a  man  who  never  seeks  office) 
but  has  been  elected  by  the  citizens  to  the  office  of 


H,  - 
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3 


V 


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(!) 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


Township  Treasurer,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
1877.  His  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods  is  at- 
tributable to  his  own  good  judgment,  indomitable 
energy  and  perseverance,  the  latter  of  which  has  en- 
abled him  to  overcome  all  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
accumulating  a  competency  and  leaves  him  to-day 
unembarrassed  by  the  constant  application  of  credi- 
tors.    He  erected  his  handsome  dwelling  in  1870. 

Mr.  Brown  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  1849, 
with  Miss  Antonett  M.  Brewster,  a  native  of  Verona, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y,  where  she  was  born  Aug.  19, 
1830.  They  have  ten  children,  and  their  record  is  as 
follows:  Chauncey  J.  was  born  June  3,  1850,  and 
married  Anna  Smith,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four 
children — Jacob  J.,  Netta  E.,  Daisy  P.  and  Alford. 
Winnifred  S.,  born  Feb.  21,  1852,  and  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  Collis,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
four  children — George  G.,  Winfield  S.,  Albert  J.  and 
David  L. ;  Clara  A.,  born  Oct.  13,  1853;  Sarah  A., 
Jan.  29,  1856,  and  married  George  H.  Osborn,  and 
the  issue  of  their  union  was  two  children — Frederick 
and  Harry  W. ;  Antonett  M.,  born  Oct.  25,  1859; 
Albert  L.,  born  Feb.  21,  1863  ;  Electra  L.,  Jan.  23, 
1865;  Julia  M.,Feb  6,  1S67  ;  Luther  M.,  Nov.  17, 
1868,  and  John  H.,  Sept.  13,  1872. 


~~£ 


if  ames  Robertson,  Superintendent  of  the 
j  pill  if  County  Poor  Farm,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
IS?^  Elisha  H.  (Rinehart)  Robertson,  who  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  mother  died 
March  17,  187 1,  at  Tarentum,  Pa.,  and  his 
father  resides  with  him  in  Rural  Township. 
They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  namely:  James 
and  David  (twins),  Mary  E.,  Ella  M.,  Linda  A., 
Charles  S.,  George  R.,  William  F.,  Thomas  E.  and 
AdaB. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Allegheny 
Co.,  Pa.,  July  1,  185 1  ;  his  education  was  received 
mostly  in  the  common  schools ;  he  also  attended  an 
academy  and  the  Pittsburg  Normal  School.  After 
completing  his  education  he  was  employed  by  a  firm 
in  Philadelphia,  and  afterward  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  his  native  Slate,  in  Illinois  and  in  Iowa.  He 
next  employed  himself  in  farming  in  Andalusia  Town- 
ship, this  county,  for  four  years,  when   he  was  ap- 


pointed Superintendent  of  the  County  Poor  Farm, 
which  was  in  April,  1884. 

Jan.  1,  1879,  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Hannah 
Wells,  in  Rock  Island  Township,  Mr.  Robertson  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Mary,  daughter  of  Rinnah  and  Han- 
nah (Buffum)  Wells  (see  sketch  of  Rinnah  Wells) 
and  widow  of  Edwin  Atwood,  who  died  in  Grinnell, 
Iowa,  Sept.  10,  1871.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had 
two  children, — John  W.  and  Alberta  C. ;  and  by  the 
present  marriage  there  are  also  two  children,  namely  : 
Jessie  M.  and  Mary  F. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.'R.  is  a  Republican,  and 
in  his  relation  to  public  affairs  he  has  held  the  offices 
of  School  Director  and  Township  Supervisor,  holding 
the  latter  office  in  Andalusia  Township  during  the 
year  1883. 


^m 


■•' |>^'  amuel  C.  Taylor,  prominent  among  the 
I  fy&ii  enterprising  and  progressive  agriculturists 
of  Rock  Island  County,  is  Mr.  S.  C.  Tay- 
lor. He  resides  in  Edgington  Township, 
where  he  has  a  well  equipped  and  culti- 
vated farm,  and  where  he  is  extensively 
engaged  in  the  breeding  of  Short-horn  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs.  He  has  some  magnificent 
specimens  of  these  breeds,  some  of  which  are  to  be 
seen  in  the  view  of  his  farm  and  its  surroundings, 
on  page  665.  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  son  of  Deacon  W.  C. 
Taylor,  one  of  the  old  and  respected  pioneers  of 
Rock  Island  County,  of  whom  an  extensive  sketch 
is  given  in  this  volume. 


J 


Y 


C I 


-5 4>4» *- 

1  bUtr!  eter  Schlueter,  proprietor  of  the  Five  Points 
-  P,|»i  Meat-Market,  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in 
iS£*>i£  meats  and  ice,  corner  15th  Street  and 
j^J  Seventh  Avenue,  Moline,  was  born  in  Flens- 
^  berg,  Germany,  Oct.  20,  1840,  and  is  the  son 
of  Peter  and  Mary  Schlueter.  He  learned  the 
butcher's  trade,  at  which  he  served  a  regular  appren- 
ticeship, under  the  strict  rules  of  his  native  country. 
Mi.  Schlueter  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Aug. 
10,  1S61,  with  Miss  Catharine  Peterson,  daughter  of 
Peter  Peterson.  Mrs.  Schlueter  was  born  in  Flens- 
berg,  Germany,  Aug.  31,  1839,  and  the  issue  of  their 


f§§'\®)*^*§- 


^k>hom<^v^ 


Residence   of  Mr.  ROB'T.  E.PEAHSALL,Sec  .  23,  Coe  Tp. 


Bjc.r-T.---l- 


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Residence:   of  SAMUEL   C  .TAYLOR,  breeder  a^SHQRT^nRii  ^hhttle    Sec14  Edginotom  TP.,r 


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V?C>CX  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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union  is  four  children, — Peter,  bnrn  at  Flensberg, 
Germany,  Jan.  23,  1863,  now  assisting  his  father  in 
his  extensive  business  at  Moline;  Tina  M.,  born 
March  31,  1865,  and  Mary  and  Christian  (twins), 
born  March  12,  1869. 

Mr.  Schlueter  emigrated  to  America  in  July,  1S67, 
and  located  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged 
extensively  in  butchering.  He  carried  on  the  whole- 
sale sheep-butchering  business,  by  which  he  supplied 
the  markets  of  Davenport,  Rock  Island,  Moline, 
Galesburg  and  other  towns.  In  1872  he  removed  to 
Moline  and  established  his  present  market  known  as 
the  Five  Points.  Being  a  thorough  master  of  his 
business  and  plenty  of  capital,  he  has  been  enabled 
to  carry  on  his  business  on  a  large  scale  and  with 
marked  success.  His  market  always  contains  a  full 
assortment  of  fresh,  salted  and  smoked  meats.  In 
the  latter  he  has  quite  a  large  wholesale  trade.  In 
1878,  without  interruption  to  his  regular  business,  he 
engaged  extensively  in  the  wholesale  ice  trade.  Mr. 
Schlueter  erected  large  ice-houses  of  great  capacity 
and  in  favorable  seasons  shipped  as  high  as  1,000 
car-loads  of  ice  to  most  Southern  markets.  His  trade 
in  this  line  extends  into  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  In- 
diana, Kansas,  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  The  Five 
Points  market  does  the  largest  business  in  the  city 
in  that  line,  and  well  deserves  its  great  popularity. 
In  all  his  undertakings,  Mr.  Schlueter  is  ably  as- 
sisted by  his  industrious  and  capable  children.  Mr. 
Schlueter  and  his  wife  made  a  visit  to  their  old  home 
in  Europe  during  the  past  summer. 


#^>€B-<^# 


% 


W;W'  rank  H.  Harris,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
j3|j  raiser,  residing  on  section  27,  Black  Hawk 
S>  m\  Township,  was  born  in  Fort  Edward 
Township,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  22, 
1839.  His  father,  Charles  Harris,  was  a 
general  merchant,  grain  dealer,  contractor,  etc. 
He  was  also  a  native  of  the  above  county,  of  Ger- 
man-English ancestry.  He  had  held  all  the  prom- 
inent offices  of  his  township,  and  been  closely  iden- 
tified with  the  local  politics  of  his  section,  being 
a  stanch  Democrat.  He  came  West  in  the  fall  of 
1865,  purchasing  a  quarter-section  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 27,  Black  Hawk  Township,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  as  a  farmer,  until  he   retired ;  he  now  lives 


ts 


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with  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  is  79 
years  old.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  Frank  H,  was, 
before  her  marriage,  Polly  B.  Deuel,  a  native  of 
Warren  Co.,  N.  Y.,  also  of  German-English  descent. 
She  died  at  her  home  in  this  township,  July  19,  1880, 
at  the  age  of  69  years.  The  children  of  the  fore- 
going were  two  in  number,  our  subject  and  Julia. 
The  latter  married  G.  J.  Davis,  lately  a  resident  of 
this  township,  and  Deputy  Sheriff  of  this  county; 
he  is  now  a  resident  of  Hickory  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he 
is  a  farmer  by  occupation.  George  C,  Harry  N., 
Herbert  and  Mary  N.  are  now  living.  Those  dead 
are  Noma,  died  March  9,  1878,  and  one  died  in  in 
fancy.  The  parents  are  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  society  Mr. 
H.  was  Steward  and  Trustee. 

Mr.  Frank  H.  Harris,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  at 
Fort  Edward  College.  After  leaving  school,  he  first 
engaged  in  the  book  and  stationery  trade,  and  when 
about  26  years  of  age  he  caught  the  fever  for  com- 
ing West,  sold  out  his  business,  and  brought  his  par- 
ents and  one  sister  to  Illinois,  in  the  tall  of  1865-.  ] 
They  located  upon  an  unimproved  tract  of  land,  { 
which  is  now  all  under  cultivation,  with  a  splendid  :_ 
house,  on  a  high  elevation,  handsomely  surround- 
ed, etc.  The  family  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  high- 
est standing  in  the  community,  in  their  moral  bear- 
ing, social  relations,  etc.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  National 
Greenbacker  in  his  political  principles,  and  as  such 
he  has  been  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  County  and 
Congressional  Conventions. 

Feb.  15,  1866,  is  the  dateof  Mr.  Harris' marriage, 
in  Rock  Island  Township,  to  Miss  Sarah  H.,  daugh- 
ter of  George  W.  and  Rebecca  (Hagey)  Chaney. 
Her  parents  were  natives  respectively  of  Bedford 
and  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  were  married  in  Wisconsin 
when  it  was  a  Territory,  and  came  soon  afterward  to 
Rock  Island  city,  where  he  had  been  living  since  he 
was  17  years  of  age.  Some  years  later  they  came  to 
Milan,  when  Mrs.  H.  was  about  three  years  old.  She 
was  born  Nov.  2,  1847,  in  Rock  Island.  When  she 
was  seven  years  of  age,  the  family  removed  on  a 
farm  in  Rock  Island  Township.  Her  father  died  in 
Milan,  Feb.  2,  1870,  aged  nearly  48  years.  During 
his  life  he  was  an  active  local  politician,  was  Deputy 
United  States  Marshal,  and  during  the  war  was 
Deputy  Sheriff,  etc.  Mrs.  Chaney  was  the  oldest 
child  in  a  family    of  seven   children.     Mrs.    H.  was 


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666 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


*> 


educated  in  the  Rock  Island  city  schools,  and  the 
Sisters'  Academy  of  Davenport.  She  is  the  mother 
of  two  children,  namely':  Julia  E.,  who  was  born 
March  27,  1867,  and  Charles  H.,  who  was  born  July 
14,  1S77.  The  youngest  child  of  Mr.  Harris,  Nellie 
Benetta,  was  born  Sept.  7,  1885. 


5£ 


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^1^3 Robert  McMann,  residing  at  Moline,  was 
I  fe^pl;  born  Feb.  15,  1838,  at  Tempo,  County 
ft, l&^P  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  his  father's  name 
1  \%\    being  William  and   his  mother's  Mary  (Mor- 

y  row)  McMann.  His  parents  were  both  of 
Scotch  birth.  Robert  McMann  attended 
school  in  and  about  his  native  town  until  1856, 
when  he  came  to  America,  and  for  one  year  attended 
school  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  after  which  he  went  into 
the  Niles  Marine  Shop,  to  learn  the  machinist's 
trade,  as  he  possessed  natural  talent  in  that  direc- 
tion. He  remained  in  the  latter  place  for  four  years, 
and  then  for  a  time  ran  a  locomotive  on  the  Marietta 
&  Cincinnati  Railroad. 

On  the  day  after  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter,  Mr. 
McMann  engaged  in  the  cause  of  the  Union  by 
enlisting  in  Co.  G,  22d  Regt.  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  Capt. 
Gilmore.  The  regiment  was  at  once  ordered  to 
Parkersburg,  Va.,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
skirmishes  at  Rich  Mountain,  Laurel  Hill,  etc.  The 
regiment  was.  then  assigned  to  duty,  guarding  the 
railroad  between  Parkersburg  and  Clarksville,  until 
its  three  months  had  expired,  when  it  was  mustered 
out  at  Athens,  Ohio.  Mr.  McMann  immediately  re- 
enlisted  for  the  war  in  Co.  M,  1st  Ohio  Cav.,  Capt. 
Scott,  and  was  made  Corporal,  being  soon  afterward 
promoted  Sergeant.  He  was  in  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  in  all  its  noted  skirmishes  and  engage- 
ments. Was  assigned  to  duty  under  Grant,  and 
took  part  in  the  various  conflicts  at  Shiloh,  Chicka- 
rnauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Perryville,  Stone  River,  luka, 
Nashville,  Franklin,  and  other  points  ;  served  under 
Kilpatrick,  and  was  in  the  raid  under  Col.  Long, 
which  cut  the  railroad  track  between  Longstreet  and 
Bragg.  The  Veteran  Cavalry  was  mustered  out  in 
1865,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

The  conflict  over,  Mr.  McMann  came  West  again, 


and  for  three   months    worked   in  Muscatine,  Iowa, 


when  he  came  to  Moline,  and  for  two  years  worked 
in  the  machine  shop  of  Williams  &  White.  In  1875 
he  became  a  partner  in  the  mill-machinery  firm  of 
Barnard  &  Leas,  and  since  that  date  has  been  fore- 
man in  the  iron  department  of  that  firm.  Some  time 
ago  Mr.  McMann  sold  his  stock  in  the  firm  named 
to  J.  S.  Leas,  and  bought  a  fine  farm  of  67  ]4  acres, 
near  Davenport,  Iowa,  opposite  Moline.  Every 
morning  and  evening  Mr.  McMann  crosses  the 
Mississippi  in  his  row-boat  to  his  farm,  where  he 
resides,  but  he  still  holds  his  responsible  position  in 
the  Barnard  &  Leas  Manufacturing  Company. 

Aug.  19,  1870,  Mr.  McMann  was  married  to  Miss 
Agnes  Hillhouse,  and  they  have  a  family  of  six 
children — three  boys  and  three  girls :  Walter,  born 
in  1871;  Robert  M.,  1873;  Edith,  1875;  Mabel, 
1877;  Richard,  1879;  and  Agnes,  1882.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Cann  is  a  consistent  and  respected  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Mr.  McCann  is  a  Freemason  and 
a  charter  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Mr.  McCann  comes  of  a  hardy  and  long-lived 
race.  His  father  is  still  living,  at  the  age  104,  and 
is  active,  hale  and  hearty,  and  works  continually, 
doing  as  much  each  day  as  any  farm  hand.  He  is 
really  a  marvel  of  strength  and  health  in  his  old  age. 


rancis  C.  Killing,  one  of  the  energetic  and 
progressive  farmers  of  Rock  Island  Coun- 
ty, residing  on  section  n,  Rural  Town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  Westminster,  Prussia, 
jj}!^,  where  he  was  born  Nov.  23,  1824.  He  lived 
there  until  12  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated 
to  the  "  land  of  possibilities  "  with  his  parents,  and 
for  one  year  resided  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  from  whence 
he  removed  to  Comanche,  Iowa.  Later  the  family 
removed  to  Lyons,  Iowa,  where  they  lived  about  two 
years,  and  in  1841  came  to  this  county. 

On  coming  to  this  county  Mr.  Killing  was  em- 
ployed at  different  occupations,  mostly  at  teaming. 
He  was  an  employe  of  E.  P.  Reynolds  &  Co.  for 
three  years,  and  then  purchased  40  acres  of  land  lo- 
cated on  section  n,  Rural  Township,  on  which  he 
settled  and  at  once  entered  vigorously  and  energeti- 
cally upon  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  and  on 
which  he  has  resided  until  the  present  time.  He 
has  erected  a  good  resdence,  barn,  outbuildings,  and 

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otherwise  improved  his  farm,  and  by  subsequent 
purchase  has  added  to  his  original  acreage  until  at 
the  present  time  he  is  the  proprietor  of  320  acres, 
the  major  portion  of  which  is  in  a  good  tillable  con- 
dition. 

Mr.  Killing  formed  a  matrominial  alliance  Sept. 
15,  1852,  in  Rural  Township  with  Miss  Jane,  the 
accomplished  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Morrison) 
Patterson,  natives  of  Ireland,  in  which  country  her 
father  died.  Her  mother,  who  had  first  married  in 
Ireland,  emigrated  to  America  in  1850,  and  was 
again  united  in  marriage,  to  David  Campbell.  Mrs. 
Killing  was  born  June  22,  1832,  and  has  borne  to 
her  husband  six  children,  three  of  whom  survived 
namely:  William  H.,  born  Aug.  24,  1855;  Francis 
C,  Sept.  8,  i86r;  and  Jennie  YV.,  Aug.  21,  1868. 
The  deceased  children  were  John,  born  Sept.  5, 
1853,  died  Feb.  12,  1855;  Mary,  Oct.  23,  1857,  and 
died  Aug.  21,  1866;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy, 
born  Sept.  25,  1864. 

Mr.  Killing  has  held  the  office  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner, School  Director,  Trustee,  and  Overseer 
of  Highways.  He  was  Postmaster  of  the  office  known 
as  the  Pennsylvania  postoffice,  which  was  located  at 
his  residence.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Killing,  religiously,  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Politically,  he 
is  an  adherent  of  the  Greenback  party.  His  parents, 
Bernard  and  Mary  H.  (Croskamp)  Killing,  Were  na- 
tives of  Prussia.  They  emigrated  to  America  in 
1836,  and  in  Comanche,  Iowa,  the  father  died,  in 
1838,  and  the  mother  died  in  Rural  Township,  this 
county,  in  1876. 


^apt.    Alfred    Adams,   deceased,    late    of 
EMl    Rapids  City,  was  born  in  Orange  Co.,  Vt., 
"  *"     Sept.  6,  1818.     Early  in  life  he  came   to 
Indiana,    and    was    engaged    in   steamboat- 
ing  on  the   Mississippi   and   Ohio   Rivers,  a 
more  extensive  account  of  which  is  given  in 
the  sketch  of  A.  B.  E.  Adams. 

Capt.  Adams  came  to  Rapids  City  in  1852,  and 
became  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  the 
place.  He  lived  there  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred March  24,  1882.  Politically,  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, but  at  the  time  of  the  Know-Nothing  party 
he  was  a  member  of  that  organization.     He  was  an 


active,  energetic  man,  and  worked  hard,  and  with 
considerable  degree  of  success  until  his  retirement 
from  active  business. 


ohn  M.  Reticker,  Sheriff  of  Rock  Island 
County,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  Feb. 
6,  1844,  and  was  the  oldest  son  of  Howard 
and  Mary  J.  (Monroe)  Reticker,  natives  of 
Maryland,  and  descendants  from  English  and 
German  respectively.  The  family  came  to 
Rock  Island  in  1848,  where  the  father  was  engaged 
at  the  furniture  business  for  several  years.  He, 
however,  subsequently  went  to  Texas,  where  he  died 
suddenly,  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  51  years. 

John  M.  Reticker,  of  whom  we  write,  acquired  a 
limited  education  at  the  public  schools,  but  at  the 
early  age  of  14  years  he  took  service  as  a  clerk  with 
a  Rock  Island  merchant,  and  as  he  held  that  posi- 
tion up  to  the  time  of  entering  the  army,  the  years  of 
his  schooling  were  necessarily  few.  In  August,  1861, 
he  enrolled  as  a  private  in  Co.  H,  37th  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  three  years  and  two  months,  participating 
in  all  the  hardships  of  his  regiment,  from  the  Mis- 
souri border  to  the  Rio  Grande.  At  Chicago,  in  Jan., 
1865,  he  donned  the  blue  once  again,  and  at  the 
organization  of  Co.  F,  2d  Regt.  Hancock  Vet.  Vol., 
was  made  Second  Sergeant,  and  was  promoted  a 
month  later  to  the  rank  of  Quartermaster's  Sergeant. 
His  regiment  was  mustered  out  promptly  at  the 
expiration  of  the  term  of  his  enrollment;  but  being 
on  detached  duty,  Sergeant  Reticker  was  detained 
about  a  month  later. 

Leaving  the  United  States'  service,  he  returned  to 
Rock  Island,  and  tried  his  hand  for  a  short  time  as 
clothing  salesman,  and  later  on  as  a  clerk  in  a  shoe 
store.  In  1872  lie  formed  a  partnership  with  fas. 
Kelley  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business.  This  enter- 
prise, from  various  causes,  was  not  in  the  highest 
degree  successful,  and  the  subject  of  our  sketch 
found  himself  in  1879-80,  acting  as  business  mana- 
ger for  Carse  &  Reticker,  a  boot  and  shoe  firm  of 
Rock  Island.  In  1882,  he  led  the  forlorn  hope  of 
the  Democratic  party  as  their  candidate  for  Sheriff 
of  Rock  Island  County;  and  when  the  vote  was  an- 
nounced on  the  evening  of  the  November  election, 
the  figures  showed  the   Republican  ticket,  with  one 


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exception,  elected  by  majorities  ranging  from  600  to 
goo.  The  one  exception  was  that  of  the  office  of 
Sheriff.  John  M.  Reticker  had  defeated  his  oppo- 
nent by  the  good  round  majority  of  248  votes,  and 
was  the  first  Democrat  elected  to  any  office  in  Rock 
Island  County  for  28  years. 

The  bare  recital  of  this  fact  renders  eulogy  at  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Reticker's  biographer  unnecessary. 
Such  testimonials  to  the  worth  and  merit  of  a  man, 
and  coming  from  a  people  among  whom  he  has 
spent  nearly  all  the  years  of  his  life,  requires  no 
further  comment.  Mr.  Reticker  is  a  32d-Degree 
Mason,  a  charter  member  of  the  Rock  Island  Lodge 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  Knight  of 
Pythias. 

He  was  married  at  Rock  Island  in  1 867,  to  Miss 
Annie  C.  Knnell,  and  is  the  happy  father  of  three 
children — Flora  B  ,  Katie  and  John  K. 

K.  Groom,  manager  of  the  Moline  Review- 
Dispatch,  was  born  at  Freeport,  Allegheny 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  6,  1855.  His  parents  moved 
in  October  of  the    same  year    to   Davenport, 
Iowa,  and  from    there  to   Rock   Island,  111.,  in 
September,    r862.       Here    young   Groom    at- 
tended the  district  schools  until  he  was  15  years  old, 
and  quit  the  same  to  engage  in  work  at  the  very  time 
he   was  prepared  to   attend   the  High    School,  and 
what  education  he  has   was  acquired  by  hard  study 
and  in  his  business  relations  with  his  fellow  man. 

From  the  time  that  Mr.  Groom  left  the  school  he 
engaged  in  newspapering.  He  engaged  in  every- 
thing or  anything  he  could  get  a  job  at.  Oct.  1, 
1882,  he  secured  a  position  on  the  Davenport,  Iowa, 
Gazette  as  collector  in  its  Rock  Island  and  Moline 
department.  On  April  1,  1S83,  he  was  engaged  by 
the  Union  Printing  Company,  of  Rock  Island,  as  its 
Collector  and  City  Circulator.  April  1,  1884,  he  was 
promoted  as  business  manager  of  the  paper  (the 
Daily  and  Weekly  Union).  In  June,  1885,  the  Un- 
ion Printing  Company  made  a  deal  with  the  Dean 
Printing  Company,  of  Moline,  by  the  terms  of  which 
the  Union  was  to  get  the  Daily  Evening  Dispatch 
and  Weekly  Revieiv-Dispatch,  of  Moline,  and  on  July 
1,  current  year,  Mr.  Groom  formed  a  co-partner- 
ship with  P,  S.  McGlynn,  then  editor  of  the  Moline 


department  of  the  Union.  McGlynn  &  Groom  was 
to  be  the  firm  name  and  they  assumed  control  of  the 
Dispatch  with  the  understanding  that  they  were  to 
purchase  it  when  the  Union  had  closed  up  its  deal 
with  the  Dean  Printing  Company.  July  2t,  1S85, 
the  Union  Printing  Company,  in  the  person  of  its 
Secretary,  signed  the  bill  of  sale  transferring  the 
Dispatch,  with  all  its  belongings,  to  McGlynn  & 
Groom.  Mr.  McGlynn  is  the  editor  and  Mr.  Groom 
the  manager  of  the  paper.  From  a  losing  paper 
they  have  in  four  months  time  brought  it  to  one  of 
the  leading,  if  not  the  best  paying  paper  in  Rock  Isl- 
and County,  and  considering  that  in  this  county  there 
are  16  newspapers,  they  certainly  have  accomplished 
a  great  work  in  their  hue,  and  much  of  the  credit  for 
this  unparalleled  success  is  due  to  Mr.  Groom's  able 
business  management. 

Mr.  Groom  was  married  May  1,  1879,  to  Miss 
Emma  C.  Simpson.  He  has,  as  stated,  devoted  al- 
most the  entire  period  of  his  life  since  his  school- 
days, which  ended  at  the  age  of  15  years,  in  the 
newspaper  business,  and,  having  received  a  thorough 
and  complete  knowledge  of  the  details  of  that  voca- 
tion, is  just  the  man  calculated  to  make  a  success 
of  it,  which,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  history  of  the 
paper  with  which  he  is  at  present  connected,  he  has 
made  and  is  making. 


(9  >5SX=!2-r  e)-?-3 

-s-jgf  fR ared  Sexton,  residing  in  Cordova  Town- 
;j^Jj-:  ship,  was  bom  in  Hopewell  Township, 
^*  Mercer  Co.,  N.  J.,  Nov.  28,  1828,  and  is 
the  son  of  William  P.  and  Sarah  (Hagerman) 
'l|C  Sexton,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  of  Scotch 
I  and  German  descent  respectively.  Mr.  Sex- 
ton grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  township.  He 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  the  advantages  of 
the  common  schools.  His  father  and  grandfather 
were  both  blacksmiths  by  trade,  and  they  had  a  shop 
on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Sexton  learned  that  trade  in 
his  younger  days,  and  worked  at  it  together  with 
farming.  His  father  frequently  took  contracts,  and 
built  bridges,  and  Mr.  Sexton  worked  with  him,  and 
thus  learned  the  stone-mason's  trade.  He  remained 
a  resident  of  Hopewell  Township  until  1859,  when 
he  came  to  this  county  and  located  in  Cordova 
Township,   and  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 


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suits,  renting  land  which  he  cultivated,  until  1880, 
since  which  time  lie  has  been  in  the  employ  of  Wil- 
liam G.  Marshall,  doing  blacksmith  and  mason  work, 
together  with  that  of  a  carpenter  and  farming. 

Mr.  Sexton  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Nov.  1, 
1850,  with  Miss  Achsah  Werts.  She  was  born  in 
Hopewell  Township,  Nov.  12,  1831.  The  issue  of 
their  union  has  been  six  children  :  John  W.,  born 
Oct.  10,  185 1,  is  an  express  messenger  on  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  for  the 
American  Express  Company;  Mary,  born  Aug.  6," 
1853,  is  the  widow  of  Charles  Mills,  and  resides  in 
Cordova  Village;  Sarah  E.,  Feb.  9,  1859;  Lucy  C, 
July  22,  1862,  is  the  wife  of  O.  C.  Marshall,  and  re- 
sides in  Cordova;  Joseph  R.,  July  25,  1867,  and 
Anna  M.,  Oct.  5,  1873. 


=3*HJh*€E 


ohn  Munro,  junior  partner  of  Munro  Bros., 
I,-  carriage  manufacturers  at  Moline,  was  born 
at  Davenport,  Iowa,  Sept.  24,  1858,  and  is 
the  son  of  Robert  and  Isabelle  (Ewing) 
Munro.  Mr.  Munro  learned  the  carriage- 
making  trade  in  his  father's  shop  at  Davenport, 
where  he  was  employed  until  he  formed  the  existing 
partnership  with  his  brother,  Robert  H.,  and  estab- 
lished the  Moline  Carriage  Works,  in  February,  1881. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Munro  is  a  stanch  and  active 
Republican,  and  one  of  the  leading  representative 
business  men  of  Moline.  , 


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rof.  Olaf  Olsson,  Professor  of  Church  His- 
sH'i  tory,  Catechetics  and  Symbolics  at  the 
J  t?5^  Augustana  College  and  Theological  Semi- 
te J  nary,  was  born  in  Sweden,  March  31,  1841, 
A\  was  a  student  of  Leipsic  and  a  graduate  of 
the  University  at  Upsala.  Mr.  Olsson  was  a 
Pastor  in  Sweden  from  1863  to  1S69,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  was  Pastor  at  Lindsborg, 
Kan.,  from  1869  to  1875.  He  then  became  con- 
nected with  Augustana  College  as  Professor  of  Church 
History  from  1875  to  1882,  when  he  was  elected 
Professor  of  Church  History,  Catechetics  and  Sym- 
bolics, which  position   he  now  holds.     Mr.  Olsson 


has  written  a  large  number  of  tracts,  which  have  had 
an  extended  circulation,  and  has  also  edited  various 
religious  papers. 


ohn  Clarke,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  sec- 
tion 36,  Bowling  Township,  is  a  native  of 
County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  where  he  was 
born  June  22,  1833.  His  father,  James,  was 
the  oldest  son  of  David  Clarke,  who  was  also 
a  native  of  Ireland.  Both  were  farmers,  and 
the  latter  a  prominent  citizen,  who  died  before  John's 
birth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  six  years 
old  when  his  mother  died.  His  father  and  all  the 
children,  excepting  the  eldest,  emigrated  to  this 
country  in"  1841.  Jane,  the  eldest  born,  after  her 
marriage  in  that  country,  and  a  few  years  after 
the  emigration  of  her  people  to  America,  came 
also  to  the  New  World,  and  in  less  than  a  year 
subsequent  to  her  arrival  in  this  county  she  died. 
Mr.  James  Clarke  located  in  Bowling  Township, 
this  county,  purchasing  from  the  Government  80 
acres  of  land,  and  on  this  he  lived  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Sept.  9,  1866,  when  he  was 
68  years  of  age.  He  was  an  examplary  citizen  in 
his  community  and  prominent  in  its  welfare.  His 
sympathies  were  with  Republican  principles.  Mr. 
John  Clarke  is  now  the  owner  and  occupant  of  the 
homestead. 

He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
township,  and  was  married  March  20,  1861,  in  Pre- 
empton  Township,  Mercer  County,  to  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Lipton,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Wadsworth) 
Lipton,  natives  of  Ireland.  She  too  was  born  in  that 
country  in  County  Fermanagh,  June  2, 1839,  being  the 
youngest  but  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  Her 
parents  emigrated  to  this  country  with  their  family  in 
1847,  but  her  father  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  while 
they  were  on  their  way  to  their  new  home — a  farm 
in  Mercer  Co.,  111.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clarke  have  been  six  in  number,  two  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  The  living  are  Ella,  who  was  born 
Nov.  1,  1864;  Clarence,  May  2,  1867  ;  William  H., 
April  16,  1871;  John  L.,  Oct.  2,  1881  ;  and  the  de- 
ceased are  William  and  one  unnamed,  both  of  whom 
died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clarke  settled  on  the    old 


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homestead  and  resided  with  his  father  until  his  death, 
when  he  came  into  possession  of  the  estate,  which 
then  comprised  80  acres.  He  has  since,  however, 
purchased  a  considerable  amount  of  land,  and  he 
now  owns  240^  acres  in  this  township,  all  improved, 
and  170  acres  in  Pre-emption  Township,  Mercer 
County,  most  of  which  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  and 
progressive  stock-raisers  in  the  county,  having  a 
herd    of  thoroughbred  Short-horns  or  Durhams,    a 


large  number  of  Poland-China  swine   and    Norman 
and  Clydesdale  horses. 

In  his  political  opinions  he  is  a  fervid  and  influen- 
tial Republican,  being  a  zealous  worker  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  party.  He  has  been  Township  Supervisor 
for  about  eight  years,  and  has  also  held  most  of  the 
minor  offices.  He  and  his  family  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
society  he  is  a  Class-Leader,  and  has  been  Steward 
and  Trustee  for  many  years. 


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IME  is  ever  moving  on.  The 
deeds  and  actions  of  to-day 
form  the  subject  of  history 
to-morrow.     From  the  rec- 
ord of  these  deeds  men  form 
opinions,   and   their  actions 
in  the  present  and  future  are  gov- 
erned.     Rock   Island  County   fur- 
nishes the  world   a    record  that    is 
of  great  interest,  a  record  that  tells 
of    heroic   deeds   of  its    pioneers, 
how    that    vast   territory   was    se- 
cured    from    savage    tribes     and 
made   the  home  of  civilized  man. 
In  Rock  Island  County  originated 
the  troubles,  and  from  this  county 
nearly  every  movement  was  made, 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War,    and  here  the  chiefs  gath- 
ered together  in  council,  and  treaties  were  made  re- 
sulting  in  lasting  peace.     Upon   the  lovely   island 
and  magnificent  bluffs  that  overlook  the   river,  the 
red  men  were  wont  to  stray,  and  many  beautiful  and 
touching  legends  are  told  of  their   presence    here. 
The  white  men  came,  and  that  country  so  lovely  in 
nature  has  been  greatly  changed,  but  it  can  never  he 
robbed  of  its  great   beauty.     The    island    and   the 
bluffs  still  exist,  and  the  valleys  are  transformed  into 
fields  of  waving  grain.     The  trails  of  the  hunters  and 
the  wily  red  man  have  given  place  to  railroads  and 
broad  thoroughfares,  school-houses,  churches,  mills, 
postoffices,  manufactories  and  elegant  dwelling-hous- 
es are   now  to  be  seen  upon  every  hand.     The  rec- 


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ordof  the  marvelous  change  is  history,  and  the  most 
important  that  can  be  written. 

It  is  but  little  more  than  half  a  century  since  the 
white  men   came  to  this  beautiful  land  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  homes,  but  in  that  time  what  great 
and  startling   events  have  transpired!     Monarchies 
since  then   have  crumbled  into  dust   and  republics 
have  been  reared  upon  their  ruins.     Inventions  that 
have    revolutionized  labor   have   been    given  to  the 
world,  and  in  much  of  what  has  been  done  the  peo- 
ple of  Rock  Island  County  have  borne  a  leading  part. 
The   question   is  often  asked,  why   men    have  the 
comforts  and  pleasures  of  civilized  lands  and  strike 
out  into  a  new  and  almost  unknown  country,  bearing 
the  toils  and  privations  which  are  unavoidable.     Not 
more  from  choice  than  necessity  did  the  old  pioneers 
bid  farewell  to  the  play-grounds  of  their  childhood 
and  the   graves    of  their  fathers.     One    generation 
after  another  had  worn  themselves  out  in  the  service 
of  avaricious    landlords,  or  to    eke  out  a  miserable 
existence  upon  barren  or  worn-out  land,  which  they 
called  their  own.     From  the  first  flashes  of  the  morn- 
ing light  until  the  last  glimmer  of  the  setting  sun  they 
had  toiled  unceasingly  on  from  father  to  son,  carry- 
ing home  each  day  upon  their  aching  shoulders    the 
precious    proceeds   of  their    daily    labor.       Money, 
pride  and   power  were    handed  down  in  the  line  of 
succession  from  the  rich  father  to  his  son,  while  un- 
ceasing work,    continuous    poverty  and   everlasting 
obscurity  were  the  heritage  of  the  working  man  and 
his  children.     For    the   sons  and  daughters   of  the 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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poor  man  to  remain  there  was  to  follow  and  never  to 
lead — to  be  poor  forever. 

Without  money,  prestige  or  friends,  the  old  pioneers 
drifted  along  seeking  the  garden  spot,  the  place 
where  he  might  establish  a  home,  where  he  might  ed- 
ucate his  sons  and  daughters,  giving  them  privileges 
he  never  enjoyed  himself.  The  broad  prairie  and 
beautiful  groves  of  Rock  Island  County  in  that  early 
day  were  indeed  inviting  to  those  seeking  a  home  in 
a  more  favored  land,  and  here  planted  their  stakes, 
many  of  whom  the  present  generation  have  rea- 
son to  rise  up  and  call  blessed.  To  secure  and 
adorn  the  homes  desired  by  the  pioneers,  more  than 
ordinary  ambition  was  required,  greater  than  ordina- 
nary  endurance  demanded.  How  well  they  have 
succeeded,  let  the  broad,  cultivated  fields  and  fruit- 
bearing  orchards,  the  flocks  and  the  herds,  the  pa- 
latial residences,  the  places  of  business,  the  spacious 
halls,  the  clattering  car-wheels  and  ponderous  en- 
gines all  testify. 

There  was  a  time  when  pioneers  waded  through 
deep  snows,  across  bridgeless  rivers  and  through  bot- 
tomless sloughs,  more  than  a  score  of  miles  to  mill 
or  market,  and  when  more  time  was  required  to  reach 
and  return  from  market  than  is  now  required  to  cross 
the  continent  or  Atlantic  Ocean.  These  were  the 
times  when  their  palaces  were  constructed  of  logs 
and  covered  with  "  shakes  "  riven  from  forest  trees. 
These  were  the  times  when  children  were  stowed 
away  during  the  nights  in  the  low,  dark  attics, 
amongst  the  horns  of  the  elk  and  the  deer,  and 
where  through  the  chinks  in  the  "  shakes  "  they  could 
count  the  twinkling  stars.  These  were  the  times 
when  chairs  and  bedsteads  were  hewn  from  the  for- 
est trees,  and  tables  and  bureaus  constructed  from 
the  boxes  in  which  goods  were  brought.  These  were 
the  days  when  all  were  required  to  work  six  days  in 
the  week  and  all  the  hours  in  a  day  from  sunrise  to 
sunset.  Now  all  is  changed.  In  viewing  the  bless- 
ings "which  now  surround  us,  we  should  reverence 
those  that  made  them  possible,  and  ever  fondly  cher- 
ish in  memory  the  sturdy  old  pioneer  and  his  log 
cabin. 

Generation  after  generation  come  and  go  like  the 


leaves  of  autumn.  Nations  have  been  born,  have 
had  their  rise  and  fall,  and  then  passed  away,  leav- 
ing scarcely  a  riffle  on  the  great  ocean  of  time  to 
show  that  they  ever  existed,  so  imperfect  and  muta- 
ble has  been  their  means  to  perpetuate  their  achieve- 
ments. It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an 
intelligent,  undecaying,  immutable  method  of  per- 
petuating this  history ;  immutable  in  that  it  is  almost 
unlimited  in  extent,  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing.  Nations  may  be- 
come disintegrated  and  pass  away,  monuments  and 
statues  may  crumble  into  dust,  but  books  will  live. 
This  art  has  been  rapidly  advancing  from  its  first  in- 
ception until  now  it  would  seem  that  there  were  no 
longer  any  further  ground  for  improvement.  This  is 
pre-eminently  an  age  of  printing,  an  age  of  books. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  are  we  indebt- 
ed for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system  of 
local  history  and  local  biography.  By  this  system 
every  man,  though  he  has  not  achieved  what  the 
world  calls  greatness,  has  the  means  to  perpetuate 
his  life,  his  history  through  the  coming  ages  ;  so  alike 
has  every  community. 

AYe  come  now  to  the  work  before  us  :  To  our  pat- 
rons, we  say,  that  the  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all  ; 
nothing  of  the  physical  man  is  left;  the  monument 
which  his  children  or  friends  may  erect  to  his  mem- 
ory in  the  cemetery  will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass 
away  ;  but  his  life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has 
accomplished,  which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is 
perpetuated  by  this  book  through  coming  ages. 
Shakespeare  has  said : 

Tin.'  evil  that  1111*11  do  live<  after  them; 
The  good  is  oft  interred  witli  their  bones. 

Our  aim  in  this  work  has  been  only  to  preserve  the 
good.  We  sought  to  gather  from  the  best  sources 
of  information  obtainable,  the  conditions  and  inci- 
dents of  the  early  pioneer  life,  and  to  present  that 
together  with  the  present  development  of  the  county. 
Many  of  the  pioneers  came  into  this  beautiful  coun- 
try without  a  dollar  in  their  pockets,  but  with  the 
unflinching  determination  to  carve  out  their  fortunes 
and  build  up  a  community.  With  undaunted  hearts 
and  a  courage  equal  to  that  of  the  great  heroes  of 
our  country,  they  began  life. 


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ANY  years  before  the  white 
man  visited  this  region  of 
XapO;  country,  it  was  the 
home  of  the  red  men,  who 
'it,  selected  it  for  its  rare 
pJjKkf  beauty  and  the  abund- 
ance of  game  and  fish 
which  abounded.  That  their  choice 
was  a  wise  one  cannot  for  a  moment 
be  doubted.  A  more  lovely  region 
as  it  came  from  the  hands  of  an  All- 
wise  God,  the  Creator  of  heaven  and 
earth,  could  not  well  be  imagined. 
The  bold,  high  bluffs,  the  beautiful 
valleys,  the  Sinissippi  or  Rock  River, 
clear  and  sparkling,  the  Mississippi, 
or  Fater  of  Waters,  rushing  along  the  sea,  to  the 
lovely  Rock  Island,  where,  according  to  the  Indian 
legend,  the  Good  Spirit  dwelt,  all  tended  to  make  it 
a  rare  home  for  those  who  worshiped  Nature  and 
Nature's  God. 

According  to  Black  Hawk,  the  celebrated  Indian 
Chief,  the  Sac  tribe  of  Indians,  of  which  he  was  one, 
once  inhabited  the  region  about  Quebec,  Canada, 
from  which  place  they  were  driven  to  Montreal, 
from  thence  to  Mackinac  and  subsequently  to  Green 
Bay,  Wis.,  locating  on  a  stream  now  known  as  the 
Sac  River.  Here  they  held  a  council  with  the  Foxes, 
another  Eastern  tribe  which  had  been  driven  West 
by  their  enemies,  and  which  had  become  weakened 
by  wars.  A  treaty  of  friendship  and  alliance  was 
agreed  upon,  the  Foxes  abandoning  their  villages 
and  uniting  with  the  Sacs,  thus  in  time  becoming  one 


band  or  nation  of  people.  They  were  driven,  how- 
ever, by  the  combined  forces  of  their  enemies  to  the 
Wisconsin  River,  where  they  remained  for  a  time,  or 
until  a  party  of  their  young  men,  who  descended  the 
Rock  River  to  its  mouth,  had  returned  and  made  a 
favorable  report  of  the  country.  Then  all  descended 
the  river  down  the  Kaskaskias  from  the  country  and 
commenced  the  erection  of  their  villages,  which  they 
determined  never  to  leave.  * 

What  year  they  effected  their  settlement  here  is 
not  known.  Capt.  Jonathan  Cower,  a  noted  Eng- 
lish traveler,  visited  the  Northwest  in  1766,  and 
claims  that  on  the  8th  day  of  October  of  that  year, 
he  visited  a  Sac  village  on  'he  Wisconsin  River,  de- 
scribing it  as  having  90  houses,  each  large  enough 
for  several  families,  constructed  of  hewed  plank, 
neatly  joined,  and  covered  with  bark  roofs,  impervi- 
ous to  the  most  penetrating  rains.  He  said  this  vil- 
lage was  the  largest  and  best  that  he  had  ever  seen, 
and  more  like  the  abode  of  civilization  than  the 
home  of  savages.  Black  Hawk  claims  to  have  been 
born  at  the  Indian  village  located  near  the  mouth  of 
Rock  River,  in  what  is  now  Rock  Island  County,  in 
1767.  If  he  is  correct  the  settlement  must  have 
been  made  here  in  the  spring  of  that  year.f  It  is 
hardl,-  likely  that  they  would  have  removed  in  the 
winter. 

Several  district  villages  is  known   to   have  existed 

*  Autobiography  of  Black  Hawk  pps.  15,16. 

t Black  Hawk  says  his  tribe  was  here  lOo  years  before 
being  driven  aero--  the  Mississippi.  His  statemenl  is 
accepted  by  most  writer?,  but  we  think  it  an  error. — 
Editor. 


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in  this  county.  One,  the  largest,  where  the  village  of 
Milan  now  stands,  near  the  mouth  of  Rock  River.  Of 
this  village,  Hon.  T.  A.  Armstrong,  in  his  history  of 
the  Black  Hawk  War,  says  : 

Saukenuk,  or  Saukietown,  nestled  at  the  foot  of 
the  promontory  on  the  peninsula,  upon  the  north 
bank  of  Rock  River,  some  three  miles  south  of  the 
present  city  of  Rock  Island.  This  city,  for  it  was 
such  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  stood  at  the  foot  of 
the  rapids  of  the  lovely  Rock  River,  which  comes 
from  the  northeast,  winding  its  course  down  through 
one  of  the  most  fertile  countries  in  the  world,  like  a 
silver  thread  in  a  groundwork  cf  embossed  green,  be- 
neath the  shady  boughs  of  great  forest  trees.  Its 
banks  were  carpeted  with  wild  roses,  lilies,  and  a 
multitude  of  other  wild  flowers,  whose  sweet  fra- 
grance perfumed  each  passing  breeze  and  zephyr. 
Chiefly  fed  by  springs,  the  waters  of  this  river  are 
pure  and  sparkling,  and  come  jumping,  tumbling  and 
bounding  over  the  well-worn  rocks  of  the  rapids, 
rushing  on  with  a  musical  laugh  to  join  the  "  Father 
of  Waters,"  some  two  and  a  half  miles  below. 

Here  in  this  valley  stood  this  ancient  city  of  the 
Sauks,  which  at  one  time  contained  by  actual  enum- 
eration 11,000  active,  energetic,  industrious  and  in- 
telligent people.  It  was  regularly  laid  off  into  lots, 
blocks,  streets  and  alleys,  with  two  public  squares  or 
esplanades,  and  fortified  by  a  brush  palisade,  with 
gates  for  entrance.  It  was  right  angle  in  shape,  with 
its  point  to  the  southeast,  the  east  line  being  the 
longer,  extending  north  and  south  along  the  base  of 
the  promontory — the  point  of  the  angle  resting  on  the 
bank  of  Rock  River,  with  the  shortest  line  running 
down  that  river,  and  the  longer  one  toward  the  Miss- 
issippi. At  the  point  of  the  angle,  or  southeast 
corner  of  the  city,  stood  the  lodge  or  hodenasate  of 
the  old  chief,  Black  Hawk.  Saukenuk  was  not  a 
mere  aggregation  of  wigwams  and  tepees,  but  a  per- 
manent Indian  abode,  composed  of  the  large,  bark- 
covered  long  houses,  known  as  hodenasates,  ranging 
from  30  to  100  feet  in  length,  and  16  to  40  feet  in 
width.  Many  of  them  were  the  homes  of  an  entire 
gens,  comprising  the  families  of  the  grandparents, 
children  and  grandchildren,  their  husbands,  wives 
and  children.  They  were  built  and  constructed  of 
poles  for  framework,  and  bark  for  covering.  In  shape 
they  resembled  our  arbors. 

The  Sauks  belonged  to  that  class  known  as  village 


Indians,  the  most  advanced  towards  civilization 
found  in  North  America,  and  always  lived  in  or  near 
the  village.  The  hodenasate  is  the  distinguishing 
characteristic  of  their  principal  village,  and  means 
settlement  or  permanence,  while  the  wigwam  or  tepee 
was  equally  characteristic  of  a  hunting  or  migrating 
party,  and  therefore  a  mere  temporary  abode.  As  a 
general  rule  their  hodenasates  were  built  so  as  to 
face  or  front  on  their  public  square  or  other  street, 
and  ranged  in  straight  lines  at  the  front  and  equal 
distances  from  each  other.  The  east  line  of  the  vil- 
lage, extending  from  Rock  River  north  towards  Rock 
Island,  at  the  base  of  the  promontory,  about  double 
the  length  of  the  south  line,  which  ran  west  along  the 
north  bank  of  Rock  River.  The  chief  or  larger  and 
longer  public  square  was  the  one  running  north  and 
south,  leading  from  Rock  River  towards  the  Missis- 
sippi, through  or  near  which  now  runs  the  horse  rail- 
way from  Rock  Island  to  Moline.  Upon  the  southeast 
angle  of  the  intersection  of  these  two  public  squares 
stood  their  synedrium  or  council  house,  which  was 
an  immensely  large  hodenasate  without  partitions  or 
subvisions,  and  was  used  by  their  head  men  and 
chiefs  for  the  secret  consideration  and  decision  of 
matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  their  nation. 
When  not  so  used  it  was  thrown  open  to  their  young 
people  as  a  gymnasium,  music  or  dancing  hall.  The 
public  square,  however,  was  the  arena  for  the  assem- 
bly of  the  people  on  all  great  events  of  a  public  na- 
ture, and  there  their  mass-meetings  and  national 
feasts  were  held. 

The  natural  scenery  surrounding  the  ancient  city 
was  of  that  wild,  weird  beauty  as  to  captivate  the 
senses  and  hold  us  spell-bound  in  admiration  ;  scene- 
ry of  that  ravishing  kind  which  drives  the  poet  mad 
in  search  of  apt  terms  of  description  ;  a  second  Eden, 
prepared  by  God  himself  for  a  special  and  perpetu- 
ated admiration  of  his  children. 

As  Rock  River  approaches  the  site  of  ancient 
Saukenuk  from  the  east  it  divides  into  three  branches 
and  forms  two  small  islands.  The  northern  one  is 
the  somewhat  celebrated  Vandruff's  Island,  notorious 
as  being  the  place  where  Joshua  Vandruff  located 
his  whisky  shop  in  1829,  while  the  middle  branch  di- 
vides Vandruff's  from  Big  Island.  Big  Island  is 
larger  and  more  irregular  in  surface  than  Vandruff's. 

On  the  3d  day  of  November,  1804,  at  St.  Louis,  a 
treaty  was  made  between  the  general  Government, 


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,'  represented  by  William  Henry  Harrison,  afterwards 

i   President  of  the  United  States,  and   the   Sacs   and 

Foxes,  represented  by  some  of  their  braves.    For  the 

1  consideration  of  the  sum  of  $2,234.50  and  an  annuity 
of  $1,000  per  year,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  ceded  some 
50,000,000  acres  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  extending  from  opposite  the  mouth  of 
the  Jefferson  River,  in  Missouri,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Wisconsin  and  back  to  the  Fox  River,  in  Illinois. 
This  tract  included  all  the  Rock  River  country,  em- 
bracing in  part  what  is  now  Rock  Island  County,  to- 
gether with  what  is  now  a  large  portion  of  the  States 
of  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  At  this  time  the  Ameri- 
cans were  but  little  known  to  the  Indian  tribes  in- 
habiting this  section  of  country.  They  had  been 
familiar  with  the  French,  English  and  Spanish  peo- 
ple, and  knew  of  the  Americans  only  what  had  been 
told  them  by  representatives  of  the  foregoing  nations. 
The  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  had  been  claimed 
by  France    and  Spain,  the  French  disposing  of  their 

'  >  claim  to  the  United  States  in  the  spring  of  1803  and 
rS^  the   Spanish    in   the  spring   of   1804.     The   Spanish 

=i  claim  lay  above  St.  Louis  and  therefore  the  Sac 
and  Fox  Indians  were  under  allegiance  to  them. 
They  had  high  regard  for  their  "  Spanish  father."  St. 

y  Louis  was  their    trading  point,  where  they  made  an- 

C  mial  trips  to  dispose  of  their  furs  and  obtain  supplies. 
Black  Hawk,  in  his  autobiography,  speaks  of  one  of 
these  visits  to  St.  Louis  in  the  spring  of  1804,  and 
how  he  and  the  citizens  there  were  affected  by  the 
transfer  of  the  country  to  the  Americans.  He  says  : 
"  That  spring  we  went  down  to  St.  Louis  to  see  our 
'  Spanish  father. '  I  found  many  sad  and  gloomy 
faces,  because  the  United  States  were  about  to  take 
possession  of  the  town  and  country.  Soon  after  the 
Americans  came,  I  took  my  band  and  went  to  take 
leave  of  our  'Spanish  father. '  The  Americans  came 
to  see  him  also.  Seeing  them  approach,  we  passed 
out  of  one  door  as  they  entered  another  and  imme- 
diately started  in  our  canoes  for  our  village  on  Rock 
River,  not  liking  the  change  any  more  than  our 
friends  appeared  to  at  St.  Louis.  On  arriving  at  our 
■  village  we  gave  the  news  that  a  strange'  people  had 
arrived  at  St.  Louis,  and  that  we  should  never 
never  see  our  '  Spanish  father '  again.  The  informa- 
tion made  all  our  people  sorry.  " 

If  the  Indians  here   had  ever  met  the  Americans 

previous   to  this  time,  it  must  have   been  in  1781, 

\T    when  it  is  said  an  officer  with  300  men  destroyed  the 


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A 


Sac  village  at  the  mouth  of  Rock  River.  The  Indians 
on  that  occasion  numbered  about  700  warriors,  but 
were  unable  to  save  their  village.  Lieutenant  Pike 
made  a  visit  to  this  place  in  1805,  and  for  the  first 
time  the  American  flag  was  hoisted.  In  speaking  of 
this  visit,  Black  Hawk  said:  "A  boat  came  up  the 
river  with  a  young  American  chief  and  a  small  party 
of  soldiers.  We  heard  of  them  soon  after  they  passed 
Salt  River.  Some  of  our  young  braves  watched 
him  to  see  what  kind  of  a  people  he  had  on  board. 
The  boat  at  length  arrived  at  Rock  River  and  the 
young  chief  came  on  shore  with  his  interpreter,  made 
a  speech  and  gave  us  some  presents.  We  in  return 
presented  him  with  meat  and  such  provisions  as  we 
had  to  spare.  We  were  well  pleased  with  the  speech 
of  the  young  chief.  He  gave  us  good  advice  ;  said 
our  '  American  father '  would  treat  us  well.  He  pre- 
sented us  an  American  flag,  which  was  hoisted.  He 
then  requested  us  to  pull  down  our  British  flags  and 
give  him  our  British  medals,  promising  to  send  us 
others  on  his  return  to  St.  Louis.  This  was  declined, 
as  we  wished  to  have  two  fathers.  " 

The  expedition  under  Pike  was  for  the  purpose  of 
exploring  the  newly  acquired  territory,  securing  the 
good  will  of  the  Indians,  to  establish  the  authority  of 
the  United  States  on  the  upper  Mississippi  among 
the  British  traders  who  had  established  themselves 
south  of  our  boundary  line  and  to  acquire  from  the 
Indians  certain  tracts  of  land  for  military  purposes. 
In  April,  1S06,  he  returned  to  St.  Louis,  having  ac- 
complished his  object.  In  his  journal  he  states  that 
when  he  approached  Rock  Island  (then  not  named), 
a  barge  appeared  in  view  bearing  the  American  flag, 
and  landed  on  the  island.  It  proved  to  be  Captain 
May,  with  a  small  force  of  men,  in  search  of  some 
Osage  prisoners  among  the  Sacs  and  Foxes.  The 
Captain  reported  that  when  he  and  his  party  ap- 
proached the  Indian  villages  they  were  saluted  with 
the  appellation,  "  bloody  Americans,"  who  had  killed 
such  a  person's  mother  or  brother.  The  women  car- 
ried off  their  guns  and  concealed  them,  and  when 
May  crossed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  he  was 
followed  by  Indians  with  pistols  concealed  under 
their  blankets.  They  would  have  no  conference  with 
him  in  relation  to  the  surrender  of  the  prisoners. 
The  Indians  regarded  the  plume  worn  by  Captain 
May  as  a  signal  of  war,  and  at  once  decked  them- 
selves in  their  raven's  feathers.  Captain  May  said: 
"  We  regretted  that  our  orders  would  not  permit  of 


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our  punishing  the  scoundrels,  as  by  a  coup  de  main 
we  might  easily  have  carried  the  village." 

When  the  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States  occurred  in  1812,  a  large  body  of 
Sacs  and  Foxes  went  to  St.  Louis  and  offered  their 
services  to  the  general  Government,  but  the  Govern- 
ment did  not  wish  to  employ  savages  in  the  war,  and 
deemed  it  best  that  they  should  remain  neutral,  be- 
lieving a  general  policy  of  neutrality  would  have  the 
effect  of  deterring  the  disaffected  Indians  from  en- 
listing on  the  other  side.  They  were  told  that  the 
British  traders  would  not  be  allowed  in  the  United 
States  territory,  but  that  the  Indians  would  be  sup- 
plied by  American  traders  on  as  favorable  terms  as 
they  had  received  from  the  British.  Black  Hawk 
claims  that  this  agreement  was  broken  ;  that  when 
they  went  to  Fort  Madison  to  obtain  their  supplies, 
the  agent  would  not  supply  them  on  credit,  but  de- 
manded payment  before  goods  were  removed.  This 
he  gives  as  the  reason  why  the  Indians  under  his 
command  sided  with  the  British  during  the  war. 
This  is  undoubtedly  false,  as  the  evidence  goes  to 
prove  that  alliance  had  already  been  formed  between 
the  great  Indian  Confederacy  and  the  English,  and 
that  Biack  Hawk  had  been  in  constant  communica- 
tion with  Tecumseh,  the  head  of  the  confederation. 
When  the  British  agent  arrived  at  Rock  River  in 
August,  1812,  with  a  message  from  his  government 
and  presents  for  the  savages,  he  found  no  difficulty 
in  persuading  Black  Hawk  and  his  followers  to  en- 
list in  the  British  service.  Black  Hawk  and  his 
warriors  were  ever  after  know  n  as  the  "British 
band."  According  to  his  own  account  he  was  in 
but  two  battles,  became  disaffected  and  deserted  from 
the  army  with  a  remnant  of  his  followers,  carrying 
on  a  desultory  warfare  against  the  Americans. 

In  May,  1814,  George  Clark  started  from  St.  Louis 
to  Prairie  du  Chien.  On  arriving  near  Fort  Ed- 
wards, he  was  attacked  by  the  Indians  under  Black 
Hawk,  with  a  loss  of  seven  killed,  though  the  In- 
dians were  forced  to  retire,  losing  only  three  of  their 
warriors.  On  arriving  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  the  Gov- 
ernor found  the  fort  evacuated  and  took  peaceable 
possession.  Setting  his  men  to  work  to  erect  a  new 
fort,  the  Governor  returned  to  St.  Louis. 

Gen.  Howard,  commanding  at  St.  Louis,  immedi- 
ately organized  a  new  expedition  to  proceed  to  Prairie 
du  Chien,  placing  it  under  command  of  Lieut.  Camp- 


X 

bell,  of  the  regular  army.  There  were  three  boats, 
or  barges,  commanded  respectively  by  Lieut.  Camp-  2 
bell,  Lieut.  Riggs  and  Captain  Rector,  of  the  rangers. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Rock  River,  the 
boats  lay  all  night  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Sac 
and  Fox  villages.  The  Indians  pretended  to  be  very  VS 
friendly,  crowding  around  the  boats  and  engaging  in 
a  little  trading.  When  the  boats  started  on  their 
journey  the  next  morning,  the  treacherous  savages 
armed  themselves  and  secretly  followed  along  the 
shore  and  in  canoes,  hoping  that  the  barges  might 
be  detained  at  the  rapids,  or  run  aground,  and  so 
render  them  an  easy  prey.  A  sudden  gust  of  wind 
struck  Campbell's  boat  and  drove  it  on  an  island 
near  the  main  shore,  where  it  lodged.  Immediately 
putting  out  sentinels,  his  men  began  cooking  break- 
fast, when  the  Indians  rushed  upon  them  in  large 
numbers.  A  writer  thus  describes  the  scene  that 
followed : 

"  Hundreds  and  hundreds  of  the  warriors  were  on 
and  around   the  boat,    and    at    last    set    it   on  fire. 
Campbell's  boat    was  burning,   and  the  bottom    was 
covered  with  the  dead, the  wounded,  and  blood.  They 
had  almost  ceased  firing  when  Rector  and   his  brave 
men  nobly  came    to  the  rescue.     Campbell  himself 
lay  wounded  on  his  back,  in  the  bottom  of  his   boat,  m 
and  many  of  his  men  dead  and    dying  around  him 
Ring's  boat  was  well  fortified,  but   his  men  were  in- 
experienced sailors.     Rector  and  his  men  could  not 
remain    inactive    spectators   of   the   destruction    of 
Campbell  and    his   men,    but  in  a  tempest  of  wind 
raised  their  anchor,  in  the  face  of  almost  a  thousand 
Indians,    and  periled  their   lives    in   the  rescue  of 
Campbell.     Rector's  boat  was  lightened  by  throwing 
overboard  quantities   of  provisions,  and  then  many 
of  his  crew  actually  got  out  of  the  boat  into  the  wa- 
ter, leaving  the  vessel  between  them  and  the  fire  of 
the  enemy,  and  pushed  their  boat  against  the  fire  of 
the  Indians  to  Campbell's  boat,  which   was  in  pos- 
session of  the  enemy.     This    was  a  most  hazardous    \ 
exploit  for  40  men — forcing  their   barge  to  a  burning 
boat  in  possession  of  the  enemy  nearly  1,000  strong,    j 
and  taking-from  it  the  wounded  and  living  soldiers,  •(. 
together  with  their  commander!  " 

After  rescuing  the  living  men  from  the  burning 
boat,  Rector  and  his  men  hauled  their  own  boat  out 
into  deep  water,  and,  crowded  with  the  wounded  and 
dying,  rowed   night  and  day  until  they  reached  St. 


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Louis.     From    this    circumstance,    the    island  lias 
since  had  the  name  of  "  Campbell's  Island." 

Another  expedition  was  soon  fitted  out,  and  under 
command  of  Major  Zachary  Taylor,  proceeded  up  the 
river  to  relieve  the  fort  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  With 
the  expedition  there  were  eight  barges  and  450  men, 
well  supplied  with  everything  save  artillery.  Major 
Taylor  left  St.  Louis  Aug.  12,  1814.  When  he  ar- 
rived opposite  the  mouth  of  Rock  River,  he  found  a 
large  force  of  Indians  with  a  few  British  troops,  as- 
sembled to  give  him  battle.  Some  of  the  artillery 
the  British  captured  at  Fort  Crawford,  were  shipped 
to  this  point  and  planted  on  the  shore,  commanding 
the  river.  Opening  the  fire  upon  him,  Taylor  was 
forced  to  retreat,  as  he  could  not  return  the  fire. 
He  halted  at  Credit  Island,  but  the  Indians  hasten- 
ing down  the  river  with  their  cannon,  again  brought 
it  to  bear  upon  them,  and  he  continued  on  to  St. 
Louis.  This  practically  ended  the  war  in  the  West. 
On  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes  again  professed  allegiance  to  the 
United  States  Government.  The  treaty  of  1804  was 
ratified  by  another  treaty  in  18 16. 

The  lead  discoveries  at  Galena  hastened  the  set- 
tlement of  this  section.  Men  going  and  coming  from 
the  lead  mines  were  well  pleased  with  the  country 
and  desired  to  locate  here.  According  to  the  terms 
of  the  treaty,  made  in  i8r6,  the  Indians  were  per- 
permitted  to  remain  in  the  Rock  River  country  until 
such  a  time  as  the  land  should  be  desired  for  settle- 
ment by  the  whites.  In  the  spring  of  1828  they 
were  notified  by  the  agent  at  Fort  Armstrong  that 
they  must  go  upon  their  reservation  across  the  river. 
Keokuk  and  his  followers  willingly  went,  but  Black 
Hawk  under  protest.  In  the  spring  of  1829  they  all 
returned,  but  no  trouble  of  any  consequence  ensued. 
The  white  men  living  here  engaged  with  them  in 
raising  corn  and  other  vegetables,  there  being  a 
tacit  understanding  that  one  would  not  interfere  with 
the  other.  In  the  spring  of  1830  they  again  returned, 
and  also  in  1831. 

At  this  time  quite  a  settlement  had  been  formed 
in  this  vicinity.  Every  effort  had  been  made  to  have 
the  Indians  peaceably  retire  to  their  reservation. 
Colonel  George  Davenport  made  a  trip  to  Washing- 
ton to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  Government  in 
a  peaceable  settlement  of  the  difficulties  by  again 
purchasing  the  land.     President  Jackson,  after  hear- 


ing a  statement  of  the  various  treaties,  and  how 
the  Indians  had  treacherously  acted  with  reference 
to  them,  said:  "They  must  go,  Mr.  Davenport; 
and,  by  the  Eternal,  they  shall  go !  I  will  not  pay 
them  a  cent."  With  reference  to  their  return  in 
1831,  Judge  Spencer  thus  writes  : 

"In  1 831  came  a  new  era  in  our  history.  The 
Indians  returned  in  large  numbers,  perhaps  as  many 
as  in  1829,  and  with  quite  a  different  spirit  towards 
the  whites.  Black  Hawk  gave  the  settlers  to  under- 
stand that  after  this  season  they  must  go  south  of 
Rock  River  or  above  Pleasant  Valley.  He  said  this 
district  between  the  rivers  should  be  occupied  exclu- 
sively by  the  Indians,  giving  several  reasons  why 
they  could  not  afford  to  give  up  these  pleasant  hunt- 
ing grounds.  One  reason  was  that  this  side  of  the 
Mississippi  they  were  comparatively  safe  from  their 
enemies;  and  another,  that  the  country  abounded  in 
game  and  fish,  and  was  suited  to  their  mode  of  liv- 
ing, and  they  would  not  give  it  up.  Black  Hawk 
said  that  we  could  all  stay  this  season  except  Joshua 
Vandruff  and  Rinnah  Wells,  who  lived  in  the  midst 
of  this  village,  and  had  a  large  stock  of  cattle  which 
troubled  the  Indians  very  much.  Mr.  Vandruff 
showed  Black  Hawk  that  it  would  be  very  hard  for 
him  to  leave  on  so  short  a  notice,  as  he  was  a  poor 
man  and  had  twelve  children.  Black  Hawk  finally 
consented  that  he  might  stay  another  season,  but 
Mr.  Wells  must  go,  and  he  would  give  him  till  the 
next  day  to  make  up  his  mind  whether  he  would  go 
willingly  or  be  put  off.  Mr.  Wells  consulted  with 
his  friends,  and  finally  consented  to  leave  in  30  days. 
This  move  among  the  Indians  made  it  necessary  for 
the  settlers  to  look  about  and  see  what  they  could  do 
for  their  protection." 

A  petition  was  at  once  sent  to  Governor  Reynolds 
asking  protection  to  the  settlers  at  Rock  River.  The 
Governor  responded  by  calling  for  700  mounted 
militia,  and  also  requesting  General  Gaines,  of  the 
Regular  Army,  to  repair  at  once  to  Fort  Armstrong 
with  the  Sixth  Regiment.  The  call  of  the  Governor 
was  at  once  responded  to  by  more  than  double  the 
men.  They  rendezvoused  at  Beardstown,  where 
they  were  organized  under  command  of  Joseph  Dun- 
can, as  Brigadier  General,  and  marched  immediately 
for  Rock  Island. 

A  company  was  organized  at  Rock  River,  known 
as  Rock  River  Rangers,  which  probably  embraced 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


about  all  the  able-bodied  men  in  the  Rock  River 
country.  The  following  named  composed  the  com- 
pany : 

Benjamin  F.  Pik,  Captain ;  John  W.  Spencer,  First 
Lieutenant ;  Griffith  Aubrey,  Second  Lieutenant ; 
James  Haskill,  Leonard  Bryant  and  Edward  Cor- 
vin,  Sergeants  ;  Charles  French,  Charles  Case,  Ben- 
jamin Goble  and  Henry  Benson,  Corporals  ;  Archibald 
Allen,  William  T.  Brasher,  John  Bane,  Michael  Bart- 
lett,  Joseph  Bean,  Jonah  H.  Case,  Joseph  Danforth, 
)/£  Thomas  Davis,  Russell  Dance,  Isaiah  Frith,  Thomas 
£  Gardner,  George  W.  Harlan,  Uriah  S.  Hultz,  Thomas 
Hubbard,  Goodrich  Hubbard,  Cyrus  Henderson, 
Moses  Johnson,  John  W.  Kinney,  Samuel  Kinney, 
Conrad  Leek,  Thomas  Leavitt,  Henry  McNeal, 
George  Miller,  Gentry  McGee,  Amos  C.  Noble, 
Thomas  Syms,  Robert  Syms,  William  F.  Sams,  Mar- 
tin W.  Smith,  Sevier  Stringfield,  Joel  Thompson, 
Joshua  Vandruff,  Henry  Vandruff,  Samuel  Vandruff, 
Benjamin  Vanatta,  Gorham  Vanatta,  Edward  Vai- 
ner, Levi  Wells,  George  Wells,  Joel  Wells,  Sr.,  Joel 
Wells,  Jr.,  Huntington  Wells,  John  Wells,  Samuel 
Wells,  Rinnah  Wells,  Asaph  Wells,  Erie  Wells  and 
Ira  Wells. 

On  the  7th  of  June.  1831,  a  council  was  held  on 
the  island,  composed  of  General  Gaines,  the  officers 
of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  the  officers  of  the  garrison, 
1  the  citizens,  and  Keokuk  and  the  friendly  Indians. 
General  Gaines  ordered  all  the  Indians  to  withdraw 
to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Several 
conferences  were  held,  Keokuk  and  his  party  agree- 
ing to  go,  while  Black  Hawk  did  not  positively  re- 
fuse, but  it  was  thought  by  General  Gaines  that  he 
intended  to  fight. 

General  Duncan  and  Governor  Reynolds,  with 
1,600  mounted  troops,  arrived  at  Rock  River  on  the 
25th  of  June.  On  the  following  day  General  Gaines, 
with  the  Sixth  Regiment,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  the  Rock  River  Rangers,  proceeded  to  the  In- 
dian village  on  Rock  River,  where  the  village  of 
Milan  is  now  located,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  off 
the  Indians.  General  Duncan  marched  up  from 
Andalusia,  where  there  had  been  a  block-house 
erected,- by  order  of  General  Gaines.  They  found 
the  village  evacuated,  the  Indians  having  crossed 
the  river  the  night  previous. 

The  retreating  Indians  were  peremptorily  sum- 
moned to  Fort  Armstrong  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace- 


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ful  surrender  of  the  Rock  River  country.  They  came 
somewhat  reluctantly,  but  a  treaty  was  agreed  upon, 
signed  by  General  Gaines  and  Governor  Reynolds 
upon  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  by  Black 
Hawk,  Pashapaho  and  others  upon  the  part  of  the 
Indians  known  as  the  British  Band.  The  treaty 
stipulated  that  the  Indians  should  immediately  re- 
tire west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  never  to  re- 
turn without  the  express  permission  of  the  United 
States  Government  or  that  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

In  all  Black  Hawk's  actions  he  was  influenced  by 
White  Cloud,  Prophet  of  the  Winnebagoes,  who  re- 
sided at  a  village  in  Whiteside  County,  where  Proph- 
etstown  is  now  located, — so  named  because  it  had 
once  been  the  home  of  the  Prophet.  In  1831  he 
visited  the  Prophet,  as  he  says,  believing  that  he  was 
a  man  of  great  knowledge.  "When  we  met,"  says 
Black  Hawk  in  his  autobiography,  "  I  explained  to 
him  everything  as  it  was.  He  at  once  agreed  that  I 
was  light  and  advised  me  never  to  give  up  our  vil- 
lage, for  the  whites  to  plow  up  the  bones  of  our  peo- 
ple. He  said  that  if  we  remained  at  our  village  the 
whites  would  not  trouble  us,  and  advised  me  to  get 
Keokuk  and  the  party  that  consented  to  go  with  him 
to  Iowa  in  the  spring  to  return  and  remain  at 
our  village.  I  again  called  upon  the  Prophet,  who 
requested  a  little  time  to  see  into  the  matter.  Early 
next  morning  he  came  to  me  and  said  he  had  been 
dreaming  that  he  saw  nothing  bad  in  this  great  war 
chief,  General  Gaines,  who  was  now  near  Rock  River; 
that  his  object  was  merely  to  frighten  us  from  our 
village  that  the  whites  might  get  our  land  for  noth- 
ing. He  assured  us  that  this  great  war  chief  dare 
not  and  would  not  hurt  any  of  us  ;  that  the  Ameri- 
cans were  at  peace  with  the  British,  and  when  they 
made  peace  the  British  required  and  the  Americans 
agreed  to  it  that  they  should  never  interrupt  any  na- 
tion of  Indians  that  was  at  peace,  and  that  all  we  had 
to  do  to  retain  our  village  was  to  refuse  any  and  ev- 
ery offer  that  might  be  made  by  this  war  chief.  " 

Wa-bo-kies-shiek,  or  White  Cloud,  the  Prophet  of 
the  Winnebagoes,  and  commonly  called  "  The  Proph- 
et, "  was  born  about  1790,  and  made  Prophetstown 
his  home.  He  was  a  stout,  shrewd-looking  Indian  ; 
sagacity  and  cunning  were  prominent  traits  of  his 
character  and  essential  to  the  prophetic  preten- 
sions by  which  he  imposed  upon  the  credulity  of  his 
ignorant  follows.     It  is  claimed  that  he  was  one  of 


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the  chief  instigators  in  bringing  on  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  He  was  a  son  of  a  chief  of  the  Sac  and  Fox 
tribes,  but  was  connected  with  the  Winnebagoes  by 
marriage,  having  two  of  their  women  for  his  wives. 
He  is  roported  to  have  been  a  splendid  specimen  of 
the  Indian  race.  He  was  tall  and  dignified  in  his 
movements,  possessing  an  intelligence  far  beyond 
his  race.  His  face  had  something  of  the  Grecian 
cast,  and  his  mind  and  character  was  more  that  of  a 
student  than  that  of  an  uncivilized  Indian  warrior. 
He  became  one  of  the  most  distinguishing  chiefs  of 
the  Winnebagoes  and  was  the  right  arm  of  Black 
Hawk  during  the  Black  Hawk  War  of  1832,  being 
constantly  with  him  until  its  close,  which  ended  at 
the  battle  of  Bad  Axe.  We  present  a  portrait  of  the 
Prophet  on  page  680. 

When  the  Indians  were  driven  off,  in  1831,  the 
season  was  too  far  advanced  to  raise  a  crop  of  corn 
and  vegetables  in  their  new  location.  The  Govern- 
ment agreed  to  provide  them  with  food  until  another 
year.  Whether  through  carelessness  of  the  Indian 
agents  or  from  some  other  reasons,  they  were  not 
properly  provided,  and  great  suffering  was  experi- 
enced by  the  women  and  children. 

During  the  winter  Black  Hawk  was  in  communi- 
cation with  the  Prophet  and  with  British  traders. 
He  was  urged  by  each  to  hold  on  to  the  land  on 
Rock  River.  The  Prophet  said  that  the  Winneba- 
goes, Pottawatomies  and  other  tribes  would  fight 
with  him  in  maintaining  his  rights,  and  that  the 
British  would  also  assist.  Black  Hawk  was  there- 
fore prepared  for  the  events  which  followed,  known 
as  the  Black  Hawk  War,  though  its  termination  was 
not  such  as  he  had  anticipated. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1832  Black  Hawk  and  his 
band  again  re -crossed  the  river,  thus  violating  the 
treaty  made  the  previous  year. 

The  united  Sac  and  Fox  nations  were  divided  into 
two  parties.  Black  Hawk  commanded  the  warlike 
band  and  Keokuk,  another  chief,  headed  the  band 
which  was  in  favor  of  peace.  Keokuk  was  a  bold, 
sagacious  leader  of  his  people.  He  was  gifted  with 
a  wide  and  stirring  eloquence  rare  to  be  found,  even 
among  Indians,  by  means  of  which  he  retained  a  great 
part  of  his  nation  in  amity  with  the  white  people. 
Bat  neatly  all  the  bold,  turbulent  spirits,  who  de- 
lighted in  mischief,  arranged  themselves  under  the 
banner  of  his  rival.     Black  Hawk  had  with  him  the 


chivalry  of  his  nation,  with  which  he  re-crossed  the 
Mississippi  in  the  spring  of  1832.  He  directed  his 
march  to  the  Rock  River  country,  and  this  timeaimed, 
by  marching  up  the  river  into  the  country  of  the  Potta- 
watomies and  Winnebagoes,  to  make  them  his  allies. 
Gov.  Reynolds,  upon  being  informed  of  the  facts, 
made  another  call  for  volunteers.  In  a  few  days 
1,800  men  rallied  under  his  banner  at  Beardslown. 
The  force  was  organized  into  four  regiments  and  a 
spy  battalion,  the  whole  being  placed  under  com- 
mand of  Brigadier  General  Whiteside. 

On  the  evening  of  May  14,  1832,  the  first  engage- 
ment occurred  between  the  military  and  Black 
Hawk's  band,  in  which  the  former  were  defeated. 

This  attack  and  its  results  aroused  the  whites.  A 
large  force  of  men  was  raised,  and  Gen.  Scott  hast- 
ened from  the  seaboard,  by  way  of  the  lakes,  with 
United  States  troops  and  artillery  to  aid  in  the  sub- 
jugation of  the  Indians.  On  the  24th  of  June,  Black 
Hawk,  with  200  wairiors,  was  repulsed  by  Major  De- 
mont  between  Rock  River  and  Galena.  The  Amer- 
ican army  continued  to  move  up  Rock  River  toward 
the  main  body  of  the  Indians,  and  on  the  21st  of 
July  came  upon  Black  Hawk  and  his  band,  and 
defeated  them  near  the  Blue  Mounds. 

Black  Hawk,  with  his  twenty  braves,  retreated  up 
the  Wisconsin  River.  The  Winnebagoes,  desirous 
of  securing  the  friendship  of  the  whites,  went  in 
pursuit,  and  captured  and  delivered  them  to  Gen. 
Street,  the  United  States  Indian  Agent.  Among  the 
prisoners  were  the  son  of  Black  Hawk  and  the 
prophet  of  the  tiibe.  These,  with  Black  Hawk,  were 
taken  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  soon  consigned  as 
prisoners  to  Fortress  Monroe. 

At  the  interview  Black  Hawk  had  with  the  Presi- 
dent, he  closed  his  speech,  delivered  on  the  occasion, 
in  the  following  words :  "  We  did  not  expect  to  con- 
quer the  whites.  They  have  too  many  houses,  too 
many  men.  I  took  up  the  hatchet,  for  my  part,  to 
revenge  injuries  which  my  people  could  no  longer 
endure.  Had  I  borne  them  longer  without  striking, 
my  people  would  have  said,  '  Black  Hawk  is  a 
woman;  he  is  too  old  to  be  a  chief;  he  is  no  Sac' 
These  reflections  caused  me  to  raise  the  war-whoop. 
I  say  no  more.  It  is  known  to  you.  Keokuk  once 
was  here;  you  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  when  he 
wished  to  return  to  his  home,  you  were  willing. 
Black  Hawk  expects,  like  Keokuk,  he  shall  be  per- 
mitted to  return  too." 


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After  their  release  from  prison  they  were  conducted, 
in  charge  of  Major  Garland,  through  some  of  the 
principal  cities,  that  they  might  witness  the  power  of 
the  United  States,  and  learn  of  their  own  inability  to 
cope  with  them  in  war.  Great  multitudes  flocked  to 
see  them  wherever  they  were  taken,  and  the  atten- 
tion paid  them  rendered  their  progress  through  the 
country  a  triumphal  procession  instead  of  the  trans- 
portation of  prisoners  by  an  officer.  At  Rock  Island 
the  prisoners  were  given  their  liberty,  amid  great  and 
impressive  ceremony.  In  1838  Black  Hawk  built 
him  a  dwelling  near  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  furnished 
it  after  the  manner  of  the  whites,  and  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  and  hunting  and  fishing.  Here, 
with  his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  attached,  he 
passed  the  few  remaining  days  of  his  life.  To  his 
credit,  be  it  said,  that  Black  Hawk  remained  true  to 
his  wife,  and  served  her  with  a  devotion  uncommon 
among  Indians,  living  with  her  upward  of  forty  years. 

In  September,  1838,  on  his  way  to  Rock  Island 
to  receive  his  annuity  from  the  Government,  he  con- 
tracted a  severe  cold,  which  resulted  in  a  fatal  attack 
of  bilous  fever,  and  terminated  his  life  October  3. 
After  his  death  he  was  dressed  in  the  uniform  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  President  while  in  Washington. 
He  was  buried  in  a  grave  six  feet  deep,  situated  upon 
a  beautiful  eminence.  The  body  was  placed  in  the 
middle  of  the  grave,  in  a  sitting  posture,  upon  a  seat 
constructed  for  that  purpose.  On  his  left  side  the 
cane  given  him  by  Henry  Clay  was  placed  upright, 
with  his  right  hand  resting  upon  it.  Thus,  after  a 
long,  adventurous  and  shifting  life,  Black  Hawk  was 
gathered  to  his  fathers. 

Black  Hawk,  or  Ma-ka-tia-me-she-kia-kiah,  was 
born  "at  the  Sac  village,  on  Rock  River,  in  what  is 
now  South  Rock  Island,  in  1767.  The  village  was 
on  the  flat  ground,  just  below  Sears'  mill,  and  at  one 
time  is  said  to  have  numbered  ir,ooo  persons. 

His  father's  name  was  Py-e-sa  or  Pahaes ;  his 
grandfather's,  Na- na-ma-kee,  or  the  Thunderer. 
Black  Hawk  early  distinguished  himself  as  a  war- 
rior, and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  was  permitted  to  paint 
and  was  ranked  among  the  braves.  About  the  year 
1783,  he  went  on  an  expedition  against  the  enemies 
of  his  nation,  the  Osages,  one  of  whom  he  killed  and 
scalped,  and  for  this  deed  of  Indian  bravery  he  was 
permitted  to  join  in  the  scalp  dance.  Three  or  four 
years  after,  he,  at  the  head  of  200  braves,  went  on 


another  expedition  against  the  Osages,  to  avenge  the 
murder  of  some  women  and  children  belonging  to 
his  own  tribe.  Meeting  an  equal  number  of  Osage 
warriors,  a  fierce  battle  ensued,  in  which  the  latter 
tribe  lost  one-half  their  number.  The  Sacs  lost  only 
about  19  warriors.  He  next  attacked  the  Cherokees 
for  a  similar  cause.  In  a  severe  battle  with  them, 
near  the  present  city  of  St.  Louis,  his  father  was 
slain,  and  Black  Hawk,  taking  possession  of  the 
"  Medicine  Bag,"  at  once  announced  himself  chief 
of  the  Sac  nation.  He  had  now7  conquered  the 
Cherokees;  and  about  the  year  1800,  at  the  head  of 
500  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  100  Iowas,  he  waged  war 
against  the  Osage  nation  and  subdued  it.  For  two 
years  he  battled  successfully  with  other  Indian  tribes, 
all  of  whom  he  conquered. 

The  following  extract  about  the  burial  place  of 
Black  Hawk  and  the  final  disposition  of  his  bones, 
from  Patterson's  Life  of  Black  Hawk,  tells  the  story  : 
Capt.  James  H.  Jordan,  a  trader  among  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes  before  Black  Hawk's  death,  was  present 
at  his  barial,  and  is  now  residing  on  the  very  spot 
where  he  died.  In  reply  to  a  letter  of  inquiry  he 
writes  as  follows  : 

"  Eldon,  Iowa,  July  15,  1881. 
"  Black  Hawk  was  buried  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  2,  township  70, 
range  12,  Davis  County,  Iowa,  near  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  county,  on  the  Des  Moines  River  bot- 
tom, about  ninety  rods  from  where  he  lived  when  he 
died,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  I  have  the 
ground  on  which  he  lived  for  a  door  yard,  it  being 
between  my  house  and  the  river.  The  only  mound 
over  the  grave  was  some  puncheons  split  out  and 
set  over  his  grave  and  then  sodded  over  with  blue 
grass,  making  a  ridge  about  four  feet  high.  A  flag 
staff,  some  twenty  feet  high,  was  planted  at  the  head, 
on  which  was  a  silk  flag,  which  hung  there  until  the 
wind  wore  it  out.  My  house  and  his  were  only 
about  four  rods  apart  when  he  died.  He  was  sick 
only  about  fourteen  days.  He  was  buried  right 
where  he  sat  the  year  before  when  in  council  with 
Iowa  Indians,  and  was  buried  in  a  suit  of  military 
clothes  made  to  order  and  given  to  him  when  in 
Washington  city  by  Gen.  Jackson,  with  hat,  sword, 
gold  epaulets,  etc.,  etc. 

"His  body  remained  here  until  July,  1S39,  when  it 
was  carried  off  by  a  certain  Dr.  Turner,  then  living 


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at  Lexington,  Van  Buren  Co.,  Iowa.  Capt.  Horn 
says  the  bones  were  carried  to  Alton,  111.,  to  be 
mounted  with  wire.  Mr.  Barrows  says  they  were 
taken  to  Warsaw,  Ills.  Black  Hawk's  sons,  when 
they  heard  of  this  desecration  of  their  father's  grave, 
were  very  indignant,  and  complained  of  it  to  Gov. 
Lucas,  of  Iowa  Territory,  and  his  excellency  caused 
the  bones  to  be  brought  back  to  Burlington  in  the  fall 
of  1839,  or  the  spring  of  1840.  When  the  sons  came 
to  take  possession  of  them,  finding  them  safely  stored 
'in  a  good,  dry  place  '  they  left  them  there.  The 
bones  were  subsequently  placed  in  the  collection  of 
the  Burlington  Geological  and  Historical  Society, 
and  it  is  certain  that  they  perished  in  the  fire  which 
destroyed  the  building  and  all  the  society's  collec- 
tions in  1855. 

"  In  closing  this  narrative  of  the  life  of  this  noble 
old  chief,  it  may  be  just  to  speak  briefly  of  his  per- 
sonal traits.  He  was  an  Indian,  and  from  that  stand- 
point we  must  judge  him.  The  make-up  of  his 
character  comprised  those  elements  in  a  marked  de- 
gree which  constitute  a    noble  nature.     In   all    the 


social  relations  of  life  he  was  kind  and  affable.  In 
his  house  he  was  the  affectionate  husband  and  fath- 
er. He  was  free  from  the  many  vices  that  others  of 
his  race  had  contracted  from  their  associations  with 
the  white  people,  never  using  intoxicating  beverages 
to  excess.  As  a  warrior  he  knew  no  fear,  and  on  the 
field  of  battle  his  feats  of  personal  prowess  stamped 
him  as  the  'bravest  of  the  brave.' 

"  But  it  was  rather  as  a  speaker  and  counselor 
that  he  was  distinguished.  His  patriotism,  his  love 
of  his  country,  his  home,  his  lands  and  the  rights  of 
his  people  to  their  wide  domain,  moved  his  great  soul 
to  take  up  arms  to  protect  the  rights  of  his  people. 
Revenge  and  conquest  formed  no  part  of  his  purpose. 
Right  was  all  that  he  demanded,  and  for  that  he 
waged  the  unequal  contests  with  the  whites.  With 
his  tribe  he  had  great  personal  influence,  and  his 
young  men  received  his  counsel  and  advice,  and 
yielded  ready  acquiescence  in  his  admonitions. 
With  other  tribes  he  was  held  in  high  esteem,  as  well 
as  by  English  and  American  soldiers,  who  had  wit- 
nessed his  prowess  on  the  field  of  battle." 


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a'NE  could  not  expect  that  this 
beautiful  country  would  long 
remain  the  home  of  the  red 
men  and  be  used  as  a  vast 
hunting  ground.  People  vis- 
iting the  old  Fort  Armstrong 
on  the  island,  would  return  to  their 
homes  describing  the  enchanted  spot. 
Still  it  was  many  years  after  the  erec- 
tion of  the  fort  that  permanent  settle- 
ments were  made.  The  first  white 
man  to  locate  here  was  Col.  Geo. 
Davenport,  who  came  with  the  garri- 
son in  1816  and  erected  a  house  near 
the  lower  end  of  the  island.  It  was  a 
double  log  cabin,  designed  for  a  dwelling  and  store- 
house. In  1817  he  brought  on  a  stock  of  goods  and 
commenced  his  career  as  an  Indian  trader,  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  American  Fur  Company. 

Russell  Farnam,  who  founded  the  town  of  Warsaw, 
in  Hancock  County,  came  to  the  island  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  Mr.  Davenport  in  the  fur  trade  in 
1824.  In  1826,  Colonel  Davenport  and  Mr.  Farnam 
built  the  first  house  on  the  main  land,  about  where 
the  residence  of  P.  L.  Cable  now  stands,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Cable  street.  In  this 
house  the  first  courts  of  the  county  were  subsequent- 
ly held. 

The  Indians  remaining  here  in  large  numbers  pre- 
vented the  very  early  settlement  of  the  county. 
Judge  Spencer,  in  his  "  Reminiscences  of  Pioneer 
Life,"  says  that  "in  the  fall  of  1828  he  was  residing 
in  Morgan  County,  about  12  miles  from  Jacksonville, 
on  the  Beardstown  road.  At  that  time  but  few  set- 
tlements were  here  made."     Says  Judge  Spencer: 


"  Rinnah  Wells,  in  passing  from  the  mines  (at 
Galena)  to  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  in  the  fall 
of  1828,  stopped  with  me  over"  night.  In  the  course 
of  the  evening  he  told  me  that  the  Indians  had  left 
their  old  village  at  Rock  Island.  Having  seen  the 
country  along  the  Rock  Island  Rapids,  in  passing  to 
and  from  the  mines,  and  being  much  pleased  with 
it,  in  less  than  a  week,  accompanied  by  Loudon 
Case,  Sr.,  I  was  on  my  way  back  to  ascertain  if  the 
Indians  had  left.  When  about  ten  miles  from  Rock 
River  we  met  a  Mr.  Prince,  who  had  brought  a  load 
of  corn  from  his  farm,  near  Peoria,  to  feed  Judge 
Pence's  team,  who  was  just  then  moving  to  the  old 
Indian  village,  at  Rock  River.  We  reached  Rock 
River  on  the  9th  of  December.  Getting  on  the  track 
of  Judge  Pence's  wagons,  we  crossed  the  Big  Island. 
Here  we  found  him  looking  for  a  place  to  feed,  which 
we  found  about  sundown,  between  the  upper  bridge 
and  the  milldam,  on  the  main  stream.  Here  we 
found  several  wigwams  and  took  shelter  in  them  for 
the  night.  Early  in  the  morning  Judge  Pence  started 
out,  and  returned  about  breakfast  time,  saying  that 
he  would  not  unload  here,  as  he  found  a  better  wig- 
wam, which  proved  to  be  Black  Hawk's.  On  our 
arrival  here  we  found  no  Indians,  it  being  a  season 
of  the  year  when  they  were  absent  on  their  winter's 
hunt.  The  settlers,  as  well  as  the  officers  of  the 
garrison,  thought  they  would  not  return.  We  found 
here  two  white  families,  near  where  the  Farnam 
house  stood,  one  of  them  Capt.  B.  W.  Clark,  father 
of  Capt.  Louis  Clark,  of  Buffalo,  Scott  Co.,  Iowa; 
the  other  a  discharged  soldier  by  the  name  of  Haney ; 
Judge  Pence  at  Rock  River;  and  at  the  rapids, 
where  Rapids  City  now  stands,  were  John  and 
Thomas  Kinney,  George  Harlan,  Conrad  Leak  and 


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Archibald  Allen.  This  constituted  all  the  white  set- 
tlements on  the  main  land." 

Among  other  early  settlers  at  the  rapids,  or  whi<  h 
is  now  Hampton  Township,  were  Henry  McNeal, 
Joel  Thompson,  Michael  Bartlett,  Asaph  Wells  and 
Joel  Wells,  Jr. 

On  the  Rock  River,  Rinnah  Wells  made  the  first 
settlement  here  in  1828.  Joshua  Vandruff  came  the 
year  following.  George  Goble  and  family  came  in 
the  spring  of  this  year,  and  located  above  Moline.  Jo- 
seph Danforth  settled  near  the  same  place  about  the 
same  time.  Joel  Wells,  Sr.,  with  his  two  sons,  Levi 
and   Huntington,  came  a  little  later  and  built  cabins 


where  the  city  of  Moline  now  stands.  Two  men 
named  Sanies  and  Leavitt  built  cabins  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  above  Moline. 

It  was  only  the  venturesome  ones  that  dared  make 
their  homes  in  this  region  at  that  time.  Although 
Black  Hawk  had,  in  1816,  ratified  the  treaty  of  1804, 
yet  it  was  well  known  that  he  was  loth  to  leave  the 
country.  It  was,  therefore,  not  until  after  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  in  ^32,  that  settlements  were  rapidly 
made.  When  it  was  fully  realized  that  the  power  of 
the  Indians  was  broken,  that  they  would  never  again 
molest  the  whites,  settlers  began  to  flock  into  the 
country,  and  soon  they  asked  to  be  recognized  as  one 
of  the  counties  forming  the  great  State  of  Illinois. 


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3:  UST  previous  to  its  organization,  the 
territory  comprising  Rock  Island 
County  was  attached  to  Jo  Da- 
viess County,  for  judicial  purposes. 
The  latter  county  had  jurisdic- 
tion over  almost  the  entire  north- 
ern part  of  the  State.  As  there 
were  but  few  inhabitants  in  the 
county  until  after  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  it  is  not  likely  that  the  offi- 
cers in  Jo  Daviess  County  gave 
much  heed  to  its  government. 
The  taxes  received  from  those 
residing  here  would  not  pay  the 
expenses  of  a  collector  in  coming 
and  going  to  the  county  seat  of  that  county. 

The  wonder  has  often  been  expressed  why  such  an 
irregularly  shaped  county  as  Rock  Island  was  ever 
created.  Stretching,  as  it  does,  along  the  Missis- 
sippi for  a  distance  of  over  60  miles,  with  an  average 
width  of  not  over  ten  miles,  it  attracts  the  attention 


of  every  one  and  excites  wonder  in  reference  to  its 
peculiar  shape. 

In  the  early  history  of  this  State  all  the  territory 
lying  north  and  west  of  the  Illinois  River  formed  one 
county,  under  the  name  of  Pike.  As  settlements 
were  formed  in  various  parts  of  this  vast  region,  the 
General  Assembly,  on  petition  of  interested  parties, 
began  the  creation  of  new  counties.  In  fixing  the 
boundaries  of  new  counties  regard  was  paid  to  the 
wishes  and  desires  of  those  who  contemplated  the 
laying-out  of  villages  with  the  hope  of  securing  the 
location  of  the  county  seat.  In  this  way  all  neigh- 
boring counties  were  created — taking  a  little  territory 
here  and  a  little  there,  until  the  strip  now  forming 
Rock  Island  was  left  as  it  is,  and  the  wise  men  in 
the  General  Assembly,  by  an  act  passed  and  ap- 
proved in  1833,  fixed  the  boundaries  of  Rock  Ilsand 
County,  as  follows:  Beginning  in  the  channel  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  on  the  north  line  of  township  15 
north,  and  west  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian ; 
thence  running  eastwardly  on  said  line  to  the  fourth 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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principal  meridian;  thence  north  to  the  middle  of 
the  channel  of  Rock  River;  thence  up  the  middle  of 

fsaid  channel  to  the  Marais  d'Osier  slough  ;  thence 
along  the  middle  of  said  slough  to  the  middle  of  the 
channel  of  the  Mississippi  River  ;  thence  down  along 
the  middle  of  said  channel  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
The  act  fixing  the  boundaries  of  the  county  provided 
for  its  organization.  In  pursuance  of  the  provisions 
of  the  act,  notice  was  given  that  the  legal  voters  of 
the  county  meet  at  the  house  of  John  Barrel,  in  Far- 
nanisburg,  on  Monday,  July  5,  1833,  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  three  County  Commissioners,  one  Sheriff 
and  one  Coroner,  three  Justices  of  the  Peace  and 
three  Constables.  The  election  was  accordingly 
held,  Joseph  Danforth,  Joel  Wells,  Sr.,  and  Wm.  H. 
Simms  acting  as  Judges  of  the  Election,  and  Joseph 
Conway  and  W.  Thompson  as  Clerks.  There  were 
65  votes  cast,  resulting  in  the  election  of  George  W. 
Harlaivjohn  W.  Spencer  and  George  Davenport, 
County  Commissioners;  Benjamin  F.  Pike,  Sheriff; 
Levi  Wells,  Coroner ;  George  W.  Harlan,  J.  B.  Pat- 

'    terson  and  Joel   Wells,   Jr.,   Justices  of  the  Peace; 

:    George  V.   Miller,  Huntington  Wells   and  Edward 
Corbin,  Constables. 

At  this  election  there  were  two  tickets — one  repre- 
senting the  settlement  at  the  Island,  and   the  other 

■     the  Hampton   settlement.     An  incident  occurred  on 


this  occasion  which  might  have  resulted  disastrously. 
An  arrangement  was  made  by  which  Mr.  Davenport, 
representing  the  Island  party,  was  to  signal  certain 
persons  upon  the  Island  should  their  votes  be 
needed.  Believing  it  necessary  that  they  should 
vote,  Mr.  Davenport  took  his  handkerchief  and  made 
the  required  signal.  He  was  discovered  by  the 
Hampton  party,  who  misapprehended  it,  thinking  it 
to  be  a  signal  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  fort 
to  come  to  their  aid.  They  determined  at  once  to 
frustrate  such  an  attempt  by  forcibly  seizing  the 
poll-books.  The  Clerks  of  the  Election,  apprised 
of  their  intention,  substituted  some  other  blanks  for 
the  record  which  they  had  made.  The  substitute 
was  seized  by  the  Hampton  party,  who  mounted 
their  horses  and  rode  hastily  away,  followed  by  some 
of  the  Island  party,  anxious  to  overtake  them.  When 
out  of  sight  the  regular  poll-book  was  produced  by 
the  clerks,  and  the  election  continued,  the  Island 
party  arriving  and  depositing  their  vote,  thus  electing 
their  candidates ! 


The  Commissioners  met  on  the  8th  day  of  July, 
1833,  at  the  house  of  John  Barrel,  at  Farnamsburg, 
and,  after  taking  the  oath  of  office,  appointed  Joseph 
Conway  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court, 
as  it  was  then  called.  The  bonds  of  the  various 
officers  elect  were  approved,  and  Joseph  Wells, 
Sr.,  was  appointed  Treasurer  and  Assessor.  The 
county  was  now  fully  organized  and  ready  for 
business. 


#3M 


Acts  of  the  County  Commissioners. 

'HE  first  meeting  of  the  County  Commis- 
sioners was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Bar- 
rel, in  what  is  now  the  city  of  Rock  Island, 
*  July  8,  1833.  George  Davenport,  John  W. 
Spencer  and  George  W.  Harlan,  Commission- 
ers elect,  were  present  and  took  the  oath  of 
office,  after  which  they  appointed  Joseph  Conway 
Clerk  of  the  Court.  Mr.  Conway  entered  into  bonds, 
with  John  Barrel  as  security,  and  at  once  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  the  office. 

The  County  Commissioners  passed  an  order  mak- 
ing Farnamsburg  the  temporary  county  seat,  and 
ordered  all  terms  of  the  Circuit  and  County  Commis- 
sioners' Courts  held  at  the  house  of  John  Barrel. 
Elections   were  also  ordered  held  at  the  same  place. 

Joel  Wells,  Sr.,  was  appointed  Treasurer  of  the 
County,  and  his  bonds  fixed  at  $500. 

A  levy  was  made  as  follows:  "It  is  ordered  that 
one-half  per  cent,  be  levied  on  the  following  descrip- 
tion of  property,  to  wit :  On  town  lots,  if  such  lots 
be  not  taxed  by  the  trustees  of  such  town  ;  on  slaves 
and  indentured  or  registered  negroes;  on  mulatto 
servants,  on  pleasure  carriages,  on  distilleries,  on  all 
horses,  mares,  mules,  asses  and  neat  cattle  above 
three  years  of  age,  and  on  watches  with  their  ap- 
pendages, on  household  furniture,  on  clocks,  on  all 
wagons  and  carts,  and  also  on  all  sheep." 

Edward  Corbin,  George  N.  Miller  and  Huntington 
Wells  presented  their  bonds  as  Constables,  which 
were  approved  by  the  Court. 

Jonah  H.  Case  was  granted  a  license  to  keep 
tavern  at  his  house  upon  the  payment  of  $5,  and 
"  entering  into  bond,  with  good  security,  according  to 


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law."     The  Court  then  fixed  the  rates  which  he  was 
permitted  to  charge,  as  follows : 

For  each  gallon  of  corn  or  oats $0.12^ 

For  each  meal  of  victuals 37  1^ 

For  lodging - 25 

Each  half-pint  of  brandy  or  gin 50 

Whisky,  per  half  pint 12% 

Each  quart  of  cider,  porter  and  ale 25 

For  horse  feed,  day  and  night 75 

It  will  will  be  seen  that  the  prices  allowed  were 
very  liberal. 

At  the  September,  1833,  term,  23  grand  jurors  were 
selected  and  the  Sheriff  ordered  to  serve  summons. 
The  names  of  those  serving  will  be  found  in  the  legal 
history  of  the  county. 

At  this  term  Eleazer  Parkhurst  was  granted 
license  to  "  vend,  sell  or  retail,  at  public  auction  or 
private  sale,  any  goods,  wares  or  merchandise,  upon 
paying  into  the  county  treasury  $5,  the  tax  to  be 
payed  the  Court." 

Commissioners  having  been  appointed  to  select 
school  lands  for  fractional  townships  made  their  re- 
port at  this  term. 

Thomas  F.  Reid  was  granted  a  license  for  similar 
purposes  to  the  one  granted  Eleazer  Parkhurst. 

On  petition,  it  was  ordered  that  Joel  Wells,  Jr., 
Benj.  W.  Clark  and  Wm.  Case  be  appointed  viewers 
of  a  road  to  be  opened  between  Farnamsburg,  com- 
mencing at  the  house  of  John  Barrel,  and  Monmouth, 
Warren  Co.,  111.  This  was  the  first  appointment  for 
such  a  purpose. 

At  a  term  held  Dec.  2,  1833,  the  Sheriff  made  a 
settlement  for  taxes  due  and  collected.  The  whole 
amount  was  $53.7234.  His  commission  on  that 
amount  was  $3,973^.  The  Treasurer  also  reported 
receiving  for  licenses  $[5,  and  for  fines  $19;  a  total 
of  $34.  After  settlement  with  the  Sheriff,  the  Com- 
missioners paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  the 
amount  due,  which,  after  deducting  a  portion  in 
orders,  left  a  balance  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
of  $43.61, — a  very  good  showing  for  the  first  settle- 
ment, going  to  prove  that  the  affairs  of  the  county 
were  economically  administered  the  first  half  year  of 
its  existencei 

The  first  ferry  license  was  granted  to  George  Dav- 
enport and  Joshua  Vandruff,  at  the  March,  1834, 
term,  to  establish  a  ferry  across  Rock  River,  opposite 
the  residence  of  Vandruff.  The  license  fee  was  fixed 
at  $8  per  year.  The  following  rates  of  ferriage  were 
fixed  by  the  Commissioners  : 


& 


For  each  footman $0.12}^ 

Man  and  horse 25 

For  each  led  or  loose  horse  or  cattle 1 2  % 

Each  yoke  of  oxen 37 1^ 

For  each  loaded  wagon  and  two  horses 1.00 

For  each  loaded  wagon  and  yoke  of  oxen. . .    1.00 

For  each  additional  horse  or  oxen I2J^    ' 

For  each  two-wheel  carriage  or  cart,  or  oxen.     .75 

For  each  one-horse  wagon 715 

For  each  head  of  neat  cattle o6j^ 

For  each  head  of  hogs  or  sheep 04 

Rinnato  Wells  was  also  granted  license  for  a  ferry 
across  Rock  River,  opposite  his  residence  on  section 
15,  and  George  Davenport  was  granted  one  across 
the  slough  to  the  island  opposite  Farnamsburg. 

At  this  term  of  Court  the  following  order  was 
spread  upon  the  records  : 

"  On  petition  of  many  of  the  citizens  of  Rock  Isl- 
and County,  praying  that  a  postoffice  be  established 
at  Rock  Island  Court-House.  The  petition  sets  forth 
that  there  is  but  one  postoffice  in  the  county,  and 
that  is  on  Rock  Island  ;  and  a  majority  of  the 
citizens  have  to  pay  ferriage  in  crossing  the  slough, 
in  order  to  take  out  letters  or  papers.  It  is  not  only 
attended  with  some  trouble  in  crossing,  but  it  is  an 
unnecessary  expense  in  paying  ferriage  to  cross,  as 
the  slough  is  not  fordable  at  any  season  of  the  year.  : 
The  Court  do  therefore  recommend  to  Wm.  T.  Barry,  **/ 
Postmaster-General  of  the  United  States,  to  estab- 
lish a  postoffice  at  Rock  Island  Court-House,  and 
do  recommend  Joseph  Conway  as  a  fit  person  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  Postmaster  of  said  office.  It 
is  ordered  that  two  copies  of  this  order  be  made  out 
by  the  Clerk  and  enclosed  to  the  Member  of  Con- 
gress from  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  one  copy  to  Wm. 
T.  Barry,  Postmaster-General  of  the  United  States." 

In  June,  1834,  the  Commissioners  divided  the 
county  into  two  election  precincts.  The  Upper  Pre- 
cinct was  to  commence  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mere- 
dosia  and  to  continue  as  low  down  as  the  house  of 
Henry  McNeal,  the  election  to  be  held  at  the  house 
of  Walter  Phillips."  Asaph  Wells,  James  Haskill 
and  Thomas  L.  Galpin  were  appointed  to  act  as 
judges  of  the  election.  The  Lower  Precinct  was  to 
commence  at  the  house  of  Henry  McNeal  and 
extended  to  the  county  line  on  the  south.  The  elec- 
tion was  ordered  held  at  a  house  erected  by  Daven- 
port and  Farnam,  the  one  occupied  for  Court 
purposes.  Joel  Wells,  Sr.,  Wm'.  T.  Brazer  and  Wm. 
Carr  were  appointed  judges  of  election. 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


In  March,  1835,  a  license  was  granted  to  Joseph 
H.  Case  to  operate  a  ferry  across  the  Mississippi  Riv- 
er just  below  Fort  Armstrong.  Wm.  T.  Brasher  and 
Antoine  LeClaire  were  also  granted  a  license  to  ope- 
rate a  ferry  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  below  Fort 
Armstrong. 

In  June,  1835,  at  a  term  of  the  Commissioners' 
Court,  the  following  report  was  made  to  the  Board : 

I'o   the   Honorable    County    Commissioners'  Court  of 
Rock  Island  County,  in  the  State  of  Illinois  : 

We,  the  undersigned.  Wm.  Bennett,  of  Jo  Daviess 
County;  Peter  Butler,  of  Warren  County,  and  John 
G.  Sanburn,  of  Knox  County,  appointed  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  entitled 
"  An  Act  to  establish  the  seat  of  justice  of  Rock  Isl- 
and County,"  Commissioners  to  locate  the  permanent 
seat  of  justice  of  Rock  Island  County,  respectfully 
report  that  the  said  Commissioners  did  meet  in  the 
town  of  Farnamsburg,  in  the  said  county  of  Rock 
Island,  on  the  5th  day  of  June,  1835,  and  after  be- 
ing duly  sworn,  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the 
act  above  referred  to,  did  proceed  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  convenience  of  the  people,  the  situa- 
tion of  the  settlements,  the  situation  of  settlements 
that  may  hereafter  be  made,  and  the  eligibility  of  the 
situation  for  said  town  of  Stephenson,  and  that  we 
have  selected  the  northwest  fractional  quarter  of 
section  No.  35,  in  township  No.  18  north,  of  range  2 
west  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian,  and  do  fix  the 
same  as  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  Rock  Isl- 
and aforesaid. 

Given  under  our  hands  at  Farnamsburg,  in  said 
county,  this  8th  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1S35. 

Wm.  Bexxett, 

P.  Butler, 

John  G.  Saxburn. 

After  receiving  the  report  and  allowing  the  amount 
due  each  of  the  Commissioners  for  his  services  in 
locating  the  county  seat,  the  County  Commissioners 
appointed  Charles  R.  Bennett  to  survey  the  new  town 
of  Stephenson  and  make  a  plat  of  the  same  as  soon 
as  practicable.  They  also  ordered  that  one-third  of 
the  town  lots  for  the  town  of  Stephenson  be  offered 
for  sale  on  the  nth  day  of  July,  1835,  and  that  ad- 
vertisements to  that  effect  be  inserted  three  times 
each  in  the  St.  Louis  Republican,  Alton  Spectator  and 
Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser. 

The  county  was  divided  into  three  election  pre- 
cincts, known  as  the  Upper,  Rock  River  and  West 
precincts.  Elections  were  ordered  held  the  first 
Monday  in  August  in  each  of  these  precincts  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Con- 


stables in  each,  and  also  a  Recorder  and  a  Surveyor 
for  the  county. 

At  the  July  term  the  Commissioners  donated  Wm. 
T.  Brasher  two  lots,  and  Loudon  L.  Case  and  Chas. 
H.  Case  one  lot  each  in  the  town  of  Stephenson. 

Charles  R.  Bennett  was  allowed  $67.56  for  survey- 
ing the  town  of  Stephenson  ;  his  report  was  accepted, 
and  the  plat  as  made  by  him  was  ordered  re- 
corded. 

The  first  record  in  relation  to  the  building  of 
bridges  is  found  in  the  August,  1835,  term.  Bids 
and  plans  were  asked  for  bridges  in  several  parts  of 
the  county. 

At  this  term  the  Commissioners  authorized  the 
loan  of  some§r,ooo  of  county  funds,  presumably 
realized  from  the  sale  of  lots  in  the  town  of  Stephen- 
son. 

The  following  order  was  entered  at  the  September, 
1835,  term: 

"  Ordered,  That  Joseph  Conway  be  authorized  to 
get  two  seals,  one  for  the  Circuit  Court  of  Rock  Isl- 
and County,  and  one  for  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  of  Rock  Island  County ;  the  device  is  a  sheaf 
of  wheat  and  a  plough." 

It  would  appear  from  another  record  that  the 
Judge  and  Jury  of  the  Circuit  Court  were  not  to  be 
compelled  to  sit  on  the  floor,  for  the  sum  of  four  dol- 
lars was  allowed  Michael  Bartlett  "  for  procuring 
plank  and  fixing  the  seat  of  the  Judge  and  Jury  at 
the  April  and  August  term,  TS35." 

The  contract  for  building  the  first  jail  in  the 
county  was  ordered  let  on  the  20th  of  October,  1S35. 

At  this  same  term  it  was  ordered  that  all  terms  of 
the  Circuit  and  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  be  afterwards  held  at  Stephenson  instead  of 
Farnamsburg. 

The  first  order  in  relation  to  paupers  was  made 
also  at  this  term,  as  follows:  "Ordered,  that  Michael 
Bartlett  be  authorized  to  contract  with  some  person 
to  take  care  of  Wm.  Brewster,  a  pauper,  by  attend- 
ing upon  and  victualing  him  until  the  next  term  ot 
Court." 

The  November  term  of  the  Court  was  held  at 
Stephenson. 

Michael  Bartlett  was  allowed  $12.32  for  taking 
the  census  of  the  county. 

The  first  order  in  relation  to  a  court-house  was 
entered  in  1836,  at  the  March  term.  It  was  "ordered 


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that  notice  be  given  in  the  Northwestern  Gazette  and 
Galena  Advertiser  for  three  weeks  that  the  County 
Commissioners  will  contract  for  150,000  good  brick 
to  build  a  court-house  in  the  town  of  Stephenson, 
on  the  9th  day  of  April  next,  which  brick  are  to  be 
delivered  on  the  public  square,  one-third  to  be  de- 
livered on  the  first  day  of  July,  one-third  by  the  first 
of  August,  and  one-third  on  the  last  day  of  August 
next.  Also  for  a  foundation  of  stone-work  50  feet 
square,  seven  feet  high  and  two  feet  thick,  four  feet 
of  this  to  be  range  work;  and  also  the  necessary 
timbers  for  the  court-house. 

The   County    Treasurer   made    the  following  re- 
port: 
To  balance   due  on  settlement,   March, 

1835 $    133  371/* 

To  cash  received  on  town  lots 3,891  08^-3 

To  cash  received  from — 

Levi  Wells 2 1  o  00 

Adrian  Van  Winkle 105   00 

Joel  Wells 300  00 

B.  Goble 103  st% 

C.  &  L.  L.  Case 225  00 

Sheriff  for  taxes,  etc 10 1   24 

For    tavern,    ferry    and     merchandise 

license 99  00 

Of  W.  Phillips  for  fine 5   00 


Total $5,173  07^ 

Cr. 

By  amount  orders  paid. .  .  .$4,045   27 

By  commission 80  53 

Balance  due  the  county...    1,047   2TlA 


$5- '73   °7^ 

The  orders  paid  by  the  Treasurer  amounting  to 
$4,045.27  were  ordered  burned. 

At  the  April  term,  1836,  the  bond  of  the  County 
Treasurer  was  increased  from  $500  to  $5,000. 

A  contract  was  entered  into  at  this  term  of  Court 
between  the  Commissioners  and  Jonah  H.  Case,  the 
latter  agreeing  to  furnish  200,000  brick  at  $8  per 
thousand,  for  the  court-house  designed  to  be  built, 
the  brick  to  be  delivered  between  the  first  and  last 
of  August,  1836. 

An  advertisement  was  ordered  inserted  in  the 
Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser,  Mis- 
souri Republican  and  Carrollton  Times  for  three 
weeks  for  bids  for  the  construction  of  a  court-house 
in  Stephenson,  the  building  to  be  "  50  feet  square, 


two-story  high,  and  piasure  (piazza)  in  front  32  feet 
long,  10  feet  wide,  hip  roof  cupeloe  (cupalo)  in  the 
center;  the  outside  to  be  finished  in  the  Grecian- 
Doric  order."  The  17th  of  May,  T836,  was  set  for 
opening  the  bids. 

The  lots  remaining  unsold  in  the  town  of  Stephen- 
son were  ordered  disposed  of  at  public  auction  on 
the  same  day  the  proposals  were  to  be  opened. 

On  the  r8th  of  May  the  Court  assembled  and 
opened  the  only  bid  made  for  the  erection  of  the 
court-house.  John  H.  Ferguson  proposed  to  erect 
the  building  for  the  sum  of  $8,500.  His  bid  was  ac- 
cepted, conditioned  on  his  giving  bond  for  its  com- 
pletion according  to  plans  and  specifications,  with 
good  and  sufficient  security. 

Mr.  Ferguson  failed  to  comply  with  the  terms  pro- 
posed by  the  Commissioners,  and  at  the  June  term 
the  bid  of  Samuel  Smith  was  accepted  to  build  the 
court-house  and  furnish  all  the  material  except  the 
brick  for  the  sum  of  $10,500.  The  building  was  to 
be  completed  by  Dec.  1,  1837. 

The  jail  built  by  John  W.  Spencer,  according  to 
contract  with  the  Commissioners,  was  reported  com- 
pleted, and  was  accepted  by  the  Commissioners, 
June  to,  1836. 

On  the  5th  day  of  July,  Samuel  Smith  entered  into 
bond  with  the  Commissioners  for  the  erection  of  the 
court-house,  giving  as  sureties  Jeremiah  Smith,  Al- 
fred Hinton,  Charles  Gregory  and  Moses  O.  Bledsoe. 

At  a  special  term  held  July  20,  r836,  a  plat  or 
map  of  Rock  Island  city  was  presented  to  the  Court, 
and  was  certified  to  by  that  body. 

At  the  March  term,  1837,  Joel  Wells,  Treasurer  of 
the  county,  made  the  following  report : 

Balance  due  on  settlement  March,  1836. $1,047. 2llA 

Cash  received  on  town  lots 6,017.085^ 

Interest  on  lots 7.34 

Cash  for  tavern,  ferry  and  mdse.  licenses      157.00 

Cash  from  Bartlett 

Cash  from  M.  W.  Conway  on  fines. . . 
Cash  for  notes  on  hand  March,  1836.. 

Interest  on  same 

Cash  from  Bartlett  for  taxes 

Cash  from  C.  Ernes  for  taxes 


691    <. 

=    @) 

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100.00 
20.00 

901.70 
62.25 

1 12.30 

162.68 


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Total $8,547.67 

The  court-house  was  completed  and  received  by 
the  Commissioners  in  the  following  terms  :  "  Samuel 
Smith  this  day  came  into  Court  and  stated  that  he 
wished  the  court-house  in   the  town  of  Stephenson 


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which  he  contracted  to  build  be  received.  The 
Court,  after  examining  the  same,  do  receive  the 
court-house  in  its  present  condition,  by  the  said 
Samuel  Smith  finishing  the  court-house  according  to 
contract." 

At  the  December,  T838,  term  of  the  Court  the  Up- 
per Precinct  was  divided  into  two  election  precincts, 
one  to  be  known  as  the  Port  Byron  and  the  other  the 
Meredosia  Precinct. 

The  county  at  this  time  began  to  be  in  want  of 
funds  for  the  first  time,  and  authorized  the  Treasurer 
to  ascertain  on  what  terms  he  could  negotiate  a  loan 
of  §2,000  for  two  or  three  years. 

At  the  March  term,  in  1839,  notice  was  given  that 
bids  for  the  erection  of  a  new  jail  would  be  received 
till  the  19th  of  April. 

For  two  or  three  years  taxes  had  only  been  levied 
upon  real  estate,  but  at  this  term  the  following  order 
was  passed:  "It  appearing  to  the  Court  that  the 
revenue  arising  to  the  county  from  the  tax  on  land  is 
insufficient  to  defray  the  county  expenses,  it  is  there- 
fore ordered  that  a  tax  [be  levied]  of  one-half  per 
cent,  upon  the  following  description  of  property,  viz.: 
On  town  lpls,  if  such  lots  be  not  taxed  by  the  trus- 
tees of  such  town;  on  slaves  and  indentured  or 
registered  negroes  or  mulatto  servants,  on  pleasure 
carriages,  on  distilleries,  on  all  horses,  mares,  mules, 
asses,  and  neat  cattle  above  three  years  of  age,  and 
on  watches  with  their  appendages,  on  wagons,  on 
carts,  on  sheep  and  household  and  kitchen  furniture, 
on  clocks,  on  money  at  interest,  and  on  drays." 

It  will  be  seen  that  tax  was  still  continued  to  be 
ordered  on  "  slaves,  negroes  and  mulatto  servants." 
Whether  there  were  any  here  at  this  time  is  not 
known,  but  it  is  probable  that  some  of  the  officers  at 
Fort  Armstrong  may  have  held  slaves,  or  had  with 
them  mulatto  servants. 

On  account  of  brick  furnished  for  the  court-house 
building  there  was  a  disagreement  between  the  Com- 
missioners and  Jonah  H.  Case.  The  latter  brought 
suit  against  the  county  in  the  Circuit  Court  for  the 
amount  claimed  his  due.  In  March,  1839,  the  Com- 
missioners, with  Mr.  Case,  agreed  to  leave  the  matter 
to  arbitration,  selecting  Joseph  Knox,  Benjamin  Mc- 
Kay and  Samuel  Smith  as  referees,  and  agreeing  to 
abide  by  their  decision. 

A  postponement  "was  ordered  at  the  April  term  till 
June  6,  1839,  for  the  letting  of  the  contract  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  jail. 


At  this  term  "  grocery  licenses  "  were  granted  to 
Joshua  Vandruff,  William  and  J.  Allen. 

In  June,  1839,  a  contract  was  entered  into  between 
the  County  Commissioners  and  Daniel  Doty  for  the 
erection  of  a  jail  and  jailor's  residence.  The  jail  was 
to  be  rebuilt  in  same  manner  as  originally  built,  save 
a  few  unimportant  changes,  and  a  jailor's  residence 
was  to  be  attached,  built  of  brick,  and  one  and  a 
half  stories  in  height.  The  contract  was  let  for 
$1,700.  In  March.  1840,  the  buildings  were  ac- 
cepted by  the  Court. 

Various  changes  were  made  in  the  election  pre- 
cincts, so  that  in  1840  there  were  the  following: 
Cordova,  Port  Byron,  Milan,  Illinois  City,  Drury, 
Stephenson. 

In  January,  1841,  Joel  Thompson  was  removed 
from  the  office  of  School  Commissioner  for  failing  to 
attend  to  the  duties  of  the  office.  George  W.  Lynde 
was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Mr.  Thompson 
appealed  to  the  Circuit  Court  against  the  action  of 
the  County  Commiss'oners  in  his  case,  but  not  com- 
plying with  the  order  of  the  Commissioners'  Court  in 
reference  to  the  payment  of  costs  in  the  case,  his 
appeal  was  not  allowed  to  be  made. 

For  the  year  ending  March,  1841,  the  amount  of 
orders  issued  was  $125,740. 

The  tax  levy  for  1841  was  10  cents  on  every  $100. 

At  the  March  term,  1842,  the  Sheriff  was  instruct- 
ed to  open  the  door  of  the  court  room  each  Sabbath 
for  the  use  of  the  Presbyterian.  Methodist  and  Bap- 
tist societies,  each  society  being  requested  to  appoint 
a  committee  to  arrange  hours  of  service  for  each,  and 
that  an  account  of  this  agreement  be  filed  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  clerk.  In  June,  1843,  the  order  was 
amended  by  permitting  the  use  of  the  room  to  any 
person  for  holding  meetings  on  the  payment  of  one 
dollar  for  each  meeting. 

The  county  now  being  fully  organized,  with  even- 
department  in  good  condition,  and  having  county 
buildings  sufficient  to  meet  all  its  requirements,  the 
Commissioners  had  no  very  exciting  business  to  at- 
tend to.  The  building  of  bridges,  assessment  of 
licenses,  levying  of  taxes  and  supervising  of  road 
districts  occupied  their  time  for  several  years.  In 
1849  the  county  had  run  in  debt  some  $6,500,  so 
rhe  Commissioners  authorized  the  borrowing  of  that 
amount. 

The  last  act  of  the  County  Commissioners  of  any 


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public  interest  was  an  order  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  a  bridge  across  the  south  branch  of  Rock 
River  at  Camden  Mills,  now  Milan.  The  order  was 
passed  in  September,  1849.  This  was  their  last 
term,  the  law  of  the  State  transferring  the 
business  of  this  body  to  the  County  Court. 


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Acts  of  the  County  Court. 

'P-lg  Y  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  and 
approved  in  the  year  1849,  the  powers 
vested  in  the  Court  of  County  Commis- 
sioners were  transferred  to  the  County  Court 
to  be  composed  of  a  County  Judge  and  two 
Associate  Justices.  At  the  November  elec- 
tion, i849/"John  W.  Spencer  was  elected  County 
Judge,  and  Thomas  J.  Robinson  and  James  Weav- 
erling  Associate  Justices. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  Court  for  the  transaction 
of  county  business  was  held  Dec.  3,  1849.  The 
officers  were  sworn  by  Morgan  Ferguson,  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace. 

The  first  act  of  the  Court  was  the  approval  of 
the  bond  of  Joseph  Conet,  County  Clerk,  and  also 
those  of  all  other  county  officers. 

No  acts  of  public  interest  were  performed  by  this 
Court.  It  continued  to  transact  its  regular  business 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people  until  the  adoption 
of  the  township  organization  law. 

In  September,  1856,  a  petition  was  presented  to 
the  County  Court  praying  that  an  order  be  passed 
submitting  the  question  of  township  organization. 
The  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  granted,  and  the 
question  ordered  submitted  at  the  November  elec- 
tion. 

The  question  being  submitted,  a  majority  of  the 
votes  cast  was  in  favor  of  such  organization.  There 
were  2,461  votes  cast,  of  which  number  2,314  were 
in  favor,  and  147  against. 

At  the  December  term  the  Court  appointed  Lem- 
uel Adams,  Nathaniel  Belcher  and  F.  J.  Whitney  a 
committee  to  divide  the  county  into  civil  townships. 
They  subsequently  reported  townships  as  follows:  Cor- 
dova, Port  Byron,  Canoe  Creek,  Fremont,  Hampton, 


Walker,    Moline,   Coal   Valley,   Camden,    Rock  Isl- 
and, Edgington,  Bowling,  Buffalo  and  Drury. 


-~3- 


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Acts  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 


HE  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervis- 
*  ors    was    held    June    29,    1857.     The  fol- 
lowing  named  responded  to  their  names,  and 
presented   credentials    as    members    of     the 
Board  : 

R.   M.  Marshall Rock  Island 

Z.  Cook Rock  Island 

J.  H.   Marshall Canoe  Creek 

Lucius  Wells Hampton 

Peter    Demoss Drury 

James  Baker Edgington 

T.    W.  Vincent Bowling 

David  S.  Hobart Port  Byron 

H.    J.  Brunot Camden 

O.  H.  P.  Moore Buffalo 

Lewis  Wilson Coal  Valley 

R.  M.  Marshall  was  elected  temporary  Chair- 
man. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  meeting  the  following 
named  appeared : 

A.  S.  Coe Fremont 

Rinnah    Wells Walker 

J.    Chamberlin Moline 

From  that  time  the  affairs  of  the  county  have  been 
administered  by  the  County  Board.  As  a  general 
thing  they  have  acted  wisely  and  satisfactorily  to  the 
people,  everything  being  done  that  it  was  supposed 
would  best  advance  the  interests  of  the  great  ma- 
jority. During  the  war  its  record  is  indeed  com- 
mendable. The  families  of  the  soldiers  were  prop- 
erly cared  for,  and  the  government  cordially  supported 
in  every  measure.  That  mistakes  should  be  made 
in  some  things  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  When  one 
considers  the  length  of  the  county,  the  peculiar  situ- 
ation of  some  of  the  townships,  the  wonder  is  that 
in  the  main  they  should  be  so  satisfactory.  In  the 
the  various  township  histories  are  given  the  names  of 
all  who  have  served  on  the  Board. 


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T  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  Rock   Island  County  the 

§>  State  was  divided  into  five 
circuits,  in  four  of  which  the 
Supreme  Judges  were  required 
to-perform  circuit  duties,  but 

n  the  fifth  a  circuit    judge  was 


elided  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly. Richard  M.  Young  was 
the  first  elected  in  this  circuit 
and  was  serving  his  first  term 
when  this  county  was  organized. 
There  were  also  a  Probate  and  a 
County  Commissioners'  Court,  of 
which  we  give  a  sketch  further  on. 
The  Court  and  Bar  have  always  been 
of  an  exceptionally  high  order,  generally  worthy  of 
the  intelligent  people  whom  they  served. 


Circuit  Court. 


i^4i 


h  N  the  organization  of  the  county  it  was  made 
a  part  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit,  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Rock  Island,  Cook, 
La  Salle,  Putnam,  Fulton,  Schuyler,  Adams, 
Hancock,  McDonough,  Knox,  Warren,  Jo 
Davies,  Mercer  and  Henry.  The  first  term 
of  the  Court  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Barrel, 
in  Farnamsburg,  April  28,  1834.  There  were  pres- 
ent Richard  M.Young,  Judge  of  the  Circuit ;  Thomas 


Ford,  State's  Attorney;  Joseph  Conway,  Clerk;  B. 
F.  Pike,  Sheriff. 

The  order  of  Judge  Young  regulating  the  time  for 
holding  the  terms  of  Court  was  ordered  spread  upon 
the  records.  The  order  specified  the  27th  day  of 
April  and  the  14th  day  of  September,  1834,  as  the 
time.  After  affiixing  his  signature  and  seal  to  the 
order  the  Judge  added  a  postcript,  directing  that  if 
either  day  appointed  should  fall  upon  Sunday  the 
terms  should  begin  the  next  day. 

After  approving  the  bonds  of  the  Clerk  and  Sher- 
iff the  Court  proceeded  to  its  regular  business.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  those  comprising  the  first 
grand  jury  of  the  county  :  Joel  Wells,  Jr.,  foreman  ; 
Robert  Simms,  Wm.  Carr,  Wm.  T.  Brashar,  Calvin 
Spencer,  Henry  McNeal,  James  L.  Burtis,  Sr.,  James 
H.  Coleman,  John  D.  Ritchey,  Martin  W.  Smith, 
Chas.  H.  Simpson,  Henry  Watchler,  Nathan  Smith, 
Roswell  H.  Spencer.  William  Thompson  and  Elipha- 
let  T.  Cook.  There  was  no  petit  jury  summoned  at 
the  first  term  of  the  Court. 

The  first  case  was  that  of  Wm.  Sparks  against 
Wm.  H.  Simms,  an  appeal  from  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  The  suit  was  dismissed  by  agreement,  at  the 
plaintiff's  cost. 

In  a  suit  of  Sarah  Butler  against  John  Wells,  on 
a  bond,  on  motion  the  bond  was  quashed. 

There  were  two  criminal  and  ten  chancery  cases 
at  this  term,  none  of  which  was  of  any  importance. 

The  second  term  of  the  Court  was  held  on  the  15th 
day  of  September.     The  same  officers  were  present, 


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except  the  Sheriff,  Michael  Bartlett  having  succeeded 
to  that  office. 

Two  indictments  were  found  at  this  term  of  Court. 
Moses  Johnson  was  indicted  for  larceny  and  Wm. 
Thompson  for  setting  fire  to  the  prairie.  Both  cases 
were  made  returnable  to  the  next  term  of  Court. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved  Jan. 
7,  1835,  the  law  requiring  the  Supreme  Judges  to 
perform  circuit  duties  was  repealed,  and  five  addi- 
tional Circuit  Judges  were  provided  for,  and  the 
Sixth  Circuit  was  created,  Rock  Island  forming  a 
part  of  the  latter.  Thomas  Ford  was  elected  and 
commissioned  Judge  of  the  Sixth  Circuit  Jan.  19, 
1835,  but  did  not  preside  in  the  Circuit  Court  of  this 
county  during  the  year.  By  agreement  Judge  Sid- 
ney Breese  presided  at  the  April  term.  The  case  of 
the  people  against  Wm.  Thompson  was  called  and 
trial  entered  upon.  James  Grant  prosecuted  the 
case  and  Edward  A.  Philleo  defended.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  acquitted. 

At  the  April,  1836,  term  Judge  Ford  presided  for 
the  first  time.  No  business  of  any  importance  was 
transacted  at  this  term. 

In  March,  1S37,  Judge  Ford  resigned  and  Dan 
Stone  (plain  Dan,  not  an  ab.  of  Daniel)  was  commis- 
sioned, March  4,  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Judge  Stone 
presided  at  the  April  term,  in  T837,  and  served  until 
1841. 

At  the  September,  r84o,  term  of  the  Court  the 
grand  jury  found  a  true  bill  against  Joseph  Gerard 
for  the  killing  of  Zaccheus  A.  May  hew  on  the  2  2d  day 
of  May,  1840.  It  appears  that  Gerard  struck  May- 
hew  with  a  carpenter's  chisel  under  the  left  arm,  in- 
flicting a  wound,  from  the  effects  of  which  Mayhew 
died  within  five  days.  A  trial  was  had  at  the  same 
term  in  which  the  indictment  was  found,  and  Gerard 
was  found  guilty  of  manslaughter  and  sentenced  to 
one  year  in  the  penitentiary.  An  arrest  of  judgment 
was  granted,  for  the  reason  that  the  jury  did  not  as- 
sess the  fine,  and  the  defendant  was  discharged.  A 
motion  for  a  new  trial  was  overruled. 

At  the  May,  1841,  term,  an  indictment  was  found 
against  Gerard  for  manslaughter.  He  was  tried  at 
the  October  term,  in  1841,  found  guilty  and  sentenced 
to  three  years  in  the  penitentiary  and  to  pay  a  fine 
of  $1  and  costs.  A  motion  for  a  new  trial  was  over- 
ruled and  the  Court  passed  sentence,  20  days  of  the 
three  years  being  spent  in  solitary  confinement. 


Hon.  Thomas  C.  Browne  was  now  Judge  of  the 
Circuit. 

At  the  October,  1843,  term  an  indictment  was 
found  by  the  grand  jury  against  Wm.  McKinney, 
Geo.  Blalock  and  Isaac  McKinney  for  the  murder  of 
Edward  A.  Philleo.  It  appears  that  on  the  29th  day 
of  -May,  1843,  Philleo  was  shot  with  a  rifle  in  the  left 
hip.  He  lingered  until  June  1,  when  he  died.  Win. 
McKinney  was  tried  at  the  May  term,  in  1845, 
found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  be  hung  July  14, 1845, 
between  the  hours  of  10  a.  m.  and  4  p.  m.  A  reprieve 
and  subsequently  a  pardon  was  granted.  McKinney 
lived  and  died  in  the  county.  Blalock  and  Isaac 
McKinney  were  never  tried. 

On  the  4th  day  of  July,  1845,  occurred  one  of  the 
most  brutal  murders  that  has  ever  been  recorded. 
On  that  day  a  large  concourse  of  people  had  assem- 
bled at  the  village  of  Rock  Island  to  do  honor  to  In- 
dependence Day.  Among  those  assembled  were  the 
family  of  Colonel  George  Davenport,  who  resided 
upon  the  island,  about  half  a  mile  above  where  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad  bridge  spans  the  river.  The 
old  man  remained  at  home  alone,  much  against  the 
wishes  of  the  family,  who  greatly  feared  that  at  some 
favorable  time  the  banditti  of  the  prairie  would  make 
a  raid  upon  the  house.  But  Colonel  Davenport 
knew  no  fear,  and  disdained  the  idea  of  there  being 
any  cause  for  alarm.  This  feeling  of  security  fre- 
quently accompanies  men  who  have  passed  through 
many  perils,  and  it  is  no  uncommon  event  for  such 
men  to  perish  from  carelessness  and  inattention, 
which  other  men  would  have  avoided. 

After  the  departure  of  the  family,  the  Colonel 
seated  himself  in  his  parlor  reading  his  newspaper. 
While  thus  engaged  he  heard  a  faint  noise  in  the 
direction  of  his  well,  but  gave  it  no  attention,  think- 
ing some  persons  who  were  enjoying  a  picnic  upon  the 
island  were  engaged  in  drawing  water.  Presently, 
hearing  another  noise,  he  arose  from  his  chair  to  as- 
certain the  cause  of  it,  when  the  door  was  suddenly 
thrust  open  and  three  men  stood  before  him.  Not  a 
word  was  said,  but  almost  instantly  the  foremost  of 
the  assassins  discharged  a  pistol  at  the  old  man. 
The  ball  passed  through  his  left  thigh,  and  as  the 
Colonel  turned  to  grasp  his  cane,  which  stood  near 
him,  the  three  men  rushed  upon  him,  blindfolded 
him,  pinioned  his  arms  and  legs  with  hickory  bark, 
and  dragged   him  by  his  long  hair  and  cravat  and 


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shirt  collar  into  the  hall  and  up  a  flight  of  stairs  to  a 
closet  containing  an  iron  safe.  This  they  compelled 
him  to  open,  being  unable  from  the  peculiar  structure 
of  the  lock  to  open  it  themselves.  When  he  had 
unfastened  the  private  bolt,  they  took  out  the  con- 
tents, and  then  dragged  him  into  another  room, 
placed  him  upon  a  bed,  and  with  terrible  threats  de- 
manded more  money.  The  old  man  pointed  them 
with  a  feeble  hand  to  a  drawer  in  a  dressing  table 
near  by.  The  murderers  in  their  hurry  missed  the 
drawer  containing  the  money,  opening  one  in  which 
they  found  nothing  of  value.  Enraged  at  their  fail- 
ure, and  believing  that  their  defenseless  vie  im  in- 
tended to  deceive  them,  they  fell  upon  him  with 
violence,  beating  and  choking  him  until  he  passed 
into  a  state  of  insensibility.  They  then  proceeded 
to  recall  his  senses  by  dashing  water  in  his  face,  and 
when  he  was  restored  again  demanded  money  of 
him;  and  following  the  motions  of  his  hand,  for  he 
was  unable  to  speak,  they  again  missed  the  proper 
drawer.  Still  more  angry,  if  possible,  than  at  first, 
they  repeated  their  fiendish  brutality  upon  his  per- 
son, strangling  him  until  he  again  fainted.  Reviving 
him  by  throwing  water  into  his  face,  and  by  pouring 
it  down  his  mouth,  they  then  threatened  to  fry  him 
upon  coals  of  fire,  if  he  did  not  disclose  the  place 
where  the  money  had  been  left,  and  they  would  then 
burn  his  body  in  the  flames  of  his  own  house.  The 
old  man  fell  back  insensible,  totally  unable  to  an- 
swer them.  The  murderers  having  found  between 
$600  and  $700  in  money,  a  gold  watch  and  chain,  a 
double-barreled  shot-gun  and  pistol,  fled  precipi- 
tately, leaving  the  house  sprinkled  with  blood  from 
parlor  to  chamber,  and  the  venerable  old  pioneer 
apparently  dead  upon  the  bed!  A  more  cowardly, 
cold-blooded  murder  was  never  committed. 

The  first  discovery  of  the  murder  was  made  by 
Mr.  Cole,  of  Moline,  who  with  two  other  men  was 
passing  down  the  river  in  a  skiff.  When  nearly  op- 
posite the  mansion  of  Colonel  Davenport  they  heard 
the  cry  of  murder.  Rowing  to  the  shore,  they  has- 
tened to  the  house,  and  on  entering  the  door,  which 
stood  ajar,  they  found  blood  in  every  direction,  and 
again  heard  the  fearful  cry  for  help  issuing  from  the 
chamber.  Mr.  Cole  hurried  up  stairs,  where  he  be- 
held the  terrible  spectacle  of  Colonel  Davenport 
weltering  in  blood-  Leaving  his  companions  to  ren- 
der what  assistance  they  could,  Mr.  Cole  ran  for  Dr. 
Brown,  who  was  with  a  picnic  party  on  the  island,  at 


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no  great  distance  from  the   house.     Other  medical 
aid  was  procured  as  quickly  as  possible. 

Colonel  Davenport,  becoming  somewhat  restored 
by  the  assistance  rendered  him,  was  able  to  relate 
the  circumstances  of  his  murder  and  to  describe  the 
three  assassins  who  attacked  him.  He  was  also  able 
to  greet  his  family  on  their  return,  but  being  in  ex 
treme  agony  from  the  tortaire  inflicted,  he  continued 
to  fail,  and  finally  expired  between  9  and  10  o'clock 
on  the  evening  of  the  same  day. 

A  reward  of  $r,5oo  was  offered  by  the  family  of 
Colonel  Davenport  for  the  arrest  of  the  murderers,  to 
which  Governor  Ford  added  $200  for  each  of  the 
persons  concerned  in  it.  Edward  Bonney,  in  a  book 
entitled  "  Banditti  of  the  Prairies,"  gives  a  detailed 
account  of  the  search  for  and  final  capture  of  the 
murderers.  Those  captured  were  John  Long,  Wil- 
liam Fox,  Aaron  Long,  Robert  H.  Birch,  Granville 
Young,  John  Baxter,  Grant  Redden  and  William  H. 
Redden.  At  the  October  term,  1845,  each  of  these 
men  were  indicted  as  principals  and  accessories  in 
the  murder  of  Colonel  Davenport. 

The  regular  session  of  the  Circuit  Court  com- 
menced Oct.  6,  1845,  Judge  Thomas  J.  Brown  pre- 
siding. T.  J.  Turner  was  the  State's  Attorney. 
Baxter  was  remanded  to  jail,  while  the  two  Longs 
and  Granville  Young  were  put  upon  trial.  Dr. 
Patrick  Gregg  was  the  first  witness  called.  He  testi- 
fied to  being  summoned  to  the  house,  and  finding 
the  Colonel  in  a  dying  condition  from  the  effects  of 
the  wound  in  his  thigh  and  from  the  brutal  treatment 
received.  Benjamin  Cole,  Robert  Birch,  George  L. 
Davenport,  Bailey  Davenport,  Frederick  Renen- 
burgh,  William  Kale,  Daniel  Stephens,  William  Ful- 
ler, Frazier  Wilson,  Grant  Redden,  Joseph  Johnson,  ' 
Jssse  Maxwell,  N.  Belcher,  David  Kirkpatrick,  Eston 
C.  Cropper,  Dr.  H.  Brown  and  T.  A.  Walker  also 
testified.  Mr.  Turner,  the  State's  Attorney,  was  as- 
sisted by  Mr.  Mitchell  and  Joseph  Knox.  S.  S. 
Yager  and  Mr.  Cornwall  defended.  On  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  trial  the  jury  retired  and  were  absent  an 
hour,  bringing  in  a  verdict  of  guilty.  The  three 
prisoners  were  then  sentenced  by  Judge  Brown  to  be 
hung  Oct.  19,  1845.  Young  and  Aaron  Long  pro- 
tested their  innocence  of  the  crime,  but  John  Long 
admitted  that  he  was  guilty  and  exulted  in  the  act. 

After  the  trial  and  conviction  of  the  Longs  and 
Young,  and  while  the  execution  was  yet  pending,  a 
special  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was   held  in  Rock 


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Island  for  the  trial  of  Baxter  and  the  two  Reddens. 
Baxter  made  a  confession  in  which  he  acknowledged 
his  guilt,  but  that  he  did  not  desire  that  Davenport 
should  be  killed.  He  hoped  by  thus  confessing  to 
escape  punishment.  After  trial  he  was  found  guilty 
and  sentenced  to  be  hung  Nov.  18,  1845.  On  a  writ 
of  error  to  the  Supreme  Court  the  judgment  was  re- 
versed and  the  case  remanded  back  for  new  trial. 

The  two  Reddens  were  arraigned  on  an  indictment 
as  accessory  to  the  murder  before  the  fact.  The 
jury  failed  to  agree,  and  the  prisoners  were  remanded 
to  jail  to  await  another  trial  at  a  subsequent  term  of 
Court. 

In  February,  1846,  a  special  term  of  Court  was 
held  for  the  trial  of  Baxter,  Birch  and  the  two  Red- 
dens. Birch  obtained  a  change  of  venue  to  Knox, 
and  Baxter  to  Warren  County.  The  case  against 
the  Reddens  was  dismissed;  Grant  Redden  was  dis- 
charged, while  William  H.  Redden  pleaded  guilty  as 
accessory  after  the  act  and  was  sentenced  to  one 
year  in  the  penitentiary. 

At  the  November  term,  1846,  of  the  Warren 
County  Circuit  Court,  Baxter  was  tried,  found  guilty, 
and  sentenced  by  Judge  Purple  to  be  hung  on  the 
9th  day  of  December,  1846.  Through  the  exertions 
of  his  counsel  Baxter  obtained  a  writ  of  error  to  the 
Supreme  Court,  which,  after  hearing  the  arguments, 
)  confirmed  the  judgment  of  the  Court  below.  The 
Legislature  of  the  State  granted  a  commutation  of  the 
sentence  to  imprisonment  for  life  in  the  State  Peni- 
tentiary, where  he  served  some  years,  and  was  par 
doned  Dy  the  Governor. 

Birch  broke  jail  at  Knoxville,  March  22,  1847,  and 
was  never  re-captured.  Fox  also  escaped  before 
reaching  Rock  Island. 

In  the  fall  of  1848  Benj.  R.  Sheldon  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  receiving  a  commission 
bearing  date  Dec.  4,  of  the  same  year.  He  served 
until  May  14,  185  r,  when  Ira  O.Wilkinson  was 
commissioned.  During  Judge  Wilkinson's  term  sev- 
eral cases  of  importance  were  tried. 

David  Stoddard  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of 
Eliza  Stoddard  at  the  November,  r854,  term.  He 
was  tried  at  the  June,  1855,  term,  convicted  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  hung  on  Friday,  July  13,  1855. 

f.  Wilson  Drury  was  elected  and  commissioned 
June  5,  1S55.  He  served  until  March,  rS6o,  when 
he  resigned.     John  H-  Howe  was  appointed  to  fill 


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the  vacancy,  and  filled  out  Judge  Drury 's  unexpired 
term.  Among  the  cases  tried  by  Judge  Drury  were 
those  of  the  People  against  Hugh  McCartney,  Isaac 
Ball,  John  Hughes  and  Samuel  Ingram. 

Hugh  McCartney  was  indicted  in  November,  1855, 
for  murder.  He  was  brought  before  the  Court,  plead- 
ed guilty  of  manslaughter,  and  was  sentenced  to  five 
years  in  the  penitentiary. 

Isaac  Ball  was  charged  with  the  murder  of  James 
Congdon,  Sept.  1,  1856.  At  the  November  term  of 
the  Circuit  Court  an  indictment  was  found  against 
him,  and  in  September  he  was  tried  for  the  commis- 
sion of  the  crime,  the  jury  returning  a  verdict  of  not 
guilty. 

Samuel  Ingram  was  indicted  at  the  March  term  of 
the  Circuit  Court,  in  1857,  for  the  murder  of  his  wife, 
Hannah  Ingram,  Dec.  17,  1S56.  After  due  trial,  he 
was  sentenced  to  be  hung,  the  execution  taking 
place. 

At  the  March  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  1857, 
John  Hughes  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of  Charles 
H.  Lewis,  by  striking  him  on  the  head  with  a-poker, 
on  the  17th  day  of  February,  1857.  After  continu- 
ing the  case  from  time  to  time,  it  was  finally  stricken 
from  the  docket. 

On  the  9th  day  of  July,  1859,  Charles  L.  Bean 
was  shot  with  a  rifle  and  died  the  next  day.  Jasper 
Hampton,  Turner  Hampton  and  Joseph  Langley 
were  arrested  for  the  commission  of  the  crime,  in- 
dicted by  the  grand  jury  at  the  September  term  fol- 
lowing, tried  and  acquitted. 

The  grand  jury  at  the  September  term,  1859,  also 
indicted  John  Farrell  for  the  killing  of  Jesse  W.  Bol- 
lard, by  striking  him  with  a  club.  After  continuing 
the  case  on  the- docket  for  six  years,  it  was  stricken 
off  on  motion  of  the  Prosecuting  Attorney,  with  leave 
to  re-instate.     Farrell  was  never  arrested. 

In  June,  1861,  Judge  Wilkinson  was  again  elected 
and  served  the  full  term  of  six  years,  his  term  cov- 
ering the  full  period  of  the  war.  There  were  several 
cases  of  interest  tried  during  this  time. 

On  the  24th  day  of  June,  i860,  Patrick  McGurtry 
was  killed  by  being  struck  with  a  stone.  Alexander 
Abbott  was  charged  with  the  commission  of  the 
crime,  and  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  at  the  Sep- 
tember term  following  of  the  Circuit  Court.  After 
being  continued  from  time  totim  the  case  was  finally 
tried  at  the  January  term,  1865,  the  jury  rendering  a 
verdict  of  not  guilty. 


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George  Sinnett  was  shot  with  a  pistol  on  the  17th 
day  of  August,  1863,  and  instantly  killed.  Daniel 
Thrailkeld  was  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  at  the  Sep- 
tember term  of  the  Circuit  Court  following,  was  tried, 
found  guilty  of  manslaughter,  the  jury  fixing  the 
verdict  at  three  years  in  the  penitentiary.  A  new  trial 
was  granted,  and  on  the  rg.th  day  of  January,  1864, 
the  jury  rendered  a  verdict  of  not  guilty  and  he  was 
set  at  liberty. 

On  Saturday,  May  23,  T863,  the  remains  of  a  child 
were  found  in  the  upper  story  of  a  wagon  shop  in  the 
city  of  Rock  Island,  lately  occupied  by  A.  G.  John- 
son. The  remains  proved  to  be  that  of  Lorena  Roe. 
A  coroner's  jury  was  empanneled,  evidence  heard 
and  a  verdict  rendered  that  the  child  came  to  her 
death  by  violence,  and  implicated  A.  G.  Johnson  as 
the  murderer.  The  grand  jury  found  a  true  bill 
against  Johnson,  and  at  the  January  term,  1864,  he 
was  tried  and  a  verdict  of  guilty  rendered  by  the 
jury.  A  new  trial  was  granted  and  a  change  of  venue 
taken  to  Henry  County.  At  the  March  term,  1864, 
in  Henry  County,  he  was  tried  and  a  verdict  ren- 
dered of  not  guilty. 

In  June,  1867,  Geo.  W.  Pleasants  was  elected  to 
the  Bench.  He  was  commissioned  June  27,  1S67. 
He  has  three  times  been  re-elected  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  fourth  term. 

On  the  21st  day  of  August,  1867,  Hiram  Reynolds 
was  shot  and  instantly  killed.  David  Edgington  was 
indicted  by  the  grand  jury  for  the  commission  of  the 
crime,  tried,  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  the  State 
prison  for  life. 

On  the  iSth  day  of  July,  r867,  Myron  D.  Hill  was 
killed  by  being  stabbed  with  a  large  knife.  Homer 
Marion  was  arrested  and  indicted  for  the  commission 
of  the  crime. 

Geo.  W.  Jones  was  indicted  at  the  May  term,  T867, 
of  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  killing  of  Robert  McClus- 
key  by  shooting  him  with  a  gun,  the  shooting  taking 
place  Feb.  27,  1867.  He  was  tried  at  the  Septem- 
ber term,  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  three  years 
in  the  penitentiary. 

Indictments  found  against  Wm.  Dolan,  Nicholas 
Schlitz,  Wm.  Blair,  John  Toomey, Lynch,  Tim- 
othy Butler,  Halsey  Hammond,  John  Galagher, 
John  Campbell,  Oliver  Clandanis  and  James  Cro- 
nan,  at  the  January  term,  1870,  for  causing  the 
death  of  Moses  Davis  and  Wm.  Armstead  or  Arm- 
strong, on  the  9th  day  of  July,  1869. 


Change  of  venue  taken  by  all  except  Lynch.  Af- 
ter trying  to  have  the  indictment  quashed,  he  was 
tried  at  the  September  term,  1870,  and  sentenced  to 
ten  years  in  the  penitentiary. 

At  the  June  term  in  the  following  year,  the  de- 
fendants, except  Butler,  were  tried,  and  each  found 
guilty  save  Hammond  and  Galagher ;  were  sen- 
tenced to  the  penitentiary,  their  terms  ranging  from 
one  to  three  years.  The  case  against  Butler  was  dis- 
missed. This  case  created  much  excitement  at  the 
time.  The  men  indicted,  in  a  row  caused  Davis  and 
Armstrong  to  jump  from  a  steamer  into  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  hoping  to  swim  ashore.  They  were 
drowned  in  the  attempt. 

The  General  Assembly,  by  an  act  approved  March 
28,  1873,  divided  the  State  into  26  Judicial  Districts, 
in  each  of  which  one  Judge  was  to  be  elected  on  the 
2d  of  June.  Rock  Island  County  became  a  part  of 
the  Fifth  Circuit,  and  Judge  Pleasants  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  Circuit. 

George  Brace,  on  the  nth  day  of  April,  1875,  was 
shot,  dying  the  next  day.  The  grand  jury  found  a 
bill  of  indictment  against  John  Masters  for  the  com- 
mission of  the  crime,  at  the  May,  1875,  term  of  the 
Circuit  Court.  He  was  tried  at  the  September  term, 
1875,  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  ten  years  in  the 
penitentiary. 

In  1877  the  General  Assembly  passed  an  act  by 
which  the  State  was  divided  into  13  circuits,  with 
three  Tudges  in  each.  Rock  Island,  Knox,  Warren, 
Henderson,  Mercer  and  Henry  comprised  the  Tenth 
Circuit.  The  following  named  have  served  the  cir- 
cuit: Geo.  W.  Pleasants,  Arthur  A.  Smith  and 
John  J.  Glenn.  All  were  re-elected  in  June,  1885, 
for  a  term  of  six  years. 

Joseph  Rosenfield  was  killed  on  the  12th  day 
of  March,  1879.  John  Kavanaugh,  Bernard  Heeney 
and  Patrick  Heeney  were  indicted  for  the  murder. 
Kavanaugh  and  Patrick  Heeney  were  tried  at  the 
May  term,  1879,  the  former  being  found  guilty 
and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for  life,  while  the 
latter  was  also  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  14 
years  in  the  penitentiary.  Bernard  Heeney  took  a 
change  of  venue  to  Henry  County,  was  there  tried  in 
June,  1879,  and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for 
life. 

On  the  5th  day  of  September,  1SS1,  Dorothea 
Heilwagon    was    murdered    near   her   residence    in 


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Hampton,  her  body  not  being  found  until  the  9th. 
Win.  Heihvagon,  the  father-in-law  of  the  murdered 
woman,  and  J.  Otto  Heilwagon,  her  husband,  were 
arrested  for  the  crime.  On  the  preliminary  exam- 
ination the  latter  was  discharged,  but  the  former  was 
held  to  the  Circuit  Court  to  answer  to  the  charge. 
At  the  January  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  he  was 
tried,  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  be  hung  March 
24,  1882.  It  is  supposed  that  Heilwagon  made  im- 
proper proposals  to  his  daughter-in-law,  which  being 
resented,  for  fear  of  exposure,  he  murdered  her.  He 
was  duly  executed. 


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I  HE    Rock  Island    County  Bar  has   always 
ranked  high,  and  has  numbered  among  its 

r— •*  members  some  of  the  brightest  intellects  in 
the  State.  Among  the  first,  if  not  the  first, 
t&  resident  members,  was  Joseph  Knox,  who 
stood  in  the  front  rank,  not  only  of  the  Bar  of 
the  county  but  of  the  entire  State.  Joseph  Knox 
was  born  in  Blandford,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  in 
1805.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  supplemented  by  a  few  months' 
study  under  a  private  teacher.  Reading  law  with 
his  brother,  Gen.  Alanson  Knox,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  in  1828.  For 
nine  years  he  practiced  his  profession  in  Hardwick, 
in  his  native  State,  and  then  removed  to  Rock  Isl- 
and County.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  year 
or  two,  then  resumed  the  active  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  a  splendid  speaker,  having  a  direct 
stvle,  great  humor  and  sound  argument.  As  an  ad- 
vocate he  had  few  equals.  Mr.  Knox  was  married 
in  1833  to  Susan  Mixter,  of  Hardwick,  Mass.  Eight 
children  were  born  unto  them,  of  whom  four  are  now 
living.  Like  all  other  attorneys  of  his  day,  Mr. 
Knox  took  an  active  part  in  politics.  Until  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republican  party  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, from  which  time  until  his  death  he  supported 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.     He  died  in 


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Chicago,  in  August,  r88i,  to  which  place  he  had 
previously  removed.  His  remains  were  brought  to 
Rock  Island  and  interred  in  Chippiannock  Cemetery. 

J.  Wilson  Drury  was  another  eminent  lawyer  that 
resided  here.  He  came  soon  after  Knox,  and  was 
for  some  time  his  law  partner.  Mr.  Drury  was  sub- 
sequently elected  Judge  of  this  circuit,  and  served 
with  credit  to  himself  and  the  satisfaction  of  the  Bar. 
He  now  resides  in  Chicago. 

H.  G.  Reynolds  also  located  here  at  an  early  day. 
He  was  for  a  time  an  editor  of  one  of  the  newspapers 
in  Rock  Island.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  for  many  years 
Secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons  of  this 
State,  and  as  such  was  known  far  and  wide. 

James  Grant,  now  of  Davenport,  was- here  during 
the  first  decade,  and  was  for  a  time  State's  Attorney. 
While  here  he  gave  evidence  that  there  was  a  bright 
future  before  him.  In  Iowa  he  ranks  among  the 
ablest  men.  He  has  probably  received  a  larger 
single  fee  for  his  professional  services  than  any  at- 
torney in  the  State. 

Among  others  that  were  here  during  the  first  and 
second  decades  were  Curtiss,  Harvey,  Henderson,  El- 
bridge  R.  Bean,  Jerome  J.  Beardsley,  Robt.  W.  Smith, 
John  A.  Blodgett,  John  E.  Brackett,  Win.  Brackett, 
Rufus  M.  Grenell,  John  B.  Hawley,  Robt.  Wilkinson, 
Robert  M.  Marshall,  Edward  W.  Murphy,  Wells  & 
Kimball.  These  were  all  residents  of  Rock  Island. 
In  Moline  were  Robert  H.  Graham,  Alfred  Webster, 
Henry  L.  Smith,  James  Chapman,  Wm.  Jackson, 
Henry  Fairclough,  Milton  Beal,  J.  J.  Judd,  Gill  and 
others.  These  are  all  dead,  have  quit  practice  or 
moved  away. 

The  present  Bar  is  composed  of  the  following 
named :  Rock  Island — J.  M.  Beardsley,  H.  C. 
Connelly,  M.  M.  Corbett,  Henry  Curtis,  Guyer  & 
Sweeney,  Joseph  L.  Haas,  Elmore  W.  Hurst,  Saville 
Johnston,  Oliver  Olsen,  Patrick  O'Mara,  Parks  & 
Pleasants,  E.  E.  Parmenter,  M.  M.  Sturgeon, 
Sweeney  &  Walker,  Ira  O.  Wilkinson.  In  Moline — ■ 
Browning  &  Entrikin,  Eugene  Lewis,  Meese  &  Hol- 
land, William  R.  Moore. 

Biographical  sketches  of  a  number  of  these  gentle- 
men will  be  found  in  this  work. 


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FTER  the  formation  of  the 
county  for  some  years,  party 
lines  were  not  sharply  drawn, 
the  early  settlers  having  some- 
thing else  to  do  than  to  fight 
>**®  the  battles  of  party  ;  still  there 
goj  was  always  a  strong  party  senti- 
ment, which  only  required  time 
and  opportunity  to  develop.  As 
illustrating  the  political  sentiments 
of  the  people  of  the  county  the  re- 
sult of  the  various  Presidential  elec- 
tions are  given.  In  1836  party  lines 
were  strongly  drawn  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  the  country.  Martin 
Van  Buren  was  the  nominee  for  the 
Presidency  of  the  Democracy,  and 
William  Henry  Harrison  of  the  Whigs  for  the  same 
office.     In  this  county  the  vote  stood  as  follows : 

W.  H.  Harrison 104 

Martin  Van  Buren 35 

The  first  convention  held  in  this  county  by  either 
political  party  was  held  by  the  Whigs  in  1840.  Dur- 
ing the  campaign  which  followed  politics  were  red 
hot.  The  Rock  Island  Banner,  which  'had  been 
started  as  a  neutral  paper,  espoused  the  Democratic 
cause,  and  its  Whig  patrons  ceased  to  give  it  support, 
commencing  the  publication  of  the  Upper  Mississip- 
pian,  which  advocated  the  election  of  Harrison. 
There  were   then   seven    election    precincts   in   the 

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county.     The  majorities  given  by  precincts    were  as- 
follows : 


Stephenson . 
Hampton. . .' 
Port  Byron.. 
Cordova. . .  . 
Edgington  .  . 
Illinois  City 
Drury 


Harrison's  Maj. 
67 
43 
...         20 


Van  Buken*s  Maj. 


1 1 

46 

27 


209  1 

In    1844    the   parties   were    more  evenly  divided. 

Moline  Precinct  had  been  formed,  and  the  name  of 

Stephenson  changed  to  Rock  Island.  The  following 

is  the  vote  by  precincts  : 

Prkcincts.              (lay.  Polk. 

Cordova 21  24 

Port  Byron 39  35 

Hampton 65  44 

Moline 59  3° 

Rock    Island 169  158 

Edgington 34  32 

Illinois  City 38  35 

Drury 41  39 


466  397 

Clay's  majority  in  the  county,  69 ;  six  votes  in 
Moline  for  Birney,  making  869  votes  in  the  county. 

In  1848  Zachary  Taylor,  the  hero  of  Buena  Vista, 
was  nominated  for  President  by  the  Whigs,  Lewis 
Cass  by  the  Democrats,  and    Martin  Van  Buren   by 

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the  Free-Soil  party.     The  vote  in  the  county  was  as 
follows  : 

Zachary  Taylor 583 

Lewis  Cass 43  r 

Martin   Van  Buren 96 

In  1852  the  Whigs  made  their  last  national  cam- 
paign, placing  in  nomination  another  hero  of  the 
Mexican  War,  Winlield  Scott.  The  Democrats  nom- 
inated Franklin  Pierce,  and  the  Free-Soilers  John 
P.  Hale.     The  vote  here  was  as  follows  : 

Winfield  Scott 764 

Franklin  Pierce 686 

John  P.  Hale ,  96 

The  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  the  pass- 
age of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  brought  new  is- 
sues before  the  people.  .  The  Whig  party  had  about 
disappeared.  The  Republican  party,  having  for  its 
leading  principles  opposition  to  the  further  extension 
I  of  slavery,  had  been  formed.  The  American  party, 
;>  with  its  motto,  "  Americans  must  rule  America,"  was 
*  also  in  the  field.  John- C.  Fremont  was  nominated 
by  the  Republicans,  Millard  Fillmore  by  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  James  Buchannan  by  the  Democrats. 
Rock  Island  county  cast  the  following  vote  : 

John  C.   Fremont 1 ,439 

James  Buchanan 1,114 

Millard  Fillmore 265 

The  campaign  of  i860  was  a  most  exciting  one. 
Abraham  Lincoln,  the  "  rail-splitter,"  of  Illinois,  had 
been  nominated  by  the  Republicans,  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  the  "  Little  Giant,"  of  the  same  State,  by 
one  wing  of  the  Democracy,  John  C.  Breckenridge, 
of  Kentucky,  by  another  wing  of  the  same  party,  and 
John  Bell,  of  Tennessee,  by  the  Union  party,  made 
up  principally  of  the  members  of  the  American 
party,  which  had  ceased  to  exist.  As  in  other 
parts  of  the  country,  the  election  in  Rock  Island 
County  was  one  of  great  excitement,  resulting  as 
follows  : 

Abraham  Lincoln 2,088 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 1,478 

John  Bell 34 

John  C.  Breckenridge 13 


When  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1864  was 
fought,  the  war  of  the  rebellion  had  been  in  prog- 
ress over  three  years.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  re- 
nominated for  President,  and  in   opposition  to   him 


was  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  as  the  Democratic 
candidate.  The  vote  in  this  county  was  as  fol- 
lows : 

Abraham  Lincoln 2,091 

George  B.  McClellan 1 ,542 

In  1868  Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  nominated  by 
the  Republicans  for  President,  while  the  Democrats 
placed  in  nomination  Horatio  Seymour,  of  New 
York.  A  heavy  vote  was  polled  in  this  county,  re- 
sulting as  follows  : 

Ulysses  S.   Grant 2 ,835 

Horatio  Seymour r  ,g  1 3 

In  1872  what  was  known  as  the  Liberal  Repub- 
lican movement  sprung  up,  having  a  large  influence 
in  shaping  the  policies  of  the  two  great  parties. 
Gen.  Grant  was  re-nominated  by  the  Republicans, 
Horace  Greeley  by  the  Liberal  Republicans,  and  en- 
dorsed by  the  Democrats.  A  few  ultra  Democrats 
would  not  accept  Greeley,  and  nominated  Charles 
O'Conor,  of  New  York.  In  this  county  the  vote 
stood  ; 

Ulysses   S.  Grant . . 2,905 

Horace  Greeley 1,827 

The  campaign  of  1876  was  somewhat  different 
from  any  that  had  preceded  it  for  years.  The  Dem- 
ocratic party,  under  the  cry  of  "Tilden  and  Re- 
form," placed  the  Republicans  on  the  defensive.  The 
hard  times  that  had  affected  the  country  for  some 
years  caused  the  organization  of  a  third  party — that 
of  the  National  Greenback  party.  Samuel  J.  Tilden 
was  the  nominee  of  the  Democrats,  Rutherford  B. 
Hayes  of  the  Republicans,  and  Peter  Cooper  of  the 
Greenbackers.  Tbe  vote  of  Rock  Island  County 
was  as  follows  : 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes 3*912 

Samuel  J.  Tilden 2,838 

Peter  Cooper 8 

In  1 880  James  A.  Garfield  was  nominated  by  the 
Republicans,  Winfield  S.  Hancock  by  the  Democrats, 
and  James  B.  Weaver  by  the  Nationalists.  The  cam- 
paign was  a  very  exciting  one.  The  Nationalists,  or 
Greenbackers,  as  more  commonly  known,  exhibited 
remarkable  strength  in  Rock  Island  County.  The 
following  is  the  vote  : 

James  A.  Garfield 4,025 

Winfield  S.  Hancock 2,565 

James  B.  Weaver 1,001 


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The  campaign  of  1884  was  a  most  hotly  contested 
one.  James  G.  Blaine  was  nominated  by  the  Republi- 
cans, Grover  Cleveland  by  the  Democrats,  Benjamin 
F.  Butler  by  the  A«iti-Monopolists,  and  John  P.  St. 
John  by  the  Prohibitionists.  The  latter  was  quite  a 
'  factor  in  the  campaign,  making  the  result  very  ques- 
tionable. In  Rock  Island  County  a  heavy  vote  was 
cast,  resulting  as  follows  : 

James  G.  Blaine 3,819 

Grover  Cleveland 2,785 

Benjamin  F.  Butler 9-57 

John  P.  St.  John 81 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Rock  Island  County  has 
from  its  organization  cast  its  vote  first  with  the  Whigs 
and  then  with  the  Republicans.  Only  on  local  issues 
have  the  nominees  of  the  party  in  opposition  been 
enabled  to  elect  a  candidate  even  for  a  county  office. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  county  it  has  been 
represented  in  the  various  State  and  National  offices 
as  follows : 

LIEUTENANT    GOVERNOR. 

Rock  Island  County  has  furnished  one  Lieutenant- 
Governor  in  the  person  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  in  1846-9. 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  PUBLIC   INSTRUCTION. 

John  P.  Brooks,  of  Rock  Island,  was  elected  to 
this  office  in  1863  and  served  two  years.  Mr.  Brooks 
was  an  eminent  Methodist  preacher,  stationed  here 
at  the  time  of  receiving  his  nomination. 

STATE    ENTOMOLOGIST. 

D,  B.  Walsh  was  appointed  to  this  office  by  Gov. 
Oglesby,  June  n,  1S67,  and  died  in  office  in  1S70. 

CONGRESSIONAL. 

On  its  organization,  Rock  Island  County  formed  a 
part  of  the  Third  Congressional  District,  in  which  it 
remained  until  1843,  and  was  represented  in  the 
23d,  24th  and  25th  Congress,  by  Wm.  L.  May,  of 
Springfield.  In  the  26th  and  27th,  John  T.  Stuart,  of 
Springfield,  represented  the  district. 

By  the  apportionment  made  under  the  act  of 
March  1,  1843,  Rock  Island  County  became  a  part 
of  the  Sixth  Congressional  District.  Joseph  P.  Hoge, 
of  Galena,  was  the  Representative  in  the  28th  and 
29th  Congress;  Thos.  J.  Turner,  of  Freeport,  in  the 
30th;  Edward  D.  Baker,  of  Galena,  in  the  31st,  and 
Thompson  Campbell  in  the  32d. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  passed  Aug. 
22,  1852,  the  Stale  was  divided  into  nine  districts, 


and  under  the  apportionment,  Rock  Island  formed  a 
part  of  the  Second  District.  John  Wentworth,  of 
Chicago,  represented  the  district  in  the  33d;  James 
H.  Woodworth,  of  Chicago,  in  the  34th;  John  F. 
Famsworth,  of  Chicago,  in  the  35th,  36th  and  37th 
Congresses. 

By  the  apportionment  under  the  act  of  April  24, 
i86t,  Rock  Island  County  was  placed  in  the  Fourth 
Congressional  District.  In  the  38th  Congress  it  w;.s 
represented  by  Chas.  M.  Harris,  of  Oquawka,  in  the 
39th,  and  40th  by  A.  C.  Harding,  Monmouth;  in  the 
41st  and  42d,  by  John  B.  Hawley,  of  Rock  Island. 

In  1872,  under  the  act  of  July  1,  of  that  year,  the 
State  was  divided  into  19  districts,  Rock  Island 
forming  a  part  of  the  Sixth.  John  B.  Hawley,  of 
Rock  Island,  represented  it  in  the  43d  Congress; 
Thos.  J.  Henderson,  of  Princeton,  in  the  44th,  45th 
and  46th  Congresses. 

By  an  apportionment  made  in  1881,  it  was  made  a 
part  of  the  1  ith  Congressional  District.  In  the  46th 
and  47  th  Congresses  it  was  represented  by  Wm.  H. 
Neece,  of  Macomb. 

GENERAL    ASSEMBLY. 

On  its  organization,  Rock  Island,  together  with  the 
counties  of  Jo  Daviess,  Cook,  La  Salle,  Putnam  and 
Peoria  formed  a  Senatorial  and  Representative  dis- 
trict, and  were  entitled  to  one  Senator  and  one  Rep- 
resentative. James  W.  Stephenson  was  Senator,  but 
subsequently  resigned,  and  James  M.  Strode  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Mr.  Strode  served  until 
1836.  John  Hamlin  represented  the  district  in  the 
house.  The  Ninth  General  Assembly  convened  at 
Vandalia,  Dec.  1,  1834,  and  adjourned  Feb.  13,  1835. 
A  second  session  was  held  from  Dec.  7,  1835,  till 
Jan.  18,  1836. 

Under  a  new  apportionment  made  at  the  called 
session,  Rock  Island,  Jo  Daviess  and  Mercer  formed 
one  Senatorial  and  one  Representative  District,  with 
A.  G.  S.  Wight  representing  it  in  the  Senate  and 
Elijah  Charles  in  the  House  in  the  Tenth  General 
Assembly.  Mr.  Charles  resigned;  S.  M.  Bartlett  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  1  ith  General  Assembly  convened  at  Vandalia, 
Dec.  3,  1838,  and  was  in  session  until  March  4, 
1839.  A  second  session  convened  at  Springfield, 
Dec.  9,  1839,  and  adjourned  Feb.  3,  1840.  Rock 
Island,  together  with  the  counties  of  Jo  Daviess, 
Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Ogle,  Mercer  and  Boone, 


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formed  one  district,  and  was  represented  in  the  Sen- 
ate by  Geo.  W.  Harrison  and  in  the  House  by  James 
Craig  and  Gerraanicus  Kent. 

The  1 2th  General  Assembly  convened  at  Spring- 
field, Nov.  23,  1840,  and  adjourned  in  12  days. 
A  second  session  was  held  Dec.  7,  1840,  and  ad- 
journed March  1,  1841.  Rock  Island,  Jo  Daviess, 
Stephenson,  Ogle,  Mercer,  Whiteside,  Winnebago, 
Boone,  Carroll  and  Lee  were  one  district,  with  Geo. 
W.  Harrison  in  the  Senate  and  Thomas  Drummond 
and  Hiram  W.  Thornton  in  the  House. 

In  the  14th  General  Assembly,  John  Buford  repre- 
sented the  district  comprising  the  counties  of  Rock 
Island,  Henry,  Whiteside  and  Lee.  Joshua  Harper 
was  in  the  House,  the  district  being  composed  of 
Rock  Island  and  Henry. 

In  the  15th  General  Assembly  the  same  counties 
composed  the  Senatorial  District,  with  Silas  Noble, 
Senator.  The  Representative  District  was  the  same 
as  two  years  previously.  Wm.  S.  Bailey  was  the 
Representative. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  1848  the  State  was  di- 
vided into  25  Senatorial  and  54  Representative  Dis- 
tricts. Rock  Island,  Henry,  Mercer,  Warren,  Knox 
and  Stark  formed  the  19th  Senatorial  District,  and 
the  counties  of  Rock  Island,  Henry  and  Stark,  the 
43d  Representative  District. 

In  the  1 6th  General  Assembly,  John  Denny,  of 
Knox  County,  represented  the  Senatorial  District  and 
John  W.  Henderson,  of  Stark,  the  Representative 
Distiict. 

In  the  17th  General  Assembly,  John  Denny  was 
the  Senator,  but  resigned  before  the  expiration  of  the 
term  and  Samuel  Webster,  of  Rock  Island,  was 
elected  lo  fill  the  vacancy.  James  M.  Allen,  of 
Henry,  was  the  Representative. 

In  the  1 8th  General  Assembly,  Benjamin  Graham, 
of  Henry,  was  Senator,  and  Wm.  Marshall,  of  Rock 
Island,  Representative. 

By  an  act  approved  Feb.  27,  1854,  the  State  was 
divided  into  25  Senatorial  and  58  Representative 
Districts.  Rock  Island,  together  with  the  counties  of 
Warren,  Mercer,  Henry  and  Stark,  formed  the  Ninth 
Senatorial,  while  Rock  Island,  Henry  and  Mercer 
formed  the  48th  Representative  District. 

In  the  19th  General  Assembly,  Benjamin  Graham, 
of  Henry,  served  the  district  as  Senator  and  Wm.  L. 
Lee,  of  Rock  Island,  Representative. 


In  the  20th  General  Assembly,  Thomas  J.  Hen- 
derson, of  Stark,  was  Senator,  and  H.  G.  Little,  of 
Henry,  Representative. 

In  the  21st  General  Assembly,  Thomas  J.  Hen- 
derson was  still  Senator,  Ephraim  Gilmore,  Jr.,  of 
Rock  Island,  was  in  the  House. 

In  the  22d  General  Assembly  Thomas  J.  Pickett,  of 
Rock  Island,  was  Senator,  and  Robert  W.  Smith,  of 
Rock  Island,  Representative. 

In  1 86 1  another  apportionment  bill  was  passed, 
which  received  the  Governor's  signature  Jan.  31,  di- 
viding the  State  into  25  Senatorial  and  61  Represent- 
ative districts.  Rock  Island,  Bureau  and  Henry 
Counties  were  made  the  21st  Senatorial,  while 
Rock  Island  alone  formed  the  47th  Representative 
District. 

In  the  23d  General  Assembly  Thomas  J.  Pickett 
served  as  Senator,  while  John  Kistler  was  in  the 
House. 

In  the  24th  General  Assembly  Alfred  Webster,  of 
Rock  Island,  was  the  Senator  and  Joseph  W.  Lloyd 
was  Representative. 

In  the  25th  General  Assembly  Mr.  Webster  still 
served  as  Senator,  with  Albert  S.  Coe  in  the  House. 

In  the  26th  General  Assembly  Andrew  Craw- 
ford, of  Henry  County,  was  Senator,  and  Hiram  F. 
Sickles,  Representative. 

In  1870  a  new  constitution  was  adopted.  One 
section  of  that  constitution  provided  that  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Secretary  of  State  should  immediately  pro- 
ceed to  fix  the  apportionment  for  the  members  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  the  apportionment  to  be 
based  upon  the  United  States  census  for  1870,  if 
the  same  should  be  ascertained  in  time.  The  ratio 
of  Representation  in  the  House  was  to  be  ascertained 
by  dividing  the  population  of  the  State  by  153,  the 
quotient  to  be  the  ratio  ;  every  county  or  district, 
when  its  population  amounted  to  three-fifths  of  the 
ratio,  to  be  entitled  to  one  Representative;  each 
county  or  district,  having  a  population  equal  to  a 
ratio  and  three-fifths,  to  be  entitled  to  two  Represent- 
atives, and  for  each  additional  number  of  inhabitants 
equal  to  the  ratio,  one  Representative.  Under  this 
apportionment  Rock  Island  County  was  entitled  to 
two  Representatives.  Together  with  Bureau  and 
Henry,  it  formed  the  21st  Senatorial  District.  It 
was  made  the  7  2d  Representative  District.  Each 
Senatorial  District  was  entitled  to  two  Senators. 


f 


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704 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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In  the  27th General  Assembly  Andrew  Cra\vford> 
of  Henry  County,  and  Lorenzo  D.  Whit  ting,  of  Bu- 
reau County,  were  in  the  Senate,  and  John  Mor- 
ris, of  Rock  Island  County,  and  Edwin  H.  Johnson, 
of  Port  Byron,  in  the  House. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  and^  approved 
March  1,  1872,  the  State  was  divided  into  51  Sena- 
torial districts,  each  district  being  entitled  to  one 
Senator  and  three  Representatives.  Rock  Island 
and  Henry  counstituted  the  21st  District. 

In  the  2Sth  General  Assembly  Wm.  H.  Shepard, 
of  Cambridge,  represented  the  district  in  the  Senate, 
and  Wilder  W.  Warner,  of  Orion,  Edwin  H.  Johnson, 
of  Port  Byron,  and  Chas.  Dunham,  of  Geneseo,  in 
the  House. 

In  the  29th  General  Assembly  E.  C.  Moderwell, 
of  Geneseo,  was  in  the  Senate,  and  Rufus  M.  Grin- 
nell,  of  Cordova,  John  T.  Browning,  of  Moline,  and 
John  P.  Fox,  of  Henry  County,  in  the  House. 

In  the  30th  General  Assembly  E.  C.  Moderwell, 
^  was  again  is  the  Senate,   while  the  House    had  John 

*  T.  Browning,  of  Moline,   John  P.    Fox,  of   Geneseo, 

*  and  Rufus  M.  Grinnell,  of  Cordova. 

The  31st  General  Assembly  had  Milton   M.  Ford, 
3  of  Galva,  in  the  Senate,  and  Anthony   R.    Mock,  of 
Cambridge,    John    \V.  'Foy,  of  Atkinson,  and  James 
v  W.  Simonson,  of  Port  Byron,   in   the  House,  repre- 
senting this  district. 

COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 

At  the  first  election  held  in  Rock  Island  County, 
on  its  organization  in  1833,  George  Davenport, /John 
W.  Spencer  and  George  W.  Harlan  were  elected. 

In  1834  George  Davenport, 'John  W.  Spencer  and 
.     John  Vanatta. 

In  May,  1836,  John  S.  Miller  was  elected  in  place 
of  John  Vanatta,  who  resigned. 

At  the  regular  August  election  in  1S36,  John  W. 
Spencer,  John  S.  Miller  and  Lucius  Wells  were 
elected. 

On  thi  first  Monday  in  August,  1S38,  Nathaniel 
Belcher,  Jacob  Coleman  and  Lemuel  Andrews  were 
elected. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1840,  Adolphus 
Dunlap  was  elected  in  place  of  Jacob  Coleman. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1841,  John  R. 
Taylor  was  elected  in  place  of  Nathaniel  Belcher. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1842,  George  S. 
Moore  was  elected  in  place  of  Lemuel  Andrews. 


(o 


In  August,  1843,  John  Kistler  was  elected  in  place 
of  Adolphus  Dunlap. 

In  August,  1S44,  Wm.  L.  Lee  was  elected  in  place 
of   John  R.  Taylor. 

In  August,  1845,  Medad  W.  Wright  was  elected  in 
place  of  Geo.  S.  Moore. 

In  August,  1846,  Samuel  Sloan  was  elected  in 
place  of  John  Kistler. 

In  August,  1847,  Jacob  Starr  was  elected  in  place 
of  Wm.  L.  Lee. 

In  August,  1848,  T.  C.  Temple  was  elected  in 
place  of  M.  W.  Wright. 

COUNTY  JUDGES  AND  ASSOCIATES. 

By  the  Constitution  of  1S4S  it  was  provided  that 
in  counties  not  adopting  the  township  organization 
law,  the  county  business  should  be  transacted  by  a 
board  consisting  of  the  County  Judge  and  two  associ- 
ate justices.  These  three  officers  had  equal  voice 
in  county  matters,  but  the  associates  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  probate  business,  which  was  attended  to 
by  the  County  Judge  alone,  the  office  of  Probate 
Justice  being  abolished,  the  duties  of  the  office  de- 
volving upon  the  County  Judges.  The  first  election 
for  County  Judge  and  two  Associate  Justices  was 
held  Nov.  6,  1849,  at  which  time  the  following 
named  were  elected:  John  W.  Spencer,  County 
ludge;  T.  J.  Robinson  and  James  Weaverling,  As- 
sociate Justices. 

After  serving  three  years  Judge  Spencer  resigned, 
and  Wm.  Bailey  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

At  the  November  election  in  r853,  John  M.  Gould 
was  elected  County  Judge,  with  George  E.  Holmes 
and  John  Kistler,  Associate  Justices. 

COUNTY  TREASURERS. 

This  important  office  has  been  filled  by  the  follow- 
ing named : 

.1  oel  Wells 1S33-36 

Patrick  Gregg.   1836-43 

Nathaniel  Belcher* 1843-45 

Nathaniel    Belcher 1845-47 

Wm.  Bell 1847-49 

Wm.     Hollowav 1849-51 

A.    K.  Philleo 1S51-53 

Robert  T.  Shaw is53-57 

Mr.  Belcher  resigned  in  the  spring  of  1845,  and  P. 
.T.  Lloyd  was  appointed  and  served  out  the  unexpired 
term. 

COUNTY    CLERKS. 

On  the  organization  of  the  county,  this  officer  was 
better  known  as  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court.     In  addition  to  other  duties  he  is  now  Clerk 


Z.    Cook 1857-59 

A.    L.   Wait 1859-65 

H.  F.  Thomas 1865-69 

David  O.  Reid 1S69-73 

Samuel  R.   Porter 1873-79 

Robert  F.  Reed .    1879-S2 

John  E.  Fleming 1882-85 


4 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


7°5 


of  the  Board  of  Supervisors, 
been  the  following  named : 


Those  serving  have 


Joseph  Conway 1833-43 

Samuel  Brown 1^43-44 

Wm.  Yandever 1844-47 

Jeremiah  Chamberlain  . .  ■  1847-49 
Joseph  Couet 1849-53 


A.  M.  Loop* 1853-54 

Joseph  B.   Hawley T854-65 

James  M.  Beardsley 1865-73 

John   V.Cookt 1873-79 

R.  A.   Donaldson 1879-85 


♦Died  in  December,  1879.  R.  A.  Donaldson  was  ap- 
pointed pro  tern.,  and  elected  to  till  the  vacancy  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1880.     Re-elected  in  1882. 

t  Resigned,  and  Joseph  B.  Hawley  elected  to  till  the 
vacancy. 

SHERIFFS. 


Benjamin   F.Pike "833-35 

M  ichael  Bartlett 1835-37 

Charles  Eames 1837-39 

Lucius  Wells 1839-41 

Lemuel  Andrews 1S41-47 

Samuel  S.  Guyer 1 847-5 " 

T.  B.  Gorton 1851-53 

A.  F.  Swander 1853-55 

T.  B.    Gorton    "855-57 

E.   M.    Beardsley   "857-59 

M.  D.  Merrill 1859-6! 


4k 


David  Hawes 1S61-63 

C.  A.  McLaughlin 1863-65 

M.D.Merrill 1865-67 

John  Peetz .".1867-69 

Wm.  Drury 1869-71 

Wm    Payne ...1871-74 

August  Hussing 1874-76 

Josiah  L.  Perkins 1876-79 

J.  F.  Akrum 1881 

J .  M .  Reticker 1882-86 


STATES    ATTORNEYS. 

Among  those  who  have  served  under  the  various 
titles  of  State's  Attorneys,  Prosecuting  Attorney  or 
County  Attorney,  have  been  Thomas  Ford,  James 
Grant,  Edward  Southwick,  Shelton  S.  Hall,  William 
Kellogg,  Joseph  B.  Wells,  William  Turner,  Harmon 
G.  Reynolds,  Henry  B.  Stillman,  William  F.  Miller, 
George  W.  Pleasants,  Ira  O.  Wilkinson,  John  B. 
Hawley,  Charles  C.  Wilson,  O.  R.  Mock,  E.  E.  Par- 
menter,  W.  J.  Entriken. 

COUNTY    SCHOOL   COMMISSIONERS. 


Eliphalet  Cook 1837 

Joel  Thompson 1840 

Miles  W.  Conway 1841 


S.  L.  Br— 1846 

A.  F.  Cutler .-"847 

M  .  B .  Osborne 1859 


I 

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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


nature  to  give  aid  and  comfort  to  the  rebels,  and  dis- 
courage and  dishearten  our  brave  army,  meet  with 
our  deepest  detestation  and  abhorrence  ;  and  we  be- 
lieve for  such  traitorous  acts  the  civilized  world  will, 
in  all  coming  time,  assign  them  a  place  in  public  es- 
teem compared  to  which  the  Tories  in  the  Revolu- 
tion bear  no  comparison. 

At  the  June  term  the  Board  set  forth  its  views  in 
still  stronger  terms,  and  strongly  denounced  any  and 
all  so-called  peace  congresses.  It  also  denounced 
the  attitude  of  the  Legislature  in  its  policy  toward 
the  Administration. 

In  September,  1864,  the  Board  re-affirmed  their 
previous  resolutions,  and  resolved  that  it  "  considered 
the  claims  of  our  country  paramount  to  all  other 
claims,"  and  pledged  itself  "  not  to  make  any  new 
appropriations  of  county  money  or  means  that  will 
conflict  with  this  high  duty  or  lessen  our  ability  in 
this  direction."  That  the  Board  did  its  duty  none 
can  doubt.  The  resources  of  the  county  was  strained 
to  the  utmost  to  meet  all  demands  for  help  from  the 
needy  families  of  the  soldiers  and  to  promote  enlist- 
ments. As  already  stated,  every  call  was  quickly 
responded  to  and  the  credit  of  Rock  Island  for  loyal- 
ty to  the  Government  was  sustained.  When  the  last 
call  was  met,  when  the  brave  boys  that  were  left  re- 
turned to  their  homes  and  families,  even  then  the 
Board  did  not  consider  its  duty  done.  There  were 
many  children  in  the  county  who  had  been  made 
orphans  by  the  war  who  must  receive  its  kind  atten- 
tions. A  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  had  been  estab- 
lished at  Normal  for  the  care  and  education  of  all 
such,  and  to  this  institution  $1,000  was  appropriated. 
A  large  number  of  children  were  sent  to  the  school 
from  this  county  and  appropriations  were  made  for 
their  welfare.  The  school  at  Fulton  also  received 
accessions  from  this  county  of  soldiers'  orphans,  and 
appropriations  were  made  for  their  maintenance. 

Maj.  Quincy  McNeil,  by  order  of  the  Board,  com- 
piled a  list  of  the  soldiers  from  this  county,  which  is 
on  file  in  the  office  of  the  County  Clerk.  It  shows  a 
total  of  2,299  men,  as  follows: 


12th  Illinois  Inf. 
13th       "  " 


19th 

37  th 

43d 

45 1'1 
47  th 


(f 


68 

103 

62 

135 
7i 
83 
96 


140th       "  "  72 

148th       "  "  6 

Various  "  "  70 

4th  Illinois  Cav.  52 

9th        "  "  95 

14th        "  "  49 

1 6th        "  "  r 


51st 

58th 
65  th 
66th 
69th 
7  rst 
89th 
93<i 

I02d 

126th 
i32d 


49 
135 
44 
36 
64 

19 

101 

91 

12 

462 

70 


17th 

Pennsylvania  reg. 

Iowa 

Missouri 

Colorado 

Maryland 

Wisconsin 

Indiana 

Kansas 

Minnesota        " 

Gunboat  service 


25 

1 

118 

10 

2 

1 

7 
1 
29 
2 
1 


4' 


Soldiers'  Monument. 

g^VEN  before  the  close  of  the  war,  measures 
"*  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  monument 
to  commemorate  those  who  lost  their  lives 
!|S.  in  the  service  of  their  country,  and  the  sum  of 
i  $2,000  was  appropriated  for  that  purpose.  A 
[  committee  was  appointed  to  procure  plans  and 
make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  its  erection  in  a 
suitable  place  ;  but  after  fully  considering  the  matter 
it  was  thought  best  to  defer  action  for  a  time.  The 
money  was  drawn,  however,  and  (loaned  out,  thus 
accumulating  interest.  In  March,  1867,  the  commit- 
tee having  the  matter  in  charge  reported  that  they 
thought  the  time  had  come  when  action  should  be 
taken.  They  were  instructed  to  proceed  with  the 
work.  Accordingly,  plans  were  secured  and  the 
work  commenced,  resulting  in  the  handsome  monu- 
ment now  standing  in  the  Court-House  Square.  On 
the  9th  day  of  April,  1869,  on  the  fourth  anniversary 
of  Lee's  surrender  to  Grant  at  Appomattox  the 
monument  was  unveiled.  One  of  the  largest  crowds 
that  ever  assembled  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island  was 
present  on  the  occasion.  In  the  procession  were  the 
Masonic,  Odd  Fellow  and  Good  Templar  societies, 
lodges  of  the  city,  the  firemen  and  civic  societies, 
the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Davenport,  the 
Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Rock  Island,  the  Presi- 
dent and  Board  of  Trustees  each  of  Moline  and 
Milan,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county,  and 
citizens.  The  late  Emery  A.  Storrs,  of  Chicago,  de- 
livered a  masterly  oration.  Everything  passed  off  in 
a  pleasant  manner,  and  while  tears  were  shed  for 
the  brave  boys  who  perished,  all  rejoiced  that  their 
memory  would  be  perpetuated  anc1:  that  generations 
yet  unborn  would  know  of  their  heroic  deeds. 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY.  7°9   ■ 


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^  ■.'* 


HE  printing-press  is  surely 
the  Archimedean  lever  that 
$&  moves  the  world.  Until  its 
»  invention  the  world  moved 
o  but  slowly,  the  events  daily 
fjt-00  transpiring  in  one  country  or 
;f|]@  community  requiring  days  and 
months,  and  even  years,  to  be 
made  known  in  other  countries 
or  communities.  To-day  all  is 
changed.  Every  event  of  impor- 
tance transpiring  in  any  part  of 
the  world,  is,  with  the  aid  of  the  tele- 
jy  graph,  made  known  to  all  other  parts, 
and  by  the  printing-press  given  to 
the  people  almost  as  soon  as  they  transpire.  The 
press  thus  disseminates  knowledge  and  exerts  an 
influence  that  cannot  be  measured. 

The  press  of  Rock  Island  County  is  the  equal  of 
that  of  any  like  community  in  the  country,  and 
is  doing  much  to  mold  public  opinion.  The  pub- 
lishers of  this  Album  would  here  render  to  the 
newspaper  men  of  this  county  a  world  of  thanks  as 
a  mild  expression  of  their  obligations  for  many  and 
valued  favors  received  at  their  hands.  They  showed 
a  willingness  to  encourage  and  aid  every  enterprise 
with  its  aim  to  educate  the  people  or  preserve  the 
historical  record  of  the  county.  The  editor  of  this 
volume  is  indebted  to  Col.  Danforth,  of  the  Rock 
Islander,  the  oldest  newspaper  man  in  the  county, 
for  the  greater  part  of  the  facts  given  in  this  article. 


( 


Rock  Island  Banner  and   Stephenson  Gazette. 

HE  first  attempt  at  starting  a  printing-office 
and  publishing  a  newspaper  in  Rock  Island 
was  by  Henry  C.  McGrew,  in  1839.  The 
office  was  in  the  second  story  of  a  two-story 
wooden  building,  on  what  is  now  Sixteenth 
Street,  formerly  Buffalo.  The  Rock  Island 
Banner  and  Stephenson  Gazette  was  the  name  of  the  V 
paper.  It  was  a  five-column  folio,  "  devoted  to  news,  < 
arts,  sciences,  literature,  agriculture,"  etc.,  and  neu- 
tral in  politics.  The  Banner  suspended  publication 
in  the  fall  of  1841.  Mr.  McGrew  deserved  well  of 
the  community,  and  ought  to  have  succeeded  ;  but 
the  limes  were  unfavorable  for  a  neutral  or  even  an 
independent  paper.  The  remarkable  political  ex- 
citement during  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1840 
aroused  bitter  prejudices  on  both  sides,  and  he  joined 
with  the  Democratic  party. 


The  Illinois  Cultivator. 

|N  the  spring  of  1840  was  commenced  the 
publication  of  the  above-named  paper,  de. 
voted  to  agriculture  and  education.  The 
Upper  Mississippian,  in  its  issue  for  Nov.  5, 
1840,  thus  speaks  of  it:  "This  valuable  agri- 
cultural paper  is  published  monthly  in  this 
place  by  Messrs.  Gould  and  Jenks,  the  former  taking  (« 
charge  of  the  agricultural,  and  the  latter  the  educa- 


^mmfo*& 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


4*t^Cd) 


nature  to  give  aid  and  comfort  to  the  rebels,  and  dis- 
courage and  dishearten  our  brave  army,  meet  with 
our  deepest  detestation  and  abhorrence  ;  and  we  be- 
lieve for  such  traitorous  acts  the  civilized  world  will, 
in  all  coming  time,  assign  them  a  place  in  public  es- 
teem compared  to  which  the  Tories  in  the  Revolu- 
tion bear  no  comparison. 

At  the  June  term  the  Board  set  forth  its  views  in 
still  stronger  terms,  and  strongly  denounced  any  and 
all  so-called  peace  congresses.  It  also  denounced 
the  attitude  of  the  Legislature  in  its  policy  toward 
the  Administration. 

In  September,  1864,  the  Board  re-affirmed  their 
previous  resolutions,  and  resolved  that  it  "  considered 
the  claims  of  our  country  paramount  to  all  other 
claims,"  and  pledged  itself  "  not  to  make  any  new 
appropriations  of  county  money  or  means  that  will 
conflict  with  this  high  duty  or  lessen  our  ability  in 
this  direction."  That  the  Board  did  its  duty  none 
can  doubt.  The  resources  of  the  county  was  strained 
to  the  utmost  to  meet  all  demands  for  help  from  the 
needy  families  of  the  soldiers  and  to  promote  enlist- 
ments. As  already  stated,  every  call  was  quickly 
responded  to  and  the  credit  of  Rock  Island  for  loyal- 
ty to  the  Government  was  sustained.  When  the  last 
call  was  met,  when  the  brave  boys  that  were  left  re- 
turned to  their  homes  and  families,  even  then  the 
Board  did  not  consider  its  duty  done.  There  were 
many  children  in  the  county  who  had  been  made 
orphans  by  the  war  who  must  receive  its  kind  atten- 
tions. A  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  had  been  estab- 
lished at  Normal  for  the  care  and  education  of  all 
such,  and  to  this  institution  $1,000  was  appropriated. 
A  large  number  of  children  were  sent  to  the  school 
from  this  county  and  appropriations  were  made  for 
their  welfare.  The  school  at  Fulton  also  received 
accessions  from  this  county  of  soldiers'  orphans,  and 
appropriations  were  made  for  their  maintenance. 

Maj.  Quincy  McNeil,  by  order  of  the  Board,  com- 
piled a  list  of  the  soldiers  from  this  county,  which  is 
on  file  in  the  office  of  the  County  Clerk.  It  shows  a 
total  of  2,299  men,  as  follows: 


1 2th  Illinois  Inf. 
13th      " 


68 

103 
62 


140th  " 
148th  " 
Various  " 

4th  Illinois  Cav. 

9th 


72 

6 
7° 
52 
95 
49 

1 


51st 
58th 
65  th 
66th 
69th 
7  1st 
Sgth 
93d 

I02d 

126th 
133d 


49 
135 
44 
36 
64 

r9 
101 

91 
12 

462 

70 


17th        "     _    " 

Pennsylvania  reg. 

Iowa 

Missouri 

Colorado 

Maryland 

Wisconsin 

Indiana 

Kansas 

Minnesota        " 

Gunboat  service 


25 

1 

118 

10 
2 
1 

7 
1 
29 
2 
1 


<r 


=»-®Hl!l>-S®"$= 


The   \ 

95 


V 


Soldiers'  Monument. 

VEN  before  the  close  of  the  war,  measures 
were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  monument 
to  commemorate  those  who  lost  their  lives 
in  the  service  of  their  country,  and  the  sum  of 
$2,000  was  appropriated  for  that  purpose.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  procure  plans  and 
make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  its  erection  in  a  /^ 
suitable  place  ;  but  after  fully  considering  the  matter 
it  was  thought  best  to  defer  action  for  a  time 
money  was  drawn,  however,  and  lloaned  out,  thus 
accumulating  interest.  In  March,  1867,  the  commit- 
tee having  the  matter  in  charge  reported  that  they 
thought  the  time  had  come  when  action  should  be 
taken.  They  were  instructed  to  proceed  with  the 
work.  Accordingly,  plans  were  secured  and  the 
work  commenced,  resulting  in  the  handsome  monu- 
ment now  standing  in  the  Court-House  Square.  On 
the  9th  day  of  April,  1869,  on  the  fourth  anniversary 
of  Lee's  surrender  to  Grant  at  Appomattox  the 
monument  was  unveiled.  One  of  the  largest  crowds 
that  ever  assembled  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island  was 
present  on  the  occasion.  In  the  procession  were  the 
Masonic,  Odd  Fellow  and  Good  Templar  societies, 
lodges  of  the  city,  the  firemen  and  civic  societies, 
the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Davenport,  the 
Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Rock  Island,  the  Presi- 
dent and  Board  of  Trustees  each  of  Moline  and 
Milan,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county,  and 
citizens.  The  late  Emery  A.  Storrs,  of  Chicago,  de- 
livered a  masterly  oration.  Everything  passed  off  in 
a  pleasant  manner,  and  while  tears  were  shed  for 
the  brave  boys  who  perished,  all  rejoiced  that  their 
memory  would  be  perpetuated  and  that  generations 
yet  unborn  would  know  of  their  heroic  deeds. 


I 

I 


a4m®hii^ 


z_ 


— 


HN^$>f 


li 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


709    - 


<L 


® 


^oco« 


HE  printing-press  is  surely 
the  Archimedean  lever  that 
moves  the  world.  Until  its 
invention  the  world  moved 
but  slowly,  the  events  daily 
transpiring  in  one  country  or 
^r§1|4  community  requiring  days  and 
months,  and  even  years,  to  be 
made  known  in  other  countries 
or  communities.  To-day  all  is 
changed.  Every  event  of  impor- 
tance transpiring  in  any  part  of 
the  world,  is,  with  the  aid  of  the  tele- 
fif  graph,  made  known  to  all  other  parts, 
Y  and  by  the  printing-press  given  to 
the  people  almost  as  soon  as  they  transpire.  The 
press  thus  disseminates  knowledge  and  exerts  an 
influence  that  cannot  be  measured. 

The  press  of  Rock  Island  County  is  the  equal  of 
that  of  any  like  community  in  the  country,  and 
is  doing  much  to  mold  public  opinion.  The  pub- 
lishers of  this  Album  would  here  render  to  the 
newspaper  men  of  this  county  a  world  of  thanks  as 
a  mild  expression  of  their  obligations  for  many  at.d 
valued  favors  received  at  their  hands.  They  showed 
a  willingness  to  encourage  and  aid  every  enterprise 
with  its  aim  to  educate  the  people  or  preserve  the 
historical  record  of  the  county.  The  editor  of  this 
volume  is  indebted  to  Col.  Danforth,  of  the  Rock 
Islander,  the  oldest  newspaper  man  in  the  county, 
for  the  greater  part  of  the  facts  given  in  this  article. 


Rock  Island  Banner  and   Stephenson  Gazette. 

HE  first  attempt  at  starting  a  printing-office 
and  publishing  a  newspaper  in  Rock  Island 
was  by  Henry  C.  McGrew,  in  1S39.  The 
office  was  in  the  second  story  of  a  two-story 
wooden  building,  on  what  is  now  Sixteenth 
Street,  formerly  Buffalo.  The  Rock  Island 
Banner  and  Stephenson  Gazette  was  the  name  of  the 
paper.  It  was  a  five-column  folio,  "  devoted  to  news, 
arts,  sciences,  literature,  agriculture,"  etc.,  and  neu- 
tral in  politics.  The  Banner  suspended  publication 
in  the  fall  of  i84r.  Mr.  McGrew  deserved  well  of 
the  community,  and  ought  to  have  succeeded  ;  but 
the  limes  were  unfavorable  for  a  neutral  or  even  an 
independent  paper.  The  remarkable  political  ex- 
citement during  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1840 
aroused  bitter  prejudices  on  both  sides,  and  he  joined 
with  the  Demociatic  party. 


@ 


© 


The  Illinois  Cultivator. 


1  i 


Hs>H§ 


^^c @_A<3U[|gu|];'^A^ 3^n 


\  N  the   spring  of  1840  was  commenced  the 
1    publication  of  the  above-named  paper,  de. 
voted  to   agriculture  and    education.     The 
Upper  Mississippian,  in  its  issue   for  Nov.  5,  A 
1840,  thus  speaks  of  it:  "This  valuable  agri-  p 
cultural    paper    is    published   monthly   in    this    j£ 
place  by  Messrs.  Gould  and  Jenks,  the  former  taking  (4 
charge  of  the  agricultural,  and  the  latter  the  educa-  ^y 

m 


v> 


(o> 


T2f€^ er^BO&flfli'^'r^ — 


—^m 


710 


'A 


0 

V* 


1=3 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


A 


ational  department.  It  was  commenced  in  March 
last,  and  has  already  received  about  1,000  subscribers. 
Both  editors  are  natives  of  Maine,  whose  energetic 
sons  are  always  indefatigable  in  all  their  under- 
takings, and  rarely  ever  fail  in  gaining  the  end 
desired.  We  wish  every  farmer  who  reads  this 
notice  would  send  to  Stephenson  for  the  Illinois 
Cultivator.  He  will  never  regret  the  $1.50  for  the 
subscription." 

The  first  number  of  the  paper  was  issued  in  March, 
1840,  "  P.  Gould,  editor  and  proprietor;  H.  McGrew, 
printer."  It  was  an  eight-page  paper,  three  columns 
to  a  page,  and  size  of  pages  8%  by  13  inches. 
Gould  &  Jenks  were  the  proprietors — P.  Gould  and 
J.  W.  Jenks.  But  notwithstanding  its  boast  of  r,ooo 
subscribers,  it  proved  to  be  a  losing  concern,  and 
died  in  a  few  months.  Gould  left  before  the  publi- 
cation was  abandoned,  and  Jenks  returned  to  Massa- 
chusetts. Previous  to  his  coming  to  Rock  Island  to 
live,  Jenks  had  been  a  Chaplain  on  board  a  United 
States  war  vessel. 


The  Upper    Mississippian. 


rf. 


O 


|^  HE  Banner  having  become  a  Democratic 
paper,  the  Whigs  felt  the  necessity  of  start- 
W^  ing  a  paper  at  Stephenson.  Accordingly, 
't>S  on  October  5,  184.0,  appeared  the  first  number 
of  the  Upper  Mississippian,  under  the  man- 
agement of  Daniel  Crist.  It  was  a  six-column 
folio,  published  at  $2.50  per  year.  Daniel  Crist  was 
born  Nov.  30,  1806,  near  Lewisburg,  Union  Co.,  Pa. 
His  father  was  a  farmer.  At  t4  years  of  age  he  was 
clerk  in  the  store  of  a  man  named  Boyd,  in  Danville, 
Pa.;  at  19  he  became  an  apprentice  to  George 
Sweeney,  in  Danville,  to  learn  the  printer's  trade  ;  at 
2r  he  was  a  "jour."  printer  in  Harrisburg;  at  25  he 
returned  to  Danville  and  married  a  daughter  of 
George  Sweeney,  and  went  to  Angelica,  Allegany 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  published  the  Allegany  Republican,  a 
Whig  paper.  In  1834  he  came  to  this  State,  working 
sometimes  as  a  surveyor,  and  sometimes  as  a  printer, 
in  Springfield.  He  went  back  to  Angelica,  where  he 
had  left  his  family,  then  to  Danville,  Pa.,  and  came 
again  to  this  State  in  1836,  stopping  in  Ellisville,  in 
Fulton  County.     In   1840  he  came  to  Rock  Island. 


He  had  quite  a  limited  education,  but  was  persevering, 
experiencing  many  "  ups  and  downs" — sometimes 
printing  a  newspaper,  sometimes  keeping  a  tavern, 
and  sometimes  making  brick  out  at  Case's  Yards, 
He  left  Rock  Island  in  1852,  for  Sharon,  Whiteside 
County,  where  he  carried  on  a  store  on  commission. 
He  was  then  a  farmer  in  Henry  County  ;  then  a  clerk 
in  a  store  at  Annawan,  that  county,  and  about  r86o 
left  for  California,  and  was  Postmaster  in  Lodi, 
San  Joaquin  County,  and  assisted  his  son,  Daniel  L., 
in  his  store.  He  died  there  Nov.  r4,  1874,  aged 
about  68  years.  His  first  wife  died  in  March,  1848, 
and  in  October,  1849,  he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
William,  a  widow,  of  this  place.  He  had  a  large 
family. 

Dr.  Silas  Reed  assisted  in  the  preparation  of  edi- 
torial matter  for  some  months,  though  never  con- 
nected with  the  paper  in  a  business  capacity.  The 
Upper  Mississippian  had  a  remarkable  career,  the 
greater  part  of  its  editorial  space  being  taken  up  in 
personal  quarrels.  It  had  a  hard  time  financially, 
being  compelled  occasionally  to  suspend  a  week  or 
two  at  a  time  for  want  of  means  to  procure  paper. 
In  the  issue  for  June  16,  1842,  appeared  the  follow- 
ing: 

There  was  no  paper  issued  from  this  office  last 
week.  Reason,  no  paper.  No  paper!  Cause,  no 
money.  However,  we  have  the  gratification  to  ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  the  following  sums  since 
then,  which  will  procure  paper  for  two  weeks,  viz. ; 
Thos.  McCabe,  $5,  and  S.  W.  Bowman,  $1.50,  of 
Lee  County;  and  R.  L.  Wilson,  of  Whiteside  Coun- 
ty, $3- 

Again,  July  2t,  1842,  the  following: 

This  week  makes  up  the  26th  number  or  the  half 
year  of  the  second  volume  of  the  Upper  Mississip- 
pian; and  there  will  be  no  paper  issued  until  we  can 
get  a  supply  of  paper,  as  we  are  out  of — sorts. 

The  expense,  delay  and  want  of  cash  to  buy  paper, 
caused  Maj.  Frazer  Wilson  to  propose  that  a  quantity 
of  white  muslin  be  procured  and  cut  into  pieces  the 
size  of  the  forms,  and  print  the  paper  on  these  and 
send  them  out  to  the  "  numerous  "  subscribers,  and 
after  they  had  read  them  then  return  them  and  have 
them  washed  out  for  the  next  issue!  The  suggestion 
was  not  adopted,  but  Crist's  supplication  for  money 
seems  to  have  had  the  desired  effect,  for  the  paper 
continued  to  appear,  and  was  running  over  with  the 
quarrel  between  Crist  and  D.  G.  Garnsey,  Receiver 
of  Public  Moneys  at  Dixon,  and  C.  A  Garnsey,  Post- 
master at  Rock  Island. 


^ 


t 


-*$$*■ — £^q  n®  mi&A£ — :s^- 


c 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


Sept.     24,    1842,   is    an    announcement    that    the 

Jj  Garnsey  clique,  by  J.  E.  Brackett,  their  attorney,  re- 

;  plevined  the  press  and  type  in  the  name  of  John  G. 

I    Powers,  and  that  the  paper  for  that  week  was  printed 

at  the  Gazette  office  over  the  river.     It  is   a  red-hot 

number. 

On  the  24th  of  November,- 1842,  Crist  gave  notice 
that  he  had  purchased  a  new  press  and  was  again 
under  way.  In  March,  1844,  Thomas  Gregg,  now 
of  Hamilton,  111.,  became  associate  editor,  remaining 
until  Oct.  5,  1844.  In  November,  1844,  Crist  sold 
the  office  to  Harmon  G.  Reynolds. 

Mr.    Reynolds'  life  was  an  eventful  one.     He  was 
one  of  the.  most   prominent,   able   and  influential  of 
the  early  settlers  here.     He  was  bom  Dec.  21,  18 10, 
at  Moreau,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  raised  principally 
in  Berlin,  Washington  Co.,  Vt.     He  was  only   able 
to  read  and  write,  with  a  small  knowledge  of  arith- 
metic, grammar  and   geography  at   21;  worked   and 
'studied  antil   27,  and  was  then  admitted  to  the  Bar 
-at  Montpelier.  Vt.     He  was  a  Jackson  Democrat  in 
■*  1825,  and  ever  after.     He  emigrated  to  Rock  Island 
E^Co.,  111.,  in  June,   1837,   and   practiced   law   in  this 
jfecounty    until    1S50;  taught   school   in    Rock   Island 
^and  Hampton  over  two  years  ;  elected  Magistrate  in 
Hampton,  December,  183-8;  elected  Probate  Justice, 
^  August,  1839  and    1843;  State's  Attorney,  January, 

1850.  He  removed  to  Cambridge;  thence  in  March, 

185 1,  to  Knoxville,  and  was  elected  County  Judge  of 
Knox  County,  November,  1853;  appointed  Post- 
master at  Rock  Island  in  1847,  and  in  Knoxville  in 
1854.  He  was  a  very  prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order. 

In  July,  1858,  Mr.  Reynolds  removed  to  Spring- 
field, and  in  1862  commenced  the  publication  of  the 
Masonic  Trozvel. 

From  1838  to  1850,  he  was  often  in  peril  of  his 
life,  as,  from  the  settlement  of  this  county  up  to  that 
time,  the  whip,  bludgeon,  fist,  knife  and  pistol  were 
of  frequent  use — and  occasionally  since.  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds, when  last  heard  from,  was  a  resident  of  Blue 
Rapids,  Marshall  Co.,  Kan,  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  the  law. 

Mr.  Reynolds  changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to 
the  Upper  Mississippian  and  Rock  Island  Republi- 
£  can.  The  name  of  ''  H.  G.  Reynolds,  editor  and 
^  publisher,"  was  followed  by  "  H.  C.  Randall,  printer." 
Randall  subsequently  became  a  partner  of  Reynolds. 


/ 


\& 


The  paper  finally  passed  into  the  hands  of  Jonas  H. 
Case,  who  retained  Mr.  Reynolds  as  editor.  It  is 
supposed  to  have  died  in  the  spring  of  1847.  The 
first  year  of  Reynolds'  administration,  while  he  pub- 
lished a  neutral  paper,  he  made  it  a  success,  but 
when  it  espoused  the  cause  of  Democracy,  the  Whigs 
withdrew  their  support. 

The  Northwestern  Advertiser. 

i  N  1845  the  Whigs  were  again  without  a 
newspaper.  Dr.  Horatio  P.  Gatchell  and 
Miles  VV.  Conway,  in  the  fall  of  that  year, 
issued  a  prospectus  for  a  new  paper,  to  be 
f,S  known  as  the  Independent  Republican.  A  suc- 
cessful effort  was  made  to  have  them  change 
their  plans,  and  instead  of  issuing  a  neutral  or  inde- 
pendent sheet,  print  a  Whig  paper.  Accordingly, 
the  Northwestern  Advertiser  made  its  appearance 
as  an  exponent  of  Whig  principles.  Mr.  Conway 
died  within  three  or  four  weeks  after  the  paper  made 
its  first  appearance.  His  death  greatly  discouraged 
Dr.  Gatchell,  who  relied  much  on  his  aid  and  busi- 
ness management.  The  paper  did  not  prove  a  suc- 
cess, it  being  too  scholarly  to  suit  the  times,  and 
gave  too  little  attention  to  local  and  political  affairs. 
He  is  thus  spoken  qi  by  one  who  knew  him  well: 

Dr.  Gratchell  will  be  remembered  by  old  resi- 
dents of  Rock  Island  and  Davenport  as  an  eloquent 
and  talented  minister  of  the  sect  known  as  Disciples. 
As  a  pulpit  orator  he  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent 
and  effective  speakers  of  that  day,  and  was  in  pri- 
vate life  a  man  of  irreproachable  character.  But 
whatever  induced  him  to  become  a  journalist  was  a 
puzzle  to  every  one.  If  it  was  to  print  as  well  as 
preach  his  sermons  it  was  not  necessary,  for  he 
could  preach  them  extempore  quite  as  well  as  he 
wrote  them,  and  people  in  those  days  appeared  to 
prefer  to  take  their  gospel  orally. 

Dr.  Gatchell  soon  disposed  of  the  office,  Wm.  Van- 
dever  becoming  the  purchaser.  He  settled  in  Rock 
Island  in  the  spring  of  1839,  and  the  first  year  was  a 
clerk  in  a  store.  Afterwards  he  spent  some  time  in 
the  law  office  of  Knox  &  Drury,  and  subsequently  did 
some  Government  surveying.  In  1844  he  was 
elected  County  Cleik,  and  served  two  years.    On  the 


-s^^ — ^a^h  n@tifli^A© — ^€^- 


« 


g#»- 


TT-7 


4:BII§IIDi> 


^!  1-^V>/, 


712 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


<§, 


i 


I 


election  of  Gen.  Taylor  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerk- 
ship in  Washington  and  afterwards  to  a  clerkship  in 
the  office  of  the  Survejor-General  of  Iowa,  at  Du- 
buque, opening  a  law  office.  In  1S58  lie  was  elected 
to  Congress  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  the  Dubuque 
district,  and  was  re-elected  in  i860.  On  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  he  entered  the  military  service  of 
the  United  States  as  Colonel  of  the  Ninth  Iowa  Vol. 
Infantry.  He  was  born  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  the 
3rstdayof  March,  1817.  Mr.  Vandever  continued 
as  editor  and  publisher  of  the  paper  for  about  a  year, 
when  the  office  was  sold  to  Messrs.  Sanders  &  Da- 
vis, of  the  Gazette,  in  Davenport,  whe  published  it  a 
few  months,  when  it  became  the  property  of  F.  R. 
Bennett,  though  Mr.  Vandever  was  connected  with 
the  editorial  management  until  after  the  election  of 
Gen.  Taylor,  in  1848.  Mr.  Bennett  changed  the 
name  of  the  paper  to  the  Rock  Island  Advertiser. 

~~  '  :  :  O  .'  :  ■^~~ 

Rock  Island  Advertiser. 

R.  BENNETT  continued  alone  in  the 
publication  of  the  paper  till  1851,  when 
*r?s  A.  G.  Brackett  became  an  associate,  the 
t  \  partnership  continuing  until  October,  1853. 
Mr.  Brackett  has  had  an  exciting  career,  serv- 
ing for  many  years  in  the  regular  army  in  vari- 
ous grades,  from  Lieutenant  to  Colonel.  In  1855  he 
was  appointed  by  Franklin  Pierce,  President  of  the 
United  States,  a  Captain  of  cavalry  in  the  United 
States  Army.  After  raising,  by  recruits  from  Rock 
Island,  a  company  of  regulars  for  the  Second  Regt. 
U.  S.  Cav.,  he  proceeded  to  Texas  to  guard  the 
country  from  the  hostile  incursions  of  Indians  and 
Mexicans,  where  he  remained  four  years,  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  between  the  States,  with 
much  difficulty  escaping  from  Texas.  Making  his 
way  to  Florida,  thence  to  Cuba  and  New  York, 
he  proceeded  to  Washington.  After  recruiting  his 
company  at  Carlisle  Barracks,  Penn.,  he  marched  to 
Washington  and  was  with  the  first  troops  that  crossed 
the  Potomac  into  Virginia.  In  the  fall  of  i86r  he 
raised  the  Ninth  111.  Vol.  Cav.  Regt.,  of  which  he 
was  Colonel  through  the  war. 

The  Advertiser  of  Sept.    14,   1853,  contains   the 
valedictory  of  Mr.  Bennett,  who,  since  the  retirement 


of  Col.  Brackett,  about  a  year  previously,  had  been 
the  sole  editor  and  proprietor.  The  same  issue  also 
contains  the  introduction  of  the  new  proprietors, 
Thomas  R.  Raymond  and  Oliver  P.  Wharton.  The 
partnership  continued  till  Sept.  13,  1854,  when  it 
was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  Mr.  Wharton  con- 
tinuing the  publication  of  the  paper  and  Mr.  Ray- 
mond opening  a  job  office.  In  December,  1853,  they 
started  the  Tri-  Weekly  Advertiser.  In  the  fall  of 
r855  Mr.  Wharton  started  the  Daily  Advertiser, and 
he  writes  that  he  "  stood  under  and  over  the  enter- 
prise till  the  spring  of  1858,  or  about  that  time,  when 
it  became  too  heavy  for  me  and  I  suspended  the 
paper.  " 

In  the  publication  of  the  weekly  a  partnership  was 
formed  in  January,  1S56,  by  Mr.  Wharton,  with  I.  S. 
Hyatt.  This  did  not  long  continue.  The  paper  was 
continued  by  Wharton  until  August,  1S56,  when  T. 
R.  Raymond  became  sole  proprietor.  In  December 
following  Dr.  S.  A.  Paddock  became  associated  with 
Raymond  in  its  publication.  The  partnership  con- 
tinued about  one  year,  when  Dr.  Paddock  retired. 
In  the  spring  of  1S58  the  paper  died. 


The  Liberty  Banner. 

'■|>7~lf  HE  fifth  effort  to  establish  a   newspaper  in 
[Vgajii    Rock  Island  was   by  C.  B.  Waite,  who  has 
,  -i^since   been    Chief   Justice   of  Utah.      The 
Liberty  Banner  was   started    in    the   spring  of 
<$      1846, — a  small,  unpretentious  sheet,  advocat- 
ing  the  abolition  of  slavery    in    the    United 
States.     This  was  not  a  popular  side  to  take  at  that 
time,  both  the  great  parties,  the  Democrats   and  the 
Whigs,  violently  opposing  the  doctrines  of  the  Abo- 
litionists ;  and  as  the  party  had  no  offices  or  spoils  to 
dispense,  its  followers  were   few  and   generally  were 
poor.     He  had  no  printing  office  and  procured  his 
work  done  in  the  office  of  Reynold's    Upper  Missis- 
sippian  and  Rock  Island  Republican. 

Mr.  Waite  was  born  at  Red  Creek,  Wayne  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Jan.  29,  1824.  His  father  removed  to  Illinois 
with  his  family  in  1840,  and  settled  on  the  prairie 
west  of  Chicago.  He  was  educated  at  various  com- 
mon schools  and  finally  entered  Knox  College  and 
went  through  the  Freshmen's  year.     He  learned  the 


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trade  of  a  compositor  in  the  office  of  his  father,  Dan- 
iel D.  Waite,  who,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Illinois, 
started  a  newspaper  at  St.  Charles.  He  then  (1843) 
worked  in  William  E.  Little's  printing-office  in  Joliet, 
and  in  1844  on  the  Western  Citizen,  in  Chicago.  He 
wrote,  more  or  less,  for  all  these  papers. 

In  the  winter  of  1845  he  went  to  work  for  Rey- 
nolds on  the  Upper  Mississippian  and  Rock  Island 
Republican,  and  in  the  spring  of  1846  he  started  the 
Liberty  Banner.  He  traveled  over  the  country  on 
horseback  soliciting  subscriptions,  and  for  awhile  was 
quite  sanguine  of  success.  But  the  power  of  party 
organization  was  so  great  that  men  who  were  in- 
clined to  embrace  the  doctrines  of  the  Liberty  party 
were  deterred,  literally  "  bulldozed  "  into  remaining 
with  their  old  organizations.  Abolition  meetings 
were  broken  up  and  abolition  speakers  mobbed,  until 
it  was  about  as  much  as  a  man's  life  was  worth  to 
stand  out  boldly  and  avow  himself  an  Abolitionist. 
It  is  no  wonder  then  that  the  Liberty  Banner  soon 
shared  the  fate  of  its  predecessor.  It  was  published 
only  a  few  months. 

On  the  failure  of  Waite's  newspaper  enterprise  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  law,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1847  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  He  soon  formed 
a  partnership  with  William  Brackett,  Esq.  He 
moved  to  Chicago  in  the  fall  of  1853.  In  1862  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  Chief  Justice  of 
Utah  Territory,  which  office  he  filled  with  credit  till 
1S64,  when  he  resigned.  In  1865  he  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Lyons  District  Attorney  for  the  princi- 
pal judicial  district  of  Idaho,  which  office  he  filled 
for  some  time,  and  then  returned  to  Chicago,  where 
he  still  resides  and  is  devoting  his  time  to  authorship. 

^— >!-#■ — °<s>H!!§iH®>° — *~W- — ■ 

The  Hock  Island  Argus. 


ROM  the  discontinuance  of  the  Upper 
WL  Mississippian  and  Rock  Island  Republican. 
c''^'   in   1S47,  to  tne  fall  of  1851,  the  Democrats 


f3  were  without  a  newspaper  to  advocate  their 
^  principles,  the  Advertiser,  a  Whig  paper,  being 
the  only  newspaper  published  here.  In  the 
fall  of  1851  Fred  S.  Nichols  and  John  W.  Dunham 
purchased  of  George  K.  Budd,  of  the  St.  Louis  In- 
telligencer, second-hand  materials  for  a  small  weekly 
paper,  and  on  the  18th  of  October  of  that  year  they 


issued  the  first  number  of  a  Democratic  paper  called 
the  Rock  Island  Republican,  the  name  of  which  was 
changed  to  Argus  in  December,  1855,  because  a  po- 
litical party  had  assumed  the  name  Republican,  and 
to  continue  the  paper  under  that  name  would  de- 
ceive many  as  to  its  political  character. 

The  paper  was  started  in  the  back  room  of  the  sec- 
ond story  of  Whitaker  &  Everts'  store,  opposite  the 
Rock  Island  House.  In  the  summer  of  r854  Mr. 
Charles  Buford  built  his  four-story  brick  block,  north- 
east corner  of  Seventeenth  Street  and  Second  Ave- 
nue— the  first  four-story  building  in  Rock  Island — 
and  the  Argus  printing  establishment  was  moved 
into  that  building  in  November,  1854,  and  it  remained 
there  for  17  years.  In  the  summer  of  iS7t  the 
Argus  Block  was  erected  and  the  office  moved  to  its 
present  location  in  October  of  that  year. 

Mr.  Nichols,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  paper,  was 
a  native  of  Macomb  Co.,  Mich.,  and  born  in  1828, 
removing  with  his  parents  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  in 
1838.  He  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  the  offices 
of  the  Advertiser,  Rock  Island,  and  Republican,  St. 
Louis.  Dunham  was  born  in  East  Tennessee  and 
learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Nashville.  He  was  a 
genial,  whole-souled  man — a  born  gentleman  in  the 
truest  sense  of  the  word.  He  remained  but  six  weeks 
at  Rock  Island,  when  he  returned  to  St.  Louis,  and 
afterward  removed  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  died 
of  yellow  fever  during  the  epidemic  in  that  city  in 

Nichols  continued  the  paper  alone  until  1852, 
when  he  sold  a  one-half  interest  to  J.  B.  Danforth, 
Jr.,  and  March  16,  following,  he  sold  his  remaining 
interest  to  Danforth,  and  soon  afterwards  left  for  the 
gold  fields  of  Australia  and  lived  in  the  mining  dis- 
trict of  Beechworth  and  engaged  in  mining,  chiefly, 
during  his  stay  in  that  country.  From  the  time  Dan- 
forth became  interested  in  the  'paper,  Nichols  gave 
himself  no  further  concern  about  the  office.  He 
"  made  up  the  forms  "  and  "  pulled  off"  the  weekly 
edition  occasionally,  but  that  was  about  all.  Mr. 
Danforth  continued  alone  until  January,  1,  1856, 
when  he  associated  with  himself  Robert  V.  Shurly 
in  the  publication  of  the  paper,  selling  him  a  one- 
third  interest.  On  the  16th  of  September,  1857, 
Pershing  &  Connelly  purchased  the  remaining  inter- 
ests of  Danforth.  These  gentlemen  had  been  pub- 
lishing the  Rock  Islander  for  some  time  previ- 
ously, and    on    purchasing    the  Argus   office    they 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


united  the  two  papers  under  the  name  of  the  Islander 
and  Argus.  On  the  23d  cf  September  Mr.  Shurly 
severed  his  connection  with  the  paper,  Milton  Jones 
becoming  the  purchaser.  Mr.  Danforth,  Sept.  16, 
1859,  re-purchased  his  two-thirds  interest  of  Persh- 
ing &  Connelly,  and  with  Mr.  Jones  continued  the 
publication  of  the  paper.  In  1869  Robert  T.  Mc- 
Neal  purchased  of  Mr.  Danforth  one-half  interest  in 
the  office  and  Mr.  Jones  the  remaining  one-sixth, 
Jones  &  McNeal  thus  becoming  equal  and  sole  pro- 
prietors. On  the  1st  of  January,  1870,  J.  S.  Drake 
purchased  the  interest  of  McNeal,  and  in  1873  a 
stock  company  was  organized  under  the  general  in- 
corporatin  law  of  the  State. 

In  1881  the  office  was  purchased  by  Richardson 
&  Powers,  who  ran  the  paper  about  one  year  and 
then  sold  it  to  John  W.  Potter,  of  Freeport.  Mr. 
Potter  placed  the  office  in  charge  of  his  son,  John 
W.  Potter,  Jr.,  a  born  newspaper  man,  who  has  since 
had  control.  In  May,  1S85,  Mr.  Potter  died,  and 
the  son,  John  \V.  Potter,  Jr.,  became  sole  proprietor. 
The  Argus  is  a  neat  and  well-printed  paper,  ably 
edited,  and  reflects  credit  upon  its  editor  and  man- 
ager and  ably  represents  the  Democratic  party.  For 
a  personal  sketch  of  its  editor  and  proprietor  see 
page  643. 


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The  Daily  Argus. 

^IgSpJTHE  first  issue  of  the  daily  made  its  appear- 

EnJsUi    ance  J11')'  '3'  '854,  as  an  evening  paper. 

r^*  It  was  the  first  daily  published  in  Rock 
Island,  or  within  100  miles  of  the  place.     It 

was  published  as  an  evening  paper  till   Dec. 

17,  1S55,  when  it  was  changed  to  a  morning 
paper  and  continued  as  such  until  Nov.  18,  1861 
when  it  was  changed  back  to  an  evening  paper  and 
has  continued  as  such  ever  since.  During  the  owner- 
ship of  Pershing  &  Connelly,  on  the  18th  of  July, 
1859,  the  daily  was  suspended  and  a  tri-weekly  is- 
sued. This  was  continued  until  Sept.  1,  i86i,when 
the  publication  of  the  daily  was  resumed.  The  pub- 
lication of  the  daily  was  again  re-commenced  by  its 
present  enterprising  editor,  J.  W.  Potter,  who  has 
made  it  one  of  the  most  newsy  and  interesting  dailies 
published  in  the  State,  outside  of  Chicago. 


.  <x-x>   , 


The  Rock  Islander. 

£  N  the  summer  of  185 1  there  came  to  Rock 
Island  a  young  man  named  Emanuel  J. 
Pershing,  seekinr  in  a  change  of  climate  to 
reinvigorate  a  weak  constitution.  He  had  been 
connected  with  the  Mountain  Echo,  a  news- 
paper published  at  Johnstown,  Pa  ,  and  his 
tastes  naturally  ran  in  the  direction  of  newspaper 
life.  It  was  at  a  time  when  the  people  were  greatly 
excited  about  "  the  Nebraska  bill,"  as  it  was  called — 
a  bill  reported  by  Senator  Douglas,  as  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  territories,  for  the  organization  of 
the  Territories  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  repealing 
"  the  Missouri  Compromise  "  and  establishing  "  squat- 
ter sovereignty,"  leaving  the  people  who  should  lo- 
cate in  those  territories  to  settle  the  slavery  question 
for  themselves.  The  Democracy  of  Rock  Island 
were  divided  on  the  question  of  the  propriety  of  the 
bill,  as,  indeed,  they  were  nearly  everywhere.  Joseph 
Knox,  George  Mixter,  and  a  few  others,  anti-Ne- 
braska, anti-Douglas  Democrats,  encouraged  young 
Pershing  to  start  an  anti-Nebraska  Democratic 
paper.  Mr.  Pershing  procured  material  and  started 
a  weekly  paper,  issuing  the  first  number  on  the  rgth 
of  September,  1854,  calling  it  the  Rock  Islander. 
The  office  was  in  the  basement  of  Lemuel  Andrews' 
building.  Though  generally  regarded  at  that  time 
as  an  anti-Nebraska  paper,  the  Rock  Islander  sup- 
ported the  regular  Democracy  at  all  times  and  was 
always  a  warm  friend  to  Judge  Douglas. 

The  office  remained  in  Andrews'  building  until 
Bailey  &  Boyle's  block  (now  Mitchell  &  Lynde's 
block)  was  erected,  when  it  was  moved  to  the  third 
story-  of  that  building  and  there  remained  until  it  was 
united  with  the  Argus  on  the  16th  of  September, 
1 S 5 7 .  The  Daily  Rock  Islander  was  started  in  May, 
1855,  and  published  until  its  union  with  the  Argus. 
Mr.  Pershing  was  bom  in  Johnstown,  Cambria 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1831.  From  boyhood  he  was  a 
close  reader  and  diligent  student.  For  a  short  time 
he  attended  the  academy  at  Elder's  Ridge,  Indiana 
Co.,  Pa.,  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Alex.  Donaldson, 
D.  D.  Subsequently  he  entered  as  a  student  Jeffer- 
son College,  at  Canonsburg,  Pa.    In  1857  or  1858  he 


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From  his 
earliest  years  he  was  compelled  to  battle  with  ill 
health,  and  he  came  West,  in  the  hope  of  improving 
his  physical  condition.  Books  were  his  delight  and 
•j.  newspaper  office  had  great  charms  for  him  ;  but  it 
was  too  exhausting  and  he  was  reluctantly  com- 
pelled to  seek  a  more  active  life.  He  was  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  was 
most  amiable  in  all  his  ways. 

In  the  early  part  of  July,  i860,  he  left  Rock  Isl- 
and to  visit  friends  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died 
suddenly,  at  the  Continential  Hotel,  Philadelphia, 
July  22,  i860. 

The  Rock  Islander  under  his  management  was  an 
able,  dignified,  well  conducted  newspaper,  and  its 
editors  and  proprietors  men  of  high  character,  always 
held  in  great  respect  by  all  the  people.  Mr.  Persh- 
ing's early  death  was  much  lamented.  His  surviving 
partner,  Maj.  Connelly,  is  yet  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  Rock  Island,  honored  and  respected  by  all. 

In  the  fall  of  1877  the  County  Central  Committee 
of  the  Working-Men's  party  of  Rock  Island  County 
g  issued  a  prospectus  for  the  publication  of  a  paper 
=t  devoted  to  the  interests  of  that  party.  The  prospec- 
7  tus  set  forth  very  distinctly  the  principles  which 
would  be  advocated,  among  which  were  the  taxation 
»  of  Government  bonds,  taxation  of  incomes  above 
$800  per  year,  the  percentage  of  taxation  being  in- 
creased in  the  ratio  of  increase  of  income,  the  revis- 
ion of  the  tariff  laws  in  the  interest  of  the  working 
men,  greenbacks  to  be  the  only  national  currency, 
change  in  the  system  of  taxation  that  the  rich  might 
pay  the  same  proportion  as  men  of  small  means,  re- 
vision of  the  patent  laws  that  monopolies  might  not 
be  fostered,  reduction  of  army  and  navy  expenses, 
opposition  to  Government  subsidies,  reduction  of  the 
number  of  civil  officers,  the  remonetization  of  silver, 
payment  of  the  Government  debt  in  greenbacks,  the 
better  remuneration  of  labor  and  its  protection. 
Col.  J.  B.  Danforth,  Jr.,  agreed  with  the  committee 
to  purchase  an  office  and  publish  the  paper,  provid- 
ed sufficient  encouragement  should  be  given  for  its 
support.  In  a  very  short  time  a  large  subscription 
was  secured,  and  on  the  5th  day  of  January,  1878, 
the  first  number  of  the  paper  made  its  appearance, 
a  large,  handsome  nine-column  folio.  Mr.  Danforth 
having  retired  from  the  Argus,  thought  best  to  re- 
vive  the  Rock  Islander,    which    was   formerly  well 


known  to  the  citizens  of  the  county,  rather  than  to 
start  a  paper  under  a  new  name.  In  his  salutatory, 
Mr.  Danforth  says  of  the  Rock  Islander:  "  Its  mis- 
sion will  be  to  watch  for  and  oppose  all  legislation 
which  gives  advantages  to  the  rich  over  the  poor,  to 
warn  the  people  that  constant  vigilance  is  the  price 
of  freedom.  Its  discussions  will  be  conducted  in 
candor  and  with  a  view  to  truth  and  justice.  It  will 
treat  everybody  fairly  and  justly,  and  strive  to  incul- 
cate good  morals,  and  to  benefit  the  mass  of  the  peo- 
ple. It  will  be  a  working-men's  paper,  a  greenback 
paper,  a  silver  paper,  a  grange  paper,  a  business 
newspaper,  a  good  family  paper,  a  paper  through 
which  the  men  and  women  who  work  in  factories, 
shops,  mills,  or  for  railroads  or  other  corporations, 
and  in  which  laborers,  farmers  and  business  men  can 
all  find  a  friend,  and  be  heard  in  any  matter  of  pub- 
lic interest — a  paper  which  should  be  in  every  house." 
Every  one  who  knows  Col.  Danforth  knows  that  the 
principles  set  forth  in  the  prospectus  would  find  in 
him  a  steadfast  friend,  and  that  his  blows  in  defense 
of  that  which  he  considered  right  would  fall  thick 
and  fast.  He  is  one  among  the  few  men  born  to  the 
editorial  profession,  and  in  his  writings  could  not  be 
dull  if  he  tried.  The  Rock  Islander  has  been  a  suc- 
cess from  the  start.  It  is  well-printed,  ably  edited, 
and  worthy  of  the  cause  which  it  espouses. 

See  personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Danforth  on 'page  637. 


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The  Daily  News. 

HE  first  issue  of  this  paper  made  its  appear- 
ance March  10,  1855.  It  was  a  very  neat 
*  paper  and  well  filled  with  local  and  news 
items.  There  were  two  other  dailies  in  Rock 
Y  Island  at  this  time,  and,  as  might  be  expected, 
there  was  patronage  enough  for  the  third.  It 
lived  just  128  days.  James  Bowie,  its  editor  and 
publisher,  was  a  fresh,  sparkling  and  terse  writer,  a 
capital  printer,  and  a  pleasant  companion.  After 
his  failure  here  he  went  to  Geneseo  and  started  a 
weekly  paper,  which  lived  but  a  short  time.  He 
subsequently  published  papers  at  Peru  and  Moline, 
and  finally  drifted  back  to  Geneseo,  where  he  died 
in  the  spring  of  i860. 


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The  Commercial. 

V  f\j  X  the  17th  of  July,  1S5S,  C.  W.  Kirklend 
''.  I'-^i  .Tj  commenced  the  publication  of;),  morning 
daily  paper,  and  also  a  weekly  paper  called 
the  Commercial.  In  his  first  issue  he  said : 
"  The  Commercial 'will  be  the  firm,  zealous  and 
consistent  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party."  The  printing  was  done  at  Ray- 
mond's office  in  Gothic  Block. 

The  paper,  like  those  who  lived  and  died  before  it, 
failed  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  public,  patronage 
dropped  off,  and  it  died. 

Kirklend  was  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  i83r, 
and  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the 
Evangelist,  at  Oberlin,  Ohio. 

In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  John  B.  Hawley's 
company,  and  he  staid  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  Company  A,  of 
the  66th  U.  S.  C.  I.,  in  which  he  remained  until 
mustered  out  on  the  20th  of  March,  1866. 


The  Rock  Island  Register. 

HIS  was  a  Republican  paper  started  by  T. 
J.  Pickett,  on  the  9th  of  February,  1S59.  A 
***  weekly  and  a  tri-weekly  were  published. 
The  office  was  in  Raymond's  job  office,  Gothic 
Block.  The  tri-weekly  ceased  some  time  in 
the  summer  of  1861,  and  the  weekly  main- 
tained a  precarious  existence  to  some  time  in  the 
summer  of  1862.  Mr.  Pickett  never  gave  any  very 
serious  attention  to  the  paper,  either  in  the  sanctum 
or  in  a  business  way.  His  first  issue  announced 
Campbell  W.  Waite  as  associate  editor,  who  remained 
only  about  five  months,  his  "  Parting  Word  "  being 
published  July  27,  1859,  and  assigning  as  a  reason 
that  he  was  about  "  to  make  a  trip  to  the  seat  of  war 
in  Europe."  From  that  time  to  June  6,  i860,  no 
other  name  but  Pickett's  appears  as  connected  with 
the  paper,  on  which  date  C.  W.  Kirkland  is  an- 
nounced as  a  partner—"  Pickett  &  Kirkland,  editors 
and  proprietors." 


On  the  9th  of  January,  186 1  (Mr.  Pickett  having 
been  elected  State  Senator),  there  is  an  announce- 
ment by  Pickett  &  Kirkland  that  M.  S.  Barnes  had 
been  engaged  as  editor.  June  19,  1861,  Kirkland's 
name  disappears.  Aug.  21,  186 1,  M.  S.  Barnes  with- 
draws. From  that  time  to  the  last  issue  (August, 
1862)  there  was  only  a  weekly. 

Thomas  J.  Pickett  was  born  March  17,  182 1,  in 
Louisville,  Ky.,  to  which  city  his  father  emigrated 
from  Virginia.  When  quite  a  lad  young  Pickett  re- 
moved to  Peoria,  and  engaged  as  a  printer  boy.  In 
1840,  when  only  19  years  of  age,  he  established  the 
Tazewell  Register,  at  Pekin.  From  thence  he  re- 
turned to  Peoria  and  became  associated  in  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Peoria  Republican.  In  June,  1862,  he 
was  chosen  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  69th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.  Towards  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to 
Paducah,  Ky.,  where  he  became  editor  of  the  Pa- 
ducah  Sentinel,  in  which  place  Colonel  Pickett  has 
successively  held  the  position  of  Postmaster  and 
Clerk  of  the  United  States  Court.  He  is  a  man  of 
kindly  nature,  and  thoroughly  honest;  a  pleasant, 
social  companion  and  agreeable  gentleman. 

Campbell  W.  Waite  was  a  native  of  New  York,  a 
printer  by  trade,  and  before  and  since  has  been  con- 
nected with  various  newspaper  enterprises.  He  re- 
sided in  Chicago  when  last  heard  from. 


4 


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Rock  Island  Union. 


(§j\lfF  this  paper  the  first  issue  bears  date  Nov. 

^  5,  1862,  with  J.  A.   Kuck  as   editor.     The 

material  of  the  office  belonged  to   R.   H. 


Hj»f§Kf~ 


■^_ 


Graham,  and  was  that  on  which  was  printed 
the  Moline  Independent.  Mr.  Graham  had 
enlisted  in  the  army,  leaving  Mr.  Kuck  in 
charge  of  the  paper,  and  the  latter,  through  the  so- 
licitation of  some  of  the  leading  Republicans  of 
Rock  Island,  moved  the  material  and  commenced 
the  issue  of  the  Union.  Mr.  Graham  died  within  a 
week  of  its  first  issue.  Mr.  Kuck  continued  to  pub- 
lish the  paper  until  May,  1863,  when  M.  S.  Barnes 
became  the  proprietor.  Myron  S.  Barnes  is  a  native 
of  New  York,  born  March  4,  1824.  He  received  a 
good  education,  and  learned  the  printer's  trade.  He 
served  on  many  newspapers  as  compositor  and  edi- 


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tor,  and  in  1841  moved  to  Chicago.  At  the  break- 
ing oat  of  the  Mexican  War  he  enlisted  as  a  member 
of  Co.  E,  Second  Regt.  111.  Vol.,  and  participated  in 
several  battles,  the  chiefest  of  which  was  that  of 
Buena  Vista.  At  this  battle  he  stood  a  few  feet 
from  Colonels  Hardin,  McKee  and  Clay,  who  fell  in 
the  desperate  charge  about  4  o'clock  on  the  23d  of 
February,  1847.  He  was  especially  complimented 
by  General  Wood  during  the  engagement. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  newspaper 
work,  and  was  connected  with  several  papers  before 
coining  to  Moline,  in  1858,  where  he  published,  in 
connection  with  Robert  H.  Graham,  the  Moline  In- 
dependent for  one  year.  He  removed  to  Rock  Island 
the  next  year  and  became  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Register,  issued  three  times  a  week,  and  supported 
Abraham  Lincoln  for  President. 

In  the  summer  of  1861  he  aided  in  raising  a  com- 
pany here  for  the  war,  and  was  chosen  Captain.  The 
company  went  into  camp  at  Chicago,  and  on  the  18th 
of  September  was  organized  as  a  part  of  the  37  th 
111.  Vols.,  with  Captain  Barnes  as  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  the  regiment.  He  was,  after  Colonel  Julius  White's 
promotion,  made  Colonel. 

Coming  home  from  the  army,  he  bought  the  Union, 
as  already  stated,  in  May,  1863,  and  continued  its 
publication  till  August,  1864,  when  he  sold  the  es- 
tablishment to  William  Caffrey,  who  retained  the 
office  but  three  months,  and  being  unable  to  pay  for 
it,  it  again  passed  into  the  hands  of  Colonel  Barnes, 
who  continued  its  publication  till  the  fall  of  1 866, 
when  he  sold  to  Captain  Haverstick.  Colonel 
Barnes  in  1872  went  to  Galesburg,  111.,  where  for 
several  years  he  had  charge  of  the  Free  Press. 

Shortly  after  Captain  Haverstick  purchased  the 
Union  establishment-he  bought  the  Moline  Republi- 
can and  merged  it  into  the  Union.  While  engaged 
in  compiling  his  history  of  the  press,  Colonel  Dan- 
forth  wrote  Captain  Haverstick  for  some  points  in  his 
life,  and  received  the  following : 

"  I  entered  the  world  in  the  usual  way ;  I  was 
baptized  in  infancy,  studied  the  Heidelberg  Cate- 
chism and  was  confirmed  in  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  by  a  preacher  who  used  to  trade  horses  and 
steal  pumpkins  from  my  father.  I  grew  up  to  the 
age  of  17  between  a  pair  of  plow-handles  on  one  of 
the  rockiest  and  stumpiest  farms  in  the  Cumberland 
Valley,  in  the  meantime  gathering  what  knowledge 


I  could  in  an  old  log  school- house,  whose  distinguish- 
ing feature  was  a  pair  of  wooden  pegs  behind  the 
teacher's  desk,  on  which  lay  two  or  three  birchen 
hoop-poles  for  disciplinary  purposes  in  the  school.  I 
taught  school  myself  awhile,  and  finally  struggled 
into  college — the  college  that  graduated  James  Bu- 
chanan, Judge  Greer,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  John  A. 
J.  Cresswell  and  other  eminent  men.  About  four 
months  before  I  graduated,  the  faculty  gave  me 
unanimous  permission  to  leave  for  a  time,  which  I 
did,  but  returned,  passed  my  examination  and  re- 
ceived my  degree  of  A.  B.,  standing  second  in  my 
class,  and  delivering  the  Latin  Salutatory  on  Com- 
mencement Day.  Three  years  later  the  same  faculty 
selected  me  to  deliver  the  Master's  Oration,  and  be- 
stowed upon  me  the  degree  of  A.  M.,  for  which  I 
paid  them  $5.  I  worked  at  a  paper-mill  one  sum- 
mer— that  is  to  say,  I  drove  a  mule  team  by  day  and 
studied  Andrews'  Latin  Grammar  by  night.  There 
are  many  (to  me)  interesting  occurrences  in  my  his- 
tory which  modesty  and  a  due  regard  for  your 
patience  forbid  me  enumerating.  I  will  only  add 
that  I  am  married  six  years,  have  a  wife  and  three 
children,  probably  the  healthiest  and  noisiest  young- 
sters of  their  age  in  the  State.  Built  my  own  house 
and  barn,  and  built  the  present  Union  office.  Am 
poor  as  country  newspaper  men  usually  are,  and  as 
Divine  Providence  seems  to  indicate  they  shall  ever 
remain.  Am  now  in  the  pottery  business,  making 
good  ware  and  allowing  the  usual  discount  to  the 
trade.  The  P.  P.'s  which  I  am  now  manufacturing 
are  highly  commended,  and  the  business  promises  to 
be  a  blessing  alike  to  the  Western  public  and  to 
yours,  etc.,  L.  M.  Haverstick." 

Captain  Haverstick  remained  editor  of  the  Union 
until  Sept.  23,  1874,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Wal- 
ter Johnson.  In  1876  he  was  again  editor  of  the 
paper  for  a  few  months,  but  sold  out  in  October  of 
that  year. 

In  March,  1874,  the  office  passed  into  the  hands 
of  a  joint-stock  company,  which  was  organized  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $20,000.  Several  changes  have 
been  made  in  the  ownership  of  the  stock,  but  Walter 
Johnson  has  continued  since  its  organization,  and  W. 
H.  Burdett  since  1876.  These  two  gentlemen  own 
the  greater  part  of  the  stock  at  the  present  time. 
W.  H.  Burdett  is  president,  and  Walter  Johnson, 
secretary,  while  each  assists  in  the  editorial  work. 
The  Union  is  considered  a  good  investment,  and  is 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


one  of  the  reliable  Republican  papers  of  the  State. 
The  Daily  Union  was  commenced  in  1S62,  though 
but  a  few  numbers  were  issued.  In  June,  1863,  its 
publication  was  resumed  as  an  evening  paper,  and 
was  so  continued  until  1866,  when  it  was  changed  to 
a  morning  paper,  and  as  such  continues  to  be  pub- 
lished. The  Union  is  the  only  paper  publishing  the 
Associated  Press  dispatches. 


~^>€1 


The  American  Law  Reporter. 


(SJ&ttwjL 


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*N  the  fall  of  1872  a  young  lawyer,  named 
L.  G.  Johnson,  attempted  to  establish  a 
newspaper  in  this  locality,  for  the  purpose 
of  reporting  decisions  of  courts,  especially 
Iowa  and  Illinois  courts,  and  furnishing  such 
other  legal  information  as  should  be  of  use  to 
lawyers,  justices  of  the  peace,  sheriffs,  constables  and 
other  officers.  Two  other  persons  were  interested 
with  him  in  the  enterprise,  but  their  names  did  not 
appear  in  the  paper.  The  paper  was  called  The 
American  Law  Reporter.  It  was  a  quarto,  of  good 
size  and  appearance,  the  mechanical  execution  being 
fine.  The  first  number  was  issued  in  November, 
1872,  in  Davenport,  though  Mr.  Johnson  made  his 
headquarters  in  this  city.  After  awhile  he  purchased 
printing  material  and  opened  an  office  in  Union 
Block,  Washington  Street  (now  18th  Street)  in  this 
city.  The  paper  was  issued  weekly  for  18  weeks, 
and  ceased  for  want  of  support. 


•*gfl )... 


The    Liberty   League. 


OBERT  TOMPKINS  and  Isaac  N.  Kirkpat- 
-  rick  either  leased  or  purchased  the  print- 
imm  '  ing-office  in  Union  Block,  and  The  Ameri- 
fiy\  can  Law  Reporter,  in  its  last  days,  was 
printed  there, —  also  a  paper  called  The  Lib- 
erty League,  the  first  number  of  which  is 
dated  April  3,  1873.  It  was  a  handsome  eight-column 
paper. 

Says  Danforth  in  his  history  of  the  press  of  Rock 
Island  : 

"  Typographically  it  was  a  very  neat  paper.     In- 


tellectually it  was  very  weak.  The  name  of  no  man 
was  connected  with  it,  and  who  composed  "The  Lib- 
erty League  Publishing  Comoany"  was  not  known  ; 
in  fact  no  such  organization  existed.  The  paper  was 
started  as  an  organ  and  mouth-piece  of  the  liquor 
dealers  of  this  city  and  adjoining  towns,  but  it  hadn't 
brains  enough  to  be  "a  sheet-anchor,"  as  they  claimed 
for  it,  for  an  empty  whisky  barrel.  It  lived  two  or 
three  weeks  only,  and  Johnson  says  somebody  stole 
the  material  of  the  office,  run  it  off  in  the  night, 
shipped  it  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  sold  it.  And  that 
was  the  end  of  The  Liberty  League  and  of  the 
Union  Block  printing-office. 


The   Beobaehter  am    Mississipian 

AS  the  first  newspaper  in  Rock  Island 
printed  in  the  German  language,  and  was 
started  in  1857.  It  was  a  small,  weekly 
paper.  It  was  started  by  Magnus  Mueller, 
in  Charles  Buford's  block.  It  was  neutral  in 
politics,  and  was  edited  by  Dr.  Fr.  Ciolina.  The 
paper  was  not  well  supported  and  survived  only 
about  one  year.  Dr.  Ciolina  was  a  physician  who 
resided  here  and  practiced  his  profession  some  years. 
He  was  born  at  Nierstadt,  southwestern  Bavaria,  in 
1S17;  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Berne, 
Switzerland,  as  a  doctor  of  medicine.  He  came  to 
America  in  1838,  and  to  Rock  Island  some  time  pre- 
vious to  1856.  His  name  appears  in  the  city  direc- 
tory of  1 856  as  residing  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and 
Rock  River  Streets.  He  was  a  man  of  ability,  and 
was  a  forcible  writer  and  public  speaker.  He  left 
here  many  years  ago  for  Chicago. 


-K3- 


-£*- 


Chronik  des   Westens. 


\®>*v 


•  '■'  (  ;Y;tECEMBER,  i8<;o,  was  the  date  when  the 
;■  &2|g£J.,  material  of  the  Bcobachtci  office  was  pur- 
■"'i'vY    "     cllased    by    Adam    and    George    Lieber- 

ti**      knecht,    who,   on    the    first   day  of  January, 
i860  started  a  weekly  newspaper,  printed  in  the 
German  language,  called  the  Chronik  des  Wes- 
tens.    The  name  was  afterwards  changed  to  Monitor 

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ties  Western.  This  paper,  like  its  predecessor,  was 
neutral  in  politics.  Though  a  better  paper  than  the 
Beobachter  and  living  longer,  it  failed  to  command  a 
paying  support,  and  ceased  to  exist  sometime  in 
1863. 

Some  months  after  it  was  started  Adam  Lieber- 
knecht  disposed  of  his  interest  to  his  brother  George 
and  removed  to  Geneseo. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  existence  of  the  pa- 
per Mr.  Adam  Schaaf  was  connected  with  George 
Lieberknecht  in  the  publication  of  the  Monitor.  He 
did  not  remain  long  and  Mr.  Lieberknecht  was  the 
sole  owner  and  conductor  for  the  balance  of  its  ex- 
istence. The  office  remained  idle  on  the  hands  of 
its  owner  for  some  time,  and  was  finally  sold  and  re- 
moved from  town.  George  Lieberknecht  removed 
to  Geneseo  and  engaged  in  business. 


-S3- 


-«- 


The  Neue  Volks-Zeitung. 

N  the  spring  of  1875  Mr.  Charles  C.  Winter, 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  Westliche  Post,  of 
St.  Louis,  having  been  informed  that  there 
was  a  general  desire  in  Rock  Island  and  vicin- 
ity for  a  newspaper  printed  in  the  German 
language,  came  here  in  April  of  that  year  for 
the  purpose  of  considering  the  project.  After  con- 
sulting with  the  German-born  citizens  of  the  town 
and  county  he  became  satisfied  that  there  was  a 
promising  field  for  an  enterprising  and  well-conducted 
German  paper  here.  He  accordingly  returned  to  St. 
Louis  and  made  arrangements  for  material,  and  re- 
turned about  the  middle  of  August  of  that  year  pre- 
pared for  the  enterprise. 

On  the  30th  of  August  the  first  number  of  a  hand- 
some semi-weekly  paper,  entitled  "  Neue  Volks-Zei- 
tuug,"wa.s  issued  from  Zeiss  building  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  18th  Street  and  Second  Avenue. 

On  the  15th  of  September  the  office  was  removed 
to  the  Union  office,  on  1 8th  Street.  The  paper  was 
a  success  from  the  start.  In  politics  it  is  thoroughly 
independent.  Mr.  Winter,  its  editor  and  proprietor, 
in  his  salutatory,  said  : 

The  Neue  Volks-Zeitung  will  freely  discuss  all 
political  questions  of  the  day  in  an  independent 
manner,  commending  what   it   thinks  good   in  both 


parties    and   condemning  in  each  what  it  thinks  is 
wrong. 

And  this  position  it  has  admirably  maintained, 
discussing  every  phase  of  national  and  local  politics 
with  vigor,  fairnesss,  impartiality  and  perfect  inde- 
pendence. It  is  also  an  enterprising  paper  for  local, 
town  and  county  news. 

Mr.  Winter  was  born  on  April  21,  1842, at  Heidel- 
berg, Germany,  where  he  was  educated  and  attended 
a  course  of  philology  and  history  at  the  celebrated 
university  there.  He  then  entered  the  publishing 
house  of  his  father.  In  1866  he  arrived  in  this 
country  to  set  up  in  business  for  himself.  He  filled 
editorial  positions  on  several  prominent  German- 
American  papers.  Ever  since  his  arrival  in  this 
country  Mr.  Winter  has  been  a  contributor  to  the 
American  press.  He  wrote  a  series  of  essays  and 
reviews  on  European  literature  for  the  Nation. 

In  May,  1882,  George  L.  Lechner  became  pro- 
prietor and  continued  its  publication  two  months, 
when  F.  Protar  purchased  the  office.  The  paper  is 
still  continued  as  a  semi-weekly  and  under  Mr. 
Protar's  management  is  independent  in  politics.  The 
German-Americans  in  Rock  Island  County  are  ably 
represented  by  the  Volks-Zeitung,  the  prefix  "  New  " 
having  been  dropped. 


The    Moline    Workman. 


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HE  first  newspaper  in  Moline  was  started 
by  Amos  Smith,  Aug.  21,  1854,  and  was 
^  called  the  Moline  Workman.  It  was  po- 
'■"K&^  litically  anti-slavery.  Smith  rented  his  office 
11  of  James  Chapman,  then  a  lawyer  and  banker 
in  Moline — son-in  law  of  Mr.  John  Deere. 
Mr.  Chapman  always  had  a  warm  side  for  newspa- 
pers, and  has  written  a  good  deal  for  them — espe- 
cially for  the  Work/nan,  and  later  for  the  Citizen,  as 
well  as  other  papers.  Amos  Smith  had  a  clear  head, 
was  genial,  kind-hearted,  and  very  generally  esteemed 
by  all  who  knew  him.  Poor  health  and  failing  eye- 
sight compelled  him  to  relinquish  an  occupation  he 
was  much  attached  to,  and  in  1857  he  sold  out  to 
Graham  &  Webster  and  returned  to  his  kinsmen  and 
home  in  New  Jersey.     He  was  never  married.     He 


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nearly  or  quite  lost  his  eye-sight,  and  a  few  years 
afterwards  died,  much  regretted  by  many  warm 
friends. 


The  Moline  Independent. 


ii>3 


OBERT  H.  GRAHAM  and  Alfred  Webster, 
in  February,   r 857,  purchased  the  office  of 

the  Moline  Workman  and  changed  the 
name  of  the  paper  to  Moline  Independent,  is- 
suing their  first  number  on  the  25th  of  that 
month.  In  May,  1858,  Webster  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Graham  and  retired.  In  April,  1859,0.  H. 
Brennan  became  a  partner  with  Graham,  and  re- 
mained such  until  the  28th  of  December  following, 
when  he  sold  out  to  Col.  M.  S.  Barnes.  In  i860, 
Graham  was  again  sole  proprietor.  He  went  to  the 
war  in  August,  1861,  and  J.  A.  Kuck,  his  brother-in- 
law,  managed  the  paper  until  October,  1S62,  when 
it  was  discontinued.  Robert  H.  Graham  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  locating  in  Moline  about  the  time 
he  became  connected  with  the  Independent.  He 
aided  in  raising  a  cavalry  company  in  Moline  in 
August,  1861,  was  made  Captain  and  took  his  com- 
pany to  Leavenworth,  Kan.  He  was  subsequently 
made  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  14th  Missouri  Reg- 
iment, and  again  promoted  to  the  Colonelcy  of  the 
Eighth  Kansas  Regiment.  Ill  health  compelled  his 
resignation,  and  he  died  Nov.  n,  1862. 


-weafirSfS'*''— !;. ' 


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The  Moline  Citizen. 

M.  LINNEHAN  started  a  job-printing 
office  in  Moline  in  May,  1856,  in  connec- 
tion with  Wallace  &  Sickles,  known  as 
the  "  Franklin  Book  and  Job  Printing  House.'' 
^K,  In  July,  1S58,  the  Citizen  was  started  by  F. 
M.  Linnehan,  as  a  semi-weekly  Democratic 
paper  of  small  size.  In  September,  Linnehan  ad- 
mitted James  Bowie  as  a  partner.  In  January, 
1859,  they  enlarged  the  paper  to  nine  columns  to 
the  page  and  published  it  as  a  weekly.  In  February, 


Linnehan  sold  out  to  Bowie,  on  time,  taking  a  mort- 
gage. The  paper  was  not  a  success,  and  as  Bowie 
could  not  pay,  the  paper  ceased  to  exist  some  time 
during  the  summer  of  1859,  and  Linnehan  took  pos- 
session of  the  property,  and  in  1863  moved  the  ma- 
terial to  Marengo,  Iowa,  where  he  started  the  Iowa 
Valley  Gazette,  continuing  its  publication  until  No- 
vember, 1864,  when  he  sold  the  establishment  and 
went  to  Dubuque. 


The   Moline  Eepubliean. 


& 


T!^ 


rWv]5  O    newspaper  was   printed   in   Moline  from 

rj  (yj  '       1     '..-.     ■  :.        I  :i..-  /v  :     '■';..'    -v.'  1  e  isri.l  to  e\M, 

~l/  "•  unti'  1S65  ;  but  late  in  that  year  William- 
2$r  H.  Jenkins  started  a  six-column  paper  there, 
,  6  called  the  Moline  Republican.  It  was  Republi- 
'  can  in  politics,  and  the  town  being  in  need  of 
such  a  paper,  it  prospered.  In  1867  it  war  enlarged 
to  an  eight-column  paper,  and  in  June  of  that  year 
Mr.  Jenkins  sold  the  establishment  to  Capt.  Haver- 
stick,  who  closed  the  office,  and  Moline  was  again 
without  a  newspaper. 

Mr.  Jenkins  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  but  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Galena. 
He  then  worked  some  time  as  a  journeyman,  and  then 
entered  Knox  College.  He  was  poor,  and  taught 
school  occasionally  to  earn  money  to  complete  his 
studies ;  but  not  being  able  to  go  on  with  the  course, 
he  left  and  obtained  work  at  his  trade  in  Springfield. 
He  there  studied  law  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  office,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  and  opened  an  office.  Not 
succeeding,  he  returned  to  his  first  trade.  He  was 
well  educated  and  was  a  good  writer.  In  1856,  he 
went  to  Davenport,  and  during  the  Presidential 
campaign  of  i860  he  aided  in  editing  the  Daily  Re- 
view, a  Democratic  paper  in  Muscatine,  Iowa.  In 
1 86 1,  he  came  to  Rock  Island  and  worked  in  the 
Argus  office.  In  1865  he  started  the  Moline  Re- 
publican, selling  it  in  1867  and  going  to  Des  Moines,  ./.. 
Iowa,  where,  in  connection  with  Clint  Parkhurst,  he 
purchased  the  Statesman.  The  enterprise  was  not  a 
success,  and  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Moline 
much  broken  in  health. 

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J?<?CX  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


721   - 


The  Moline  Eeview. 


<§/ 


^ROM  June,  1867,  when  Capt.  Haverstick 
C  bought  the  Republican  and  discontinued 
1N    it,  to  Nov.  26,  1870,  Moline  had  no  news- 


paper; but  on  the  last  day  mentioned  Lowe  & 
•jfS^  Gilson  (they  having  bought  the  printing  ma- 
terial used  for  the  dead  Republican)  started  the 
M[oine  Review.  On  Feb.  17,  187  1,  the  firm  of  Lowe  & 
Gilson  was  dissolved,  the  latter  continuing  the  pa- 
per. Mr.  GUson's  editorial  experience  was  brief. 
Sept.  23,  187 1,  he  wrote  his  valedictory,  and  one 
week  later  Kennedy  &  Crichton  assumed  the  con- 
trol of  the  paper.  May  1,  1872,  Mr.  Crichton  retired. 
He  was  succeeded  byB.  F.  Tillinghast,  July  1,  1872, 
the  firm  of  Kennedy  &  Tillinghast  continuing  the 
business  until  March  23,  1874,  when  Mr.  Kennedy 
withdrew.  Mr.  Tillinghast  published  the  paper 
alone  until  July  1,  1875,  when  he  was  joined  by  J. 
H.  Porter,  and  the  firm  was  Tillinghast  &  Porter  un- 
til Feb.  5,  1877,  when  the  establishment  was  sold  to 
R.  H.  Moore,  who  ran  the  paper  for  three  years  and 
failed ;  John  H.  Porter  bought  the  material  of  the 
office,  and  transferred  the  subscription  list  of  the 
paper  to  Samson  Kennedy,  who  united  it  with  the 
Dispatch,  the  weekly  being  continued  under  the  name 
Re  view  -  Dispatch . 

5-**4##**~i — 

The  Moline  Review-Dispateh. 

HE  Dispatch  was  started  by  Oliver  White, 
the  daily  being  a  five-column   folio  and  the 
weekly   a    six-column   quarto.     The   paper 
tA     was  a  neat  and  sprightly  sheet.     Mr.    White 
continued  its  publication  for  one  year  and  then 
disposed  of  it  to  Sam.  Kennedy,  who  ran  it  till 
December,   1882,  when    the   office  passed    into   the 
hands  of  Fred    O.    Dean.      While    under    charge  of 
Mr.  Kennedy,  the  subscription  list  of  the  Review  was 
purchased,  and  the  two  weekly   papers  consolidated 
under  the  name  of  the  Review -Dispatch,  and  is   still 
continued  as  such .     The  daily  was  enlarged  by  Mr. 


Kennedy  to  a  seven-column  folio.  Mr.  Dean  con- 
tinued the  publication  alone  of  the  daily  and  weekly 
until  Nov.  19,  1883,  when  he  sold  a  one-half  interest 
to  Newton  J.  Hubbard,  and  its  publication  was  con- 
tinued by  the  firm  of  Dean  &  Hubbard.  The  latter 
lived  but  a  short  time  after  becoming  interested  in 
the  paper,  his  death  occurring  Jan.  1,  1884.  F.  O. 
Dean  then  ran  it  alone  until  May  15,  1884,  when  he 
sold  to  J.  H.  Dean.  On  the  15th  of  March,  1885,  a 
stock  company  was  organized  under  the  name  of  the 
Dean  Printing  Company,  to  whom  was  assigned  the 
office  and  good  will  of  the  paper.  F.  O.  Dean  was 
managing  editor  under  the  arrangement,  which  con- 
tinued until  July  1,  1885,  when  the  Union  Printing 
Company  of  Reck  Island  purchased  the  office,  and 
ten  days  after  transferred  it  to  McGlynn  &  Groom, 
who  are  the  present  publishers.  These  gentlemen 
have  been  connected  with  the  local  press  of  this 
county  for  some  years,  know  and  appreciate  the 
wants  of  the  community  in  which  they  live,  and 
therefore  publish  a  live  paper,  which  is  read  with 
pleasure  by  its  numerous  patrons. 


*** 


The  Swedish  Citizen. 

FIVE-COLUMN  quarto  sheet  under  the 
above  named  made  its  first  appearance 
wm  from  the  city  of  Galva,  Henry  Co.,  111., 
Nov.  26,  1880,  with  Eric  Johnson  editor  and 
proprietor.  The  paper  was  printed  in  the 
English  language,  with  a  view  of  its  not  being 
confined  to  the  Swedish  people,  and  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  all  English-speaking  people  a  greater 
knowledge  of  the  Swedes.  It  presented  a  very  neat 
appearance,  and  was  edited  with  considerable  abil- 
ity. On  the  first  of  January,  1881,  the  office  of  pub- 
lication was  removed  to  Moline.  In  May,  1881,  the 
prefix  Swedish  was  dropped,  its  editor  giving  as  a 
reason  that  it  was  misleading  many,  thinking  it  was 
printed  in  the  Swedish  language,  and  devoted  exclu- 
sively to  Swedish  affairs.  In  July  following  J.  E. 
Osborn  was  admitted  to  the  partnership,  the  firm 
name  adopted  being  Johnson  &  Osborn.  The  Citi- 
zen was  continued  until  April,  30,  1883,  when  it  was 
merged  into  the  Republican. 


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Daily  Republican. 

HEN  Sam.  Kennedy  was  forced  out  of  the 
Dispatch  he  said  he  thought  he  had  bid 
J|^p  farewell  forever  to  newspaper  life  in  Moline. 
Believing  that  an  injustice  had  been  done 
him  by  those  lie  had  considered  his  friends, 
he  resolved  once  more  to  embark  in  the  busi- 
ness. A  stock  companv  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  Kennedy  &  Co.,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $20,- 
000,  only  a  portion  of  which  was  paid  in,  the  remain- 
der being  subject  to  call.  The  company  purchased 
an  office,  and  on  the  30th  of  April,  1883,  the  first 
number  of  the  Daily  Republican  made  its  appear- 
ance. The  good  will  and  subscription  list  of  the 
Citizen  was  purchased,  which  formed  the  basis  of  the 
circulation  of  the  weekly.  In  his  saluta'ory,  Mr. 
Kennedy  related  his  difficulties  in  connection  with 
the  Dispatch,  and  his  attempts  to  re-purchase  the 
office.  It  was  not  until  all  attempts  had  failed  that 
he  concluded  to  establish  the  Republican.  He  gave 
notice  that  the  new  paper  had  such  backing  as  would 
make  it  a  succes.  The  Daily  Republican  is  a  neat 
seven-column  folio  and  is  conducted  with  ability  and 
care.  Sam.  Kennedy  is  a  practical  printer  of  many 
years' experience  and  ranks  among  the  best  in  the 
State.  Whatever  he  prints  must  be  well  done.  The 
weekly  edition  is  printed  in  two  parts  and  thus  sup- 
plied to  its  readers,  making  virtually  a  semi-weekly. 
This  course,  began  as  an  experiment,  has  proven  very 
satisfactory  to  the  patrons  of  the  paper.  In  August, 
1885,  the  company  purchased  a  building  on  the  cor- 
ner of  1 6th  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue,  from  which 
the  paper  is  now  published. 


Port  Byron  Messenger. 

'OME  time  in    1857,  John   H.   Shipman,  a 
civil  engineer  of  the    Warsaw   &   Rockford 
I'yVJ,"  ™     Railroad  project,  undertook   to  establish  a 
newspaper  at  Port  Byron.      Fleming  &  Impey, 
across  the  river  in  LeClaire,  were  publishing  a 
small  weekly  sheet,  and  Shipman  furnished  lo- 
cal  matter  for  this  side  of  the   river,  and,   with  a 
change  of  name  to  Port  Byron  Messenger  and  dating 


it  at  Port  Byron,  produced  a  paper  which  was  printed 
at  LeClaire  and  was  mainly  the  same  as  the  LeClaire 
paper.  It  had  no  political  opinions.  Shipman  closed 
his  business  and  left  Port  Byron  ?ome  time  in  1858. 
He  was  born  at  Andover,  Mass.,  in  1826,  went  to 
New  York  city  with  his  father's  family  in  1832  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  there.  He  be- 
came a  civil  engineer,  and  at  21  years  of  age,  after  he 
left  Port  Byron,  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  at  the 
close  of  i860  obtained  a  position  on  the  Sun,  where 
he  served  as  night  editor  until  the  winter  of  1868. 
In  18C9  he  was  appointed  on  the  editorial  staff  of 
the  New  York  World. 


JOOO« 


Port  Byron  Times. 
[FTER  Shipman  left,  E.   H.   Johnston   and 


I   ITER 

.'y  Nathaniel  Belcher  purchased  a  press  and 
?  °"  type  and  started  a  printing-office  in  Port 
IM&  Byron.  Not  long  afterwards  there  came  along 
ll^  a  man  named  Lyman  E.  Knapp,  who  repre- 
j  sented  himself  to  be  just  the  man  to  run  the 
concern,  and  Belcher  and  Johnston  installed  him  in 
the  position  of  business  manager,  etc.  The  new 
paper  was  named  the  Port  Byron  Times.  Its  first 
issue  bore  date  March  24,  1859.  The  change  of 
name  of  the  Port  Byron  paper  from  Messenger  to 
limes  and  the  establishment  of  a  printing-office  on 
this  side  of  the  river,  gave  a  little  impetus  to  the  af- 
fair, but  it  was  a  hopeless  task  from  the  beginning  to 
attempt  the  establishment  of  a  paper  there.  The 
price  was  only  $1  a  year  and  it  was  neutral  in  poli- 
tics. It  was  a  six-column  paper.  Belcher  and 
Johnston  finally  got  rid  of  Knapp  and  took  in  his 
place  one  Chambers  P.  Ober.  The  paper  continued 
in  existence  about  a  year  and  a  half. 


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The  Port  Byron  Weekly. 

vl'fUlf  N  Al|gust>    r875<    tlie   Port    Byron     Weekly 
-  WJSt  t     made   its  first  appearance.     It  was   a  neat 

rv  eight-column  folio;  H.  L.  and  A.  J.  Barter, 
publishers.  The  paper  was  independent  in 
politics,  but  in  the  fall  election  in  1875  sup- 
putted  the  Republican  county  ticket.  In  1S76 
the)'   commenced    the    support    of  the    Republican 


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ticket,  but  in  September  changed  the  name  of  the 
paper  to  "Our  County,"  dropped  the  Republican 
county  ticket  and  came  out  for  Tilden  and  Hen- 
dricks. Up  to  this  time  A.  J.  Barter,  a  freight  con- 
ductor on  the  Western  Union  Railroad,  had  fur- 
nished the  money  to  run  the  concern  and  his  name 
was  used  as  one  of  the  partners,  though  never  leav- 
ing his  business  on  the  road.  By  this  time  "  Jack" 
had  got  enough  of  newspaper  glory,  and  he  "  pulled 
out,  "  and  H.  L.  Barter  was  announced  as  editor  and 
Thomas  Barber  manager.  The  new  firm  soon  drop- 
ped Tilden  and  Hendricks  and  came  out  for  Cooper 
and  Gary;  and,  having  thus  boxed  the  compass  the 
concern  died,  and  H.  L.  Barter  appeared  on  the  oth- 
er side  of  the  river  with  a  sheet  20  x  26  inches,  four 
pages,  five  columns  to  a  page,  and  three  pages  of  it 
patent,  called  the  LeClaire  Pilot. 


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Port  Byron  Globe. 

'HE  first  issue  of  a  paper  bearing  the  above, 
name  made  its  appearance  Oct.  16,    18S0. 

j£T^  J.  W.  Simpson  being  editor  and  proprietor. 
rfeLn  It  is  an  eight-column  folio,  neutral  in  politics 
In  his  salutatory  the  editor  said  :  "  Loca 
schemes  for  personal  ends  at  the  sacrifice  of 
municipal  rights  and  matters  of  personal  spite,  con- 
troversy or  revenge  shall  find  no  place  or  encourage- 
ment in  the  Globe.  We  have  brought  our  family — 
not  a  small  one  either — together  with  a  large  share 
of  our  earthly  possessions,  and  propose  to  make  our 
home  at  this  place,  and  we  already  have  received 
assurances  of  substantial  support  and  encourage- 
ment from  nearly  all  the  community,  and  feel  as- 
sured that  the  Globe  will  move  forward,  giving  light 
and  doing  good.  " 

The  Globe  is  a  well  printed  sheet,  bearing  evidence 
that  it  is  in  the  hands  of  thorough  masters  of  this 
trade.  Its  columns  are  well  filled  with  local  and 
miscellaneous  matter,  while  merchants  of  the   place 


attest  their  liberality  by  giving  it  a  good  advertising 
patronage.  Mr.  Simpson  did  a  good  business,  but 
Feb.  22,  1885,  sold  out  to  Hess  &  Owen  and  moved 
to  Elgin.  The  firm  of  Hess  &  Owen  continued  till 
July  1,  1885,  when  G.  A.  Metzgar  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  Hess,  the  firm  now  being  known  as 
Metzgar  &  Owen.  The  paper  continues  to  be  well 
printed,  well  edited,  and  is  a  model  country  paper. 

The  People's  Friend. 

N  the  spring  of  1884  Will  Gray  commenced 
the  publication  in  Rock  Island  of  an  inde- 
pendent, eight-page  paper,  under  the 
above  name.  It  was  continued  under  that 
name  until  May  16,  1885,  when  it  was  merged 
into  the  Advertiser,  of  Rock  Island.  The  Ad- 
vertiser  continued  to  be  published  until  June  20, 
1885,  when  the  subscription  list  and  good  will  of  the 
paper  was  transferred  to  the  Milan  Record. 


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Milan  Record. 


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HE  Record  is  an  independent,  quarto  sheet, 
the  first  paper  ever  published  in  Milan.  It 
\  also  is  published  by  Will  Gray,  and  is  is- 
ted  every  Saturday  at  $i  per  annum.  Its 
columns  are  well  filled  with  advertisements  of 
the  business  men  of  the  place,  together  with  a 
large  amount  of  interesting  local  matter.  The  Record 
was  established  in  June,  1885,  and  during  the  fol- 
lowing month  the  increased  demands  for  space  were 
such  that  the  editor  was  obliged  to  enlarge  it,  and  at 
the  present  writing  the  publisher  is  again  contem- 
plating a  second  enlargement.  When  taken  into 
consideration  that  the  paper  has  been  published  but 
six  months,  the  success  of  the  Record  is  something 
most  remarkable. 


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*OCK  ISLAND  is  situated  in 
the  Mississippi  River,  about 
midway  between  St.  Louis  and 
St.  Paul,  and  opposite  the  up- 
per end  of  the  city  of  Rock 
Island.  The  base  of  the  isl- 
and is  a  mass  of  limestone  of 
of  the  Hamilton  group,  which 
underlies  this  section  of  country.  It 
is  about  three  miles  in  length  and 
from  one-fourth  to  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  wide.  "  The  island  was  a  favor- 
ite resort  for  the  Indians  long  before 
it  had  ever  been  visited  by  the  white 
man,"  said  a  well  known  writer. 
"  Here  they  loved  to  assemble  for 
their  summer  pastimes  and  to  indulge  in  the  simple 
amusements  of  their  race.  Along  these  rocky  shores 
was  their  favorite  fishing  ground ;  the  swift  current 
which  here  pours  down  over  successive  chains  of 
rapids,  was  the  scene  of  many  a  dash  and  frolic  in 
their  light  canoes;  and  here  dwelt  the  kindly  spirit 
whose  protecting  power  preserved  the  red  men,  and 
over  whose  subterranean  abode  none  dared  to  walk 
but  with  the  silent  step  of  supreme  reverence  and 
awe."  Black  Hawk,  in  his  autobiography,  thus 
speaks  of  the  island  :  "  This  was  the  best  island  in 
the  Mississippi  and  had  long  been  the  resort  of  our 
young  people  in  the  summer.  It  was  our  garden 
which  furnished  us  with  strawberries,  blackberries, 
plums,  apples  and  nuts  of  various  kinds,  and  its 
waters  supplied  us  with  pure  fish,  being  situated  in 

Q 


the  rapids  of  the  river.  In  my  early  life  I  spent 
many  happy  days  on  this  island.  A  good  spirit  had 
care  of  it,  who  lived  in  a  cave  in  the  rocks  immedi- 
ately under  the  place  where  the  fort  (old  Fort  Arm- 
strong) now  stands,  and  has  often  been  seen  by  our 
people.  He  was  white,  with  large  wings  like  a 
swan's,  but  ten  times  larger.  We  were  particular  not 
to  make  a  noise  in  that  part  of  the  island  for  fear  of 
disturbing  him.  But  the  noise  of  the  fort  has  since 
driven  him  away,  and  no  doubt  a  bad  spirit  has 
taken  his  place."  That  the  island  in  its  natural 
state  was  a  delightful  place  none  can  doubt.  Im- 
proved by  man,  it  is  none  the  less  delightful. 

The  following  is  the  key  to  the  numbers  on  the 
view  of  the  island  of  Rock  Island,  as  shown  on  the 
opposite  page:  i.  Building  of  1865.  2.  Bridge  to 
Davenport.  3.  Bridge  to  Rock  Island.  4.  Railroad 
bridge  to  Rock  Island.  5.  Bridge  to  Moline.  6.  Post 
Cemetery.  7.  Confederate  Cemetery.  8.  Proposed 
woolen  mills  and  tannery.  9.  Barracks.  10.  Com- 
manding officers'  quarters,  n.  Subaltern  officers' 
quarters.  r2.  Tank.  13.  Lake.  14.  Arsenal  and 
armory.  15.  Office.  16.  Cuard-house.  17.  Gun-yard. 
18.  Laboratories.  rc>.  Magazines.  20.  Government 
dam.   21.  Contemplated  shops. 

1  luring  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain  the  Indians 
in  this  region  of  country  united  with  the  British,  who 
supplied  them  plentifully  with  munitions  of  war,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  conflict  left  them  with  feelings  of 
strong  and  bitter  hostility  to  the  general  Government. 
The  Government  at  this  time  had  practically  no  mil- 
itary posts  between  Jefferson  Barracks,  a  little  below 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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St.  Louis,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin  River,  with 
which  to  protect  its  citizens.  It  therefore  became  a 
matter  of  necessity  that  something  should  be  done. 
Being  somewhat  centrally  located  and  in  the  midst 
of  that  band  of  Indians  from  whom  most  was  to  be 
feared,  it  was  determined  to  build  a  fort  upon  the 
island.  Col.  Wm.  Lawrence,  with  a  force  of  regu- 
lars, was  detailed  for  this  purpose.  On  the  10th  of 
May,  1816,  they  landed  upon  the  island  and  at  once 
commenced  the  erection  of  the  fort  and  suitable 
store-houses  for  their  provisions.  The  fort  was  a 
substantial  structure  of  hewed  logs,  built  in  the  form 
of  a  square,  the  sides  being  400  feet.  At  each  of 
the  four  angles  a  block-house  was  erected,  embras- 
ures for  cannon  and  loop-holes  for  musketry  being 
provided.  There  were  also  erected  within  the  en- 
closure a  magazine,  store-house,  barracks- and  offi- 
cers' quarters,  and  sections  of  heavy  stone  work  for 
protection  against  fire.  The  fort  was  named  in 
honor  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  Fort  Armstrong. 

Col.  Geo.  Davenport  came  with  the  troops  as  con- 
tractor for  the  commissary  department.  On  the  10th 
of  August,  1816,  Mrs.  Davenport  and  Mrs.  Lewis 
arrived  at  the  fort,  being  the  first  ladies  who  had  ever 
ascended  the  Mississippi  River  to  this  point. 

The  Indians  were  very  much  dissatisfied  upon  the 
first  arrival  of  troops  on  the  island,  but  the  officers 
took  great  pains  to  gain  their  friendship  by  making 
them  presents  and  they  soon  became  apparently  satis- 
fied. During  the  first  summer  they  would  frequently 
take  over  supplies  of  sweet  corn,  beans,  pumpkins, 
and  such  other  vegetables  as  they  raised,  presenting 
them  to  Mr.  Davenport  and  the  officers,  with  the 
remark  that  they  had  none,  while  they  themselves 
had  plenty,  invariably  refusing  to  take  any  pay. 

With  a  view  of  persuading  the  Indians  to  retire 
peaceably  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  and 
there  remain,  a  council  was  held  by  Gen.  Gaines 
with  about  30  chiefs  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  tribes,  in 
1 83 1.  Among  the  chiefs  present  were  Black  Hawk 
and  Keokuk.  The  council  held  by  Gen.  Scott  with 
the  chiefs  in  1832  would  have  been  held  upon  the 
island  had  it  not  been  for  the  prevalence  of  cholera. 
As  it  was,  the  council  was  held  on  the  Iowa  side, 
about  where  the  depot  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island 
&  Pacific  Railroad  now  stands,  in  Davenport. 

A  garrison  was  continued  at  Fort  Armstrong  until 
1836,  when  it  was  withdrawn,  although  the  island 


was  still  held  as  a  Government  reservation,  agents 
being  appointed  to  take  charge  of  it.  General  Street, 
who  at  the  time  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  was 
Indian  Agent  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  was  ordered  to 
this  point  and  the  agency  here  established.  In  1838 
the  agency  was  removed  to  Iowa,  on  the  Des  Moines 
River,  and  Gen.  Street  was  succeeded  by  Col.  Geo. 
Davenport,  who  had  charge  of  the  island  until  1840, 
when  Capt.  Bell  was  ordered  here  from  Jefferson 
Barracks,  Mo.,  and  Fort  Armstrong  was  made  a  de- 
pot for  arms.  He  was  subsequently  succeeded  by 
Capt.  Shoemaker,  who  remained  until  1845,  when 
the  arms,  being  required  for  the  Mexican  War,  they 
were  shipped  to  New  Orleans,  Capt.  Shoemaker  go 
ing  with  the  army  to  Mexico.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Thomas  Drum,  who  died  in  1853,  when  Sergt.  Cum- 
mings,  from  Fort  Crawford,  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  was 
appointed.  On  his  declination,  Col.  J.  B.  Danforth, 
Sr.,  was  appointed,  Jan.  20,  1854.  Col.  Danforth 
resigned  in  1857  to  accept  a  position  in  the  United 
States  Navy,  and  H.  Y.  Slaymaker,of  Davenport,  re- 
ceived the  appointment.  In  May,  iS6r,T.  J.  Pickett 
was  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Slaymaker,  and  was 
in  charge  of  the  island  until  it  was  again  occupied 
for  arsenal  purposes. 

In  September,  1840,  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Bell,  of  the 
Ordnance  Department  of  the  United  States  Army, 
was  directed  to  examine  Rock  Island  with  a  view  to 
its  occupancy  for  ordnance  purposes  and  report  to 
the  department.  He  reported  having  examined  the 
island  carefully  and  that  it  belonged  exclusively  to 
the  United  States.  At  that  time  there  were  but  two 
occupants  on  it,  one  occupying  the  upper  end,  whose 
name  is  not  given;  the  other  the  lower  end,  Col. 
George  Davenport.  Capt.  Bell  recommended  the 
occupancy  of  the  island  for  the  purposes  mentioned. 

In  September,  1841,  Congress  passed  an  act  for  a 
thorough  examination  of  the  whole  western  country, 
"  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  suitable  site  on  the 
western  waters  for  the  establishment  of  a  national 
armory."  Brig. -Gen.  W.  K.  Armistead,  Surg.-Gen. 
Thomas  Lawson  and  Lieut-Col.  S.  H.  Long  were 
appointed  commissioners  for  this  purpose.  They 
made  a  very  exhaustive  report.  In  reference  to 
Km  k  Island,  they  said : 

"This  beautiful  and  interesting  island  derives  its 
name  from  the  circumstances  of  its  resting  upon  a 
bed  of  Rocks,  consisting  of  limestone   in  horizontal 


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strata,  well  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  building.  It 
stands  in  the  Mississippi  at  the  foot  of  Rock  Island 
Rapids.  Its  length  is  about  two  and  seven-eighths 
miles,  and  its  greatest  width  four-fifths  of  a  mile.  It 
contains  about  8,ooo  acres  of  excellent  land,  still  the 
property  of  the  United  States.  The  surface  of  the  isl- 
and is  generally  waving,  and  is  pervaded  by  a  broad 
valley  passing  centrally  and  logitudinally  two-thirds 
the  length  of  the  island.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
acres  cleared  at  the  head  of  the  island  (the  site  form- 
erly occupied  by  Fort  Armstrong,  now  used,  in  part, 
by  the  United  States  as  a  depot  for  arms  for  the  wes!  - 
ern  country,  and  a  large  garden,  with  other  improve- 
ments, occupied  by  Geo.  Davenport,  Esq.),  the 
island  is  covered  with  a  dense  timber  growth.  The 
island  is  bounded  for  the  most  part,  by  precipitous 
cliffs  or  abrupt  and  rocky  hill  slopes,  its  surface 
rising  io  to  20  feet  above  the  highest  freshets." 

A  committee,  consisting  of  John  Buford,  Joseph 
Knox,  Joseph  B.  Wells,  John  Morse  and  George 
Mixter,  acting  in  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  the  county, 
addressed  a  communication  to  President  Tyler  at 
this  time,  in  which  was  set  forth  the  claims  of  the 
island  in  strong  terms. 

Notwithstanding  the  favorable  reports  made  as  to 
the  beauty  and  eligibility  of  Rock  Island,  nothing 
was  done  for  many  years  after,  though  the  debates 
in  Congress,  when  bills  were  introduced  for  the  sale 
of  the  island,  show  that  the  subject  was  not  forgot- 
ten, while  Government  officers  in  their  reports 
recommended  that  the  island  should  under  no  cir- 
cumstances be  relinquished  by  the  War  Department, 
for  the  reason  that  it  would  eventually  be  required 
by  the  Government  as  a  site  for  an  armory  and 
arsenal  for  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

Gen.  Jessup,  writing  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  in 
1852,  says:  "The  site  of  Fort  Armstrong,  Rock 
Island,  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  our  western 
country  for  an  armory  and  arsenal."  Jefferson  Davis, 
while  Secretary  of  War,  in  a  report  to  the  United 
States  Senate  Committee  on  Public  Lands,  said  : 
"The  water  power  available  at  Rock  Island,  and  the 
communication  by  water  and  by  railroads  projected  or 
in  course  of  construction,  concur  with  other  circum- 
stances in  rendering  Rock  Island  one  of  the  most 
advantageous  sites  in  the  whole  western  country  for 
an  armory  or  arsenal  of  construction  for  the  manu- 
facture of  wagons,  clothing  or  other  military   sup- 


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plies."       Many  other   eminent    men    expressed    the 
same  views. 

As  time  passed  and  nothing  was  done  for  the 
establishment  of  an  arsenal,  attempts  were  again 
made  by  private  parties  to  obtain  possession  of  the 
island.  After  the  construction  of  the  water  power  ' 
at  Moline,  a  number  of  improvements  were  made 
upon  the  island,  and  those  making  them  were  anxious 
to  obtain  a  title  to  the  land.  In  1857,  a  party, 
mostly  from  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  moved  upon 
the  island  and  at  once  filed  the  necessary  pre-emp- 
tion papers  with  the  Register  of  the  Land  Office  at 
Springfield.  Before  settling  upon  the  island,  the 
settlers,  or  "  squatters,"  as  they  were  called,  had 
consulted  Reverdy  Johnson  and  Montgomery  Blair, 
>if  Washington,  respecting  the  status  of  the  lands, 
and  had  obtained  opinions  favorable  to  the  success 
of  their  plans.  They  afterwards  retained  both  these 
eminent  lawyers,  and  also  Abraham  Lincoln,  as 
counsel.  In  April,  1858,  they  went  to  Springfield  to 
prove  title  and  pay  for  the  lands.  While  in  Spring- 
field, a  telegram  from  the  Commissioner  of  the  Gen- 
eral Land  Office,  in  Washington,  was  received  by 
the  Register,  prohibiting  further  action  in  the  matter, 
and  stating  that  the  island  would  be  sold  by  the 
War  Department  at  public  auction  as  a  military 
reservation. 

Just  prior  to  the  settlement  made  by  the  party 
from  Rock  Island,  Thales  Lindsley,  said  to  have 
been  a  clerk  in  one  of  the  departments  at  Washing- 
ton, came  out,  claimed  much  of  the  land,  and  pro- 
pi  Psed  the  establishment  of  a  great  military  school 
and  national  university.  The  course  of  study  pro- 
posed for  the  university  was  wonderful  and  unique. 
It  embraced  100  different  courses  of  study,  and  re- 
quired for  its  faculty  100  professors,  besides  tutors 
and  teachers.  To  complete  the  whole  course  of 
study  in  this  university  required  16  years  of  "labori- 
ous study."  The  Legislative  course  alone  included 
over  80  separate  subjects  of  study,  divided  into  seven 
parts  or  sub-courses.  As  novel  to  universities,  the 
projector  proposed  each  of  the  following:  School 
of  domesticity,  ceremony,  militia,  manufactures,  arts, 
arms,  editors,  authors  and  politics.  In  a  note  ap- 
pended, the  author  said:  "Of  five  of  these,  viz.: 
domesticity,  ceremony,  manufactures  (wherein  the 
business  only  of  manufacturing  is  considered),  editing 
and  authorship,  have  never  existed  in  any  form  as 
schools." 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


The  War  of  the  Rebellion  occurring,  the  subject  of 
establishing  here  a  national  armory  and  arsenal  was 
again  agitated.  On  the  lirst  day  of  July,  1861,  a  peti- 
tion addressed  to  the  Senators  and  Representatives 
in  Congress  was  drawn  up  by  N.  B.  Buford,  J.  Wil- 
son Drury,  Ira  O.  Wilkinson,  Ben  Harper,  Reuben 
Hatch,  Geo.  Mixter,  J.  B.  Danforth,  Jr.,  and  P.  L. 
Cable,  a  committee  representing  the  citizens  of  Rock 
Island,  asking  Congress  to  establish  a  national 
armory  and  arsenal  on  Rock  Island,  and  setting 
forth  the  special  advantages  of  the  location.  By  the 
request  of  this  committee,  another  committee,  repre- 
senting the  three  cities  of  Rock  Island,  Moline  and 
Davenport,  was  appointed,  consisting  of  the  follow- 
ing named  :  Ira  O.  Wilkinson,  N.  B.  Buford,  H.  C. 
Connelly,  J.  Wilson  Drury  and  Bailey  Davenport,  of 
Rock  Island;  Chas.  Atkinson  and  P.  R.  Reed,  of 
Moline;  W.  H.  F.  Gurley,  Geo.  L.  Davenport  and 
G.  M.  French,  of  Davenport.  Congress  was  memo- 
rialized by  these  gentlemen  in  an  ably  prepared 
pamphlet,  with  a  map  of  the  locality,  and  setting 
forth  the  claims  and  advantages  of  the  island  as  the 
site  of  the  proposed  Western  arsenal  and  armory. 

The  memorial  set  forth  the  fact  that  a  new  armory 
and  arsenal  for  the  manufacture  and  safe -keeping 
and  distribution  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war,  are 
of  pressing  national  necessity,  demanded  alike  by 
the  present  wants  and  future  requirements  of  the 
Government,  and  that  the  preponderating  growth  of 
the  Northwest,  as  well  as  the  absence  of  any  such  es- 
tablishment within  its  limits,  indicate  that  such  an 
armory  should  be  located  on  the  Upper  Mississippi. 
Even  before  this  action  was  taken  by  the  three  cities, 
the  Iowa  General  Assembly  passed  a  series  of  joint 
resolutions  urging  the  claims  of  the  island  upon  the 
general  Government.  These  resolutions  were  passed 
and  approved  March  24,  1861,  three  weeks  before 
the  overt  act  was  committed  by  the  rebels  in  tiling 
upon  Fort  Sumter.  They  were  incorporated  in  the 
memorial.  The  Illinois  Legislature,  not  being  in 
session,  could  take  no  action,  but  Gov.  Yates  and 
the  other  State  officers,  both  civil  and  military,  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  urging  the 
location  of  the  armory  upjn  Rock  Island. 

The  first  act  taken  by  Congress  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal  was  in  the  passage 
of  an  act  approved  July  11, 1862,  appropriating  $100,- 
000  for  the  purpose;  and  soon  after  this  a  board  of 


officers,  consisting  of  Majors  F.  D.  Callender  and  C. 
1'.  Kingsbury  and  Capt.  T.  J.  Treadwell,  was  ap- 
pointed to  select  sites  on  the  island  for  the  arsenal 
buildings  and  to  determine  upon  materials  to  be  used 
in  their  construction. 

The  committee  made  their  report  and  recommend- 
ations, and  Major  C.  P.  Kingsbury  was  assigned  to 
the  duty  of  constructing  and  the  command  of  the 
arsenal.  Ground  for  the  fust  building  was  broken  on 
the  1st  day  of  September,  1863.  This  is  what  is 
known  as  shop  A,  and  stands  nearly  on  the  site  of  old 
Fort  Armstrong. 

The  act  of  Congress  approved  July  11,  1862,  was 
only  for  the  establishment  of  a  small  arsenal  of  stor- 
age and  repair.  It  had,  however,  been  a  plan  and 
cherished  wish  of  the  War  and  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment, and  of  army  officers  of  high  rank,  for  many 
years,  to  have  constructed  somewhere  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley  a  great  arsenal  of  construction,  consist- 
ent in  character  and  capacity  with  the  probable 
future  growth,  magnitude  and  necessity  of  this  part 
of  the  country.  This  plan  was  not  lost  sight  of,  but 
was  prominent  in  view  when  the  Rock  Island  arsenal 
was  located,  and  it  was  hoped  and  expected  that  at 
some  time  in  the  future  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal 
would  become  the  great  arsenal  needed  for  the  Miss- 
issippi Valley.  Major  Kingsbury  kept  this  thought 
in  view  in  all  his  actions  and  recommendations. 

An  act  was  passed  and  approved  April  19,  1864, 
authorizing  the  Secretary  of  War  to  take  and  hold  all 
the  land  upon  the  island,  and  on  the  15th  of  June, 
Chief  of  Ordnance  wrote  Major  Kingsbury  to  notify 
all  parties  upon  the  island  to  vacate  within  six 
months.  It  must  be  remembered  that  special  acts 
of  Congress  had  been  passed  granting  certain  tracts 
of  land  to  Geo.  Davenport  and  David  B.  Sears.  The 
latter  had  disposed  of  a  jjortion  of  his  tract  to  other 
parties,  who  were  engaged  in  manufacturing.  At  the 
time  the  order  was  given  to  Major  Kingsbury  this 
land  was  owned  by  Geo.  L.  and  Bailey  Davenport, 
D.  B.  Sears,  Dimoek  &  Gould,  Stephens,  Huntoon  & 
Wood,  Robert  Welsh,  James  Robinson,  S.  H.  White, 
Daniel  Jones,  Peter  Peterson  and  David  Sears.  In 
September,  1864,  Dimoek  &  Gould  made  application 
for  permission  to  remain  on  the  island  and  continue 
their  business  until  the  Government  should  require 
them  to  move,  by  the  payment  of  a  fair  rent.  Their 
request  was   granted,   and    in  due  time  granted    to 


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all  others  occupying  the  island  who  were  in  busi- 
ness. 

At  his  own  request  Major  Kingsbury  was  relieved 
from  the  command  of  the  arsenal  in  June,  1865,  and 
Major  T.  J.  Rodman  appointed  to  the  command. 
(See  biography,  page  655.)  He  remained  here  until 
his  death,  in  June,  187  1.  "  During  this  time,  "  says 
Col.  Flagler  in  his  history  of  the  island,  "  storehouse 
A  was  completed,  the  water  reservoir  was  built  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  water  power  was  constructed. 
A  great  deal  of  work  was  also  done  in  clearing  up 
the  undergrowth  on  the  island,  laying  out  and  build- 
ing roads  and  protecting  the  shores  of  the  island 
from  washing  by  rip-rap.  But  Gen.  Rodman's  more 
important  works  were  his  plans  for  the  armory  and 
arsenal,  his  procuring  the  removal  of  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad  from  its  position 
across  the  island,  its  re-establishment  at  the  west 
end  of  the  island,  with  the  construction  of  the  great 
bridge  connecting  the  island  with  the  Iowa  shore  and 
the  settling  of  the  many  claims  growing  out  of  the 
removal  from  the  island  of  parties  who  had  estab- 
lished themselves  thereon. 

On  the  15th  day  of  June,  187  1,  Major  D.  \V.  Flag- 
ler (see  page  317)  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  arsenal.  That  he  is  a  worthy  successor  of  Gen. 
Rodman,  the  work  that  he  has  performed  since  the 
command  was  given  him  attests. 

Col.  Flagler  at  once  comprehended  the  vast  im- 
portance of  the  work  he  had  in  charge,  and  to  it  he 
bent  his  energies  and  profound  study.  The  plans  as 
he  received  them  were  crude  and  imperfect,  and 
they  have  developed  under  his  hand  into  an  elabor- 
ate work.  Inventions  of  practical  value,  resulting  in 
conceded  economy,  have  been  applied.  The  prog- 
ress of  construction  has  been  supplemented  by  the 
manufacture  of  army  stores  to  the  amount  of  $125, 000 
annually.  By  this  means  has  Col.  Flagler  proved 
that  these  stores  could  be  manufactured  here  and 
distributed  to  the  army  cheaper  than  they  could  be 
manufactured  East  and  brought  West.  Eight  shops 
have  been  completed,  and  the  last  two  are  under 
procoss  of  construction.  The  officers'  quarters,  the 
barracks  and  the  commanding  officers'  houses  are 
completed.  The  post  buildings,  a  complete  system 
of  sewers,  the  Moline  bridge, — a  fine  iron  structure. — 
the  many  roads  and  drives  around  the  island,  the 
powder  magazine,  the  pump-house  and  water-works, 


beautifying  the  grounds,  the  levee  wall  and  numer- 
ous other  creations  all  attest  the  admirable  selection 
of  Col.  Flagler  to  the  command  of  the  island. 

A  thoroughly  practical  man,  Col.  Flagler  has  stead- 
ily worked  on  until  Rock  Island  Arsenal  is  acknowl- 
edged by  military  officers  and  others  to  be  one  of  the 
grandest  institutions  in  the  United  States.  In  1876 
he  prepared  an  exhaustive  history  of  the  island  and 
arsenal,  from  which  the  facts  contained  in  this  sketch 
are  gleaned.  At  this  time  there  had  been  completed 
shops  A,  B,  C,  D  and  E,  with  shops  F  and  G  begun ; 
commanding  officers'  quarters  completed ;  three 
other  stone  buildings  for  subaltern  officers'  quarters 
completed;  the  soldiers' barracks,  one  post  building 
for  main  guard- house,  fire-engine  house,  Commissary 
and  Quartermaster  store-houses  and  offices  and  one 
powder  magazine  built ;  pump-house  for  water- 
works, entrance  gates  and  guard-house  and  the  post 
ice-house  built ;  also  a  complete  system  of  sewers,  an 
eight-inch  water  main,  supplied  with  fire  plugs  and 
branches  to  the  buildings,  were  laid  from  the  reser- 
voir around  the  site  of  the  shops. 

Since  1876  four  shops,  from  F  to  I,  have  been 
completed  and  one  begun,  which  is  now  in  course  of 
erection  ;  one  set  officers'  quarters  ;  one  large  store- 
house, south  of  shop  A ;  and  several  miles  of  mac- 
adamized streets,  avenues  and  stone  walls  built.  On 
the  streets  a  very  important  work  was  the  blasting  of 
the  rock  in  an  elevated  plateau,  leveling  it,  and  the 
filling  up  of  a  swamp.  A  large  amount  of  work  that 
has  been  done  has  been  putting  into  the  shops  the 
castings,  shafting,  shop  fixtures  and  machinery,  fit- 
ling  them  up  for  practical  use.  The  wall  of  the  lower 
dam  of  the  water  power  has  been  completed,  water- 
wheels  and  mill  machinery  put  in  and  a  temporary 
experimental  line  of  wire-rope  transmission  erected, 
of  about  200-horse- power  capacity,  from  the  water- 
power  to  shops  E  and  C,  a  distance  of  about  half  a 
mile.  This  line  has  been  running  and  furnishing  a 
steady,  perfect  power  to  the  shops  since  June,  1878. 

At  the  request  of  the  Moline  Water-Power  Com- 
pany, a  portion  of  the  large  stone  dam  was  removed 
and  a  new  cut  stone  made  for  masonry  walls,  with 
six  water  ways  and  iron  gates  constructed  for  use  of 
that  company.  A  tail-race  canal  has  also  been 
deepened  three  feet  in  a  tough,  hard  rock  for  benefit 
of  that  company.  The  wing  dam  has  been  extended 
about  one-half  a  mile  up  the  river  and  the  old  wing 


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dam  greatly  widened  and  raised  about  ten  feet.  A 
channel  150  feet  wide,  with  an  average  depth  of 
about  three  feet,  has  been  cut  through  the  rock  from 
the  head  of  the  wing  dam  down  to  the  Moline 
bridge,  a  distance  of  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile, 
for  the  better  inlet  of  water  into  the  pool.  A  dam, 
with  water  ways  and  15  iron  gales,  has  been  con- 
structed between  Rock  Island  and  Benham's  Island, 
for  use  in  washing  sediment  out  of  the  pool. 

In  1S79  the  manufacture  was  begun,  in  a  small 
way,  of  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry  equipments 
and  accoutrements,  horse  equipments  and  harness 
and  materials  for  target  practice.  After  demonstra- 
ting to  the  Government  that  these  articles  could  be 
made  here  cheaper  than  at  any  other  arsenal,  the 
manufacture  was  increased  until  now  the  greater  part 
of  all  these  things  in  use  by  the  army  are  manufac- 
tured here.  The  shops,  when  completed  and  fur- 
nished, will  accommodate  16,000  workmen. 

"  In  time  of  peace  prepare  for  war,  "  is  an  old  say- 
ing. While  not  manufacturing  large  supplies,  the 
building  and  furnishing  of  the  shops  and  all  the  ar- 
rangements that  have  been  made  upon  the  island 
have  been  with  the  view  of  being  well  prepared  for 
instant  use. 

At  the  upper  end  of  the  island  is  located  .the  Na- 
tional Cemetery,  where  lie  the  remains  of  about  400 
Union  soldiers.  The  grounds  are  scrupuously  cared 
for,  and  with  each  Decoration  Day  the  graves  are 
strewn  with  flowers. 

One  of  the  curiosities  shown  on  the  island  is  the 
home  of  Col.  Geo.  Davenport,  after  whom  the  city 
opposite  was  named.     He  was  the  first   white  settler 


and  was  made  Indian  Agent,  receiving  a  grant  of* 
land  on  the  island.  On  the  4th  of  July,  rS45,Col. 
Davenport  was  cruelly  murdered  in  his  own  house, 
the  family  being  absent  at  a  picnic.  The  murderers 
escaped  unrecognized,  but  were  afterward  detected;^ 
and  executed.  The  house  is  preserved  and  the 
blood  marks  are  still  shown  by  the  custodian. 

Another  interesting  object  is  the  arsenal  gun-yard, 
on  the  main  avenue.  Here  are  displayed  all  manner 
of  heavy  ordnance,  from  the  Rodman  to  the  howit- 
zer, several  hundred  in  all,  and  among  them  are 
several  trophies  captured  from  British  and  Mexican 
foes,  with  the  inscriptions,  one  bearing  date  1777  at 
New  Orleans.  The  most  formidable  gun,  however, 
was  the  rifled  Parrott  piece,  with  its  black  front  and 
great  length.  Many  of  these  guns  have  been  in- 
inscribed  with  the  names  of  the  thousands  of  visit- 
ors, and  on  some  of  them  it  was  impossible  to  find  a 
spot  large  enough  to  write  one's  name.  As  the  vis- 
itor comes  up  to  the  gates  he  is  confronted  with  two 
heavy  brass  cannon,  and  over  the  brow  of  the  island  * 
pointing  directly  down  the  river,  are  three  Parrott 
guns  frowning. 

Ftom  1876  to  1S87,  inclusive,  Congress  has  made 
the  following  appropriations : 

For  buildings $1,758,500 

For  transmission  of  power  to  the 

shops 23i7°° 

For  improvement  of  water  power      238,500 

For  elevated  iron  water  tank.  . .  5,°°o 

For    macadamizing     Fort    Ann- 
strong  Avenue 6,000 

For  Rock  Island  bridge 90,200 


(J) 


4 


Total    $2,121,900 


\§)5e§®<f- 


ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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s>A//:nV 


Railroads. 


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o 


^"W^j.  tr  ■  ,-'^%"  HI  LE    the    people    of    Rock 
Island     County     in     early 
days  had   great    faith    in 
the  Mississippi  River  as  a 
means  of  transportation,  the 
thoughtful    ones    realized  that 
there  was  a  great  inland  coun- 
try to  be   developed,  and  that 
its  products,  to   be    valuable,    should    be 
quickly  transported.        Several    railroads 
were  projected,  among  others  the  Warsaw 
&  Rockford  Railroad,  running   from  War- 
saw, 111.,  to   Rockford    in   the  same  State, 
taking  in  the    city    of  Rock    Island  op,  its 
way,  and  traversing  a  considerable  portion 
ot  the  county.     The  county  was  appealed 
to    for  aid    and    individual    subscriptions  called  for. 
The  people  responded    as    liberally   as    their  means 
would  allow. 

At    the   September,    1853,   session    of  the  County 

Court,  an  order  was  passed  submitting  to  a  vote  the 

question  of  subscribing  $100,000  to  the  capital  stock 

of  the  Warsaw  &  Rockford   Railroad  Company,    the 

subscription  to  be  payable  in    bonds  of  the   county 

running  a  period   of  20   years.     A    majority   of  the 

votes  cast  being  in  favor  of  the  measure,  at  the  De- 

f   cember  term  an   order    was    passed    instructing  the 

»   County  Judge  and  County  Clerk  to  issue  the   bonds 

\~^   and  subscribe  to  the  stock  in  the  name  of  the  county. 


This  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  amount  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  company  to  be  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  road.  Like  a  great  many  other  Uto- 
pian schemes,  this  came  to  naught.  The  road  never 
was  built,  and  the  county  left  about  $200,000  poorer, 
including  the  interest  on  the  bonds.  The  citizens 
lost  individually  probably  as  much  more. 


Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy. 

"Iff  T  the  present  time  the  Chicago,  Burlington 

•  .  p  h:    \  !hi;M    U  . ii1im.h1    Company    can    control 

f  "'  and  operate  about  4,^00    miles  of  railroad, 

'SW    and    is   considered    one  of  the   strongest  and 

!i£       best    managed    roads    in    the  Union  !     The 

I         St.  Louis  Division  of  this  road   is  operated  in 

this  county. 

The  Sterling  Branch  of  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  extends 
from  Sterling  to  Rock  Island.  This  branch  dates 
back  to  about  1854,  at  which  time  the  Sterling  & 
Rock  Island  Railroad  Company  was  organized  and 
chartered.  Its  officers  lived  principally  in  Sterling. 
In  1857  the  company  procured  from  this  county  a 
grant  of  20  acres  of  swamp  land,  through  which  the 
load  was  to  be  built.  This,  it  is  believed,  was  all  the 
aid  received.  The  panic  of  1857  delayed  its  build- 
ing, and  during  the  war  that  followed  it  was  almost 


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733  "S 


forgotten.  When  tire  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St. 
Louis  Railroad  Company  was  organized,  the  fran- 
chises and  property  of  this  company  were,  in  some 
measure,  transferred  to  it,  and  by  that  company  com- 
pleted in  1869.  In  addition  to  the  line  from  Ster- 
ling to  Rock  Island,  a  branch  was  built  from  wlial  is 
known  as  Port  Byron  Junction  to  the  village  of  Port 
Byron.  This  has  since  been  transferred  to  the  \\  est- 
ern  Union,  now  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
Railroad  Company. 

The  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad 
Company  began  active  operations  shortly  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  Its  aim  was  to  build  a  road  from 
Rockford  to  St.  Louis.  By  the  aid  extended  it  in 
the  counties  and  townships  through  which  it  passed 
it  was  completed  to  Rock  Island  in  1870.  The 
Sterling  Branch  being  already  completed  gave  it  a 
line  from  St.  Louis  to  Sterling.  It  was  never  able  to 
complete  the  remainder  of  its  line.  For  some  cause 
its  managers  were  never  able  to  make  it  pay  ex- 
penses. In  1876  it  was  sold  under  foreclosure  of 
mortgage  and  transferred  to  the  St.  Louis,  Rock  Isl- 
and &  Chicago  Railroad  Company,  incorporated 
April  2t,  1876.  It  was  soon  afterwards  leased  by  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company, 
who  now  operate  it  as  the  St.  Louis  Division  of  their 
road. 

The  company  has  27  miles  of  track  in  this  county, 
and  seven  stations — Rock  Island,  Moline,  Port 
Byron  Junction,  Barstow,  Osborn,  Joslyn  and  Hills- 
dale.    Its  assessed  value  in  1884  was  $143,340. 


-**^ 


Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad. 

a 
iK'gfl'gY  the  Legislature  in  185  1,  this  great  Illi- 

i§K£2P  no's  ral'waY  was  incorporated  as  the 
'  opP^  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Rajlroad.  The 
j®e'  object  of  the  projectors  were  to  connect  the 
T  Great  Lakes  with  the  Mississippi  by  way  of 
1  Chicago  and  Rock  Island,  a  distance  of 
j&iz/2  miles.  This  road  was  completed  in  the  spring 
of  1854,  and  at  once  took  rank  as  one  of  the  great 
lines  of  the  country.  Consequent  upon  the  comple- 
tion of  this  road,  real-estate  went  up  in  all  parts  of 
the  city  of  Rock  Island  from  25  to  100  per  cent., 
while  in  some  localities  the   increase   was  greater. 


^«gy^ — &<*nmifo 


Improved  and  wild  lands  contiguous  to  the  city  and 
along  the  line  of  the  road,  entered  a  few  months 
previous  with  warrants  costing  the  purchaser  from 
87^  to  $r.i2j^  per  acre,  rose  to  $5  and  $10  per 
acre.  The  company  bought  their  right  of  way  into 
the  town  at  a  dear  rate,  paying  four  prices  for  the 
privilege  of  coming  in  with  an  enterprise  that  was  to 
be  the  means  of  building  up  for  them  a  large  city. 
For  lots  60  x  150  feet  they  paid  an  average  of  $800. 
Such  is  the  avariciousness  of  man. 

Upon  the  completion  of  this  railroad  and  the  en- 
tering of  its  trains  into  the  town,  its  whole  aspect 
was  changed.  From  a  quiet  river  village  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi,  it  became  an  energetic, 
bustling  city.  The  steam  whistle  is  the  most  stimu- 
lating sound  to  man.  The  presence  of  the  locomo- 
tive arouses  the  dormant  energies,  and  sets  on  foot 
enterprises  that  otherwise  might  sleep  for  ages.  It 
changes  the  face  of  society,  and  moves  the  whole 
world  forward.  Railroads  create  business  and  builds 
up  cities  that  otherwise  would  never  had  an  exist- 
ence. While  Rock  Island  was  a  village  before  the 
iron  horse  entered  its  precincts,  and  would  un- 
doubtedly have  continued  to  be  a  small  trading 
country  town,  yet  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  ad- 
vent of  this  railroad  gave  to  it  an  impetus  that 
started  it  ahead,  and  has  been  a  most  potent  factor 
to  its  growth  and  development. 

The  C,  R.  I.  &  P.  was  opened  for  business  in 
Rock  Island,  Feb.  22,  1854.  On  June  6,  1854, 
a  grand  excursion  was  had  here  to  celebrate  its 
completion.  Five  steamboats  and  two  special  pass- 
enger trains  came  in  loaded.  The  crowd  was 
tremendous.  Speeches  were  made,  a  grand  display 
of  fire -works  given  in  the  evening,  and  everybody  had 
a  jolly,  good  time. 

This  road  passes  through  some  of  the  finest  agri- 
cultural country  in  the  State,  the  products  of  which 
either  come  to  Rock  Island  or  go  to  Chicago.  In 
1866  this  railroad  was  consolidated  with  the  Missis- 
sippi &  Missouri  Railway  Company,  under  the  name 
of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway  Com- 
pany, which  name  it  now  bears.  In  June,  1869,  its 
line  was  completed  to  Council  Bluffs,  where  it  con- 
nected with  the  then  newly  completed  Union  Pacific 
Railway.  From  the  date  of  its  completion  to  the 
Missouri  River  it  has  been  a  favorite  route  of  the 
travelers  and  tourists  to  the  Pacific  Slope,  and  also  to 


is 


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-^v^on&iiti^ 


734 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY, 


the  Territories.  Since  that  time  it  has  expanded,  by 
consolidation  with  other  lines,  and  by  building 
branches  into  Iowa  and  Missouri,  from  550  miles  to 
a  great  railway  operating  some  1,400  miles  of  road, 
and  having  for  its  termini  the  cities  of  Chicago, 
Peoria,  Keokuk,  Council  Bluffs,  Des  Moines,  Atchi- 
son, Leavenworth  and  Kansas  City.  Its  freight  now 
embraces  the  product  of  the  Eastern  and  Western 
States  and  Territories,  as  well  as  that  of  Europe  and 
the  empires  of  the  Old  World.  This  company  also 
opened  a  new  route  to  the  Northwest,  known  as  the 
"Albert  Lea  Route,"  extending  to  Minneapolis, 
where  it  connects  with  the  Northern  Pacific  and  the 
St.  Paul  and  Manitoba  Railroads. 

This  route  traverses  some  of  the  finest  scenery  in 
the  country,  and  takes  the  traveler  to  many  of  the 
most  noted  resorts  for  health  and  pleasure  in  the 
United  States.  The  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road has  had  a  rich  country,  and  an  extensive  com- 
merce to  support  it,  and  from  its  inception  it  has  been 
prosperous.  From  the  running  of  the  first  train  up 
to  the  present  time,  the  management  of  this  road 
has  been  such  as  to  secure  and  hold  the  sympathy  of 
its  patrons.  This  has  been  accomplished  by  estab- 
lishing the  principle  of  equal  and  exact  justice  to  all, 
and  by  giving  to  the  people  as  far  as  in  human  power 
lay,  immunity  from  dangers  incident  to  travel.  The 
Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway  has  had  an 
able  management.  For  many  years  Mr.  R.  R. Cable 
has  been  its  President  and  General  Manager,  and 
Mr.  E.  St.  John  has  been  its  General  Ticket  and 
Passenger  Agent.  This  very  popular  and  efficient 
railroad  official — Mr.  E.  St.  John — lias  recently  been 
promoted  to  the  position  of  Assistant  General  Man- 
ager, while  he  still  holds  his  former  position.  So  long 
a  continuation  of  the  road  under  the  same  manage- 
ment speaks  well  for  the  company  and  also  for  its 
officers. 

The  personnel  of  this  railroad  has  been  highly 
commendable.  Their  agents  and  conductors  have 
been  obliging,  their  engineers  skillful  and  faithful, 
and  their  brakemen  prompt.  The  Superintendents 
have  also  been  scrupulous  and  exact,  training  the 
men  under  them  to  business  habits  that  command 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people. 

The  aim  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific 
Company  has  been  to  locate  its  lines  and  establish 
its  connections  so  as  to  reach  its  objective  points  with 


the  greatest  facility  and  in  the  most  desirable  man- 
ner. From  its  completion  of  its  first  track  to  the 
Mississippi  to  the  present  time,  when  it  operates 
over  1,400  miles  of  road, — a  great  portion  of  which 
is  spanned  by  double  parallel  lines  of  steel, — the 
Rock  Island  Company  has  performed  its  duty  to  the 
State,  and  has  been  a  potential  factor  in  the  devel- 
opment and  civilization  of  the   great  West. 

The  Peoria   &  Rock    Island    Railroad. 

HIS  railroad  originated  as  a  Henry  County 
railroad  enterprise,  being  fathered  by  Amos 
Gould  and  Orrin  E.  Page  of  Cambridge. 
These  gentlemen  procured  a  charter  in  1867 
for  the  road,  and  by  the  middle  of  187  1  trains 
were  running  over  it.  The  first  train  was  run 
over  the  road  July  8,  187  1.  It  passes  through  a  fine 
agricultural  country,  and  also  some  rich  coal-fields. 
Though  not  one  of  the  important  railroads  entering 
the  county,  it  is  a  valuable  line  to  the  people  along 
its  route. 

The  Rock  Island  &  Mercer  Co.    Railroad. 

HE  Ruck  Island  &  MercerCounty  Railroad 
Company  was  organized  under  the  general 
*  law  in  May,  1876,  and  was  constructed 
Sc  between  that  time  and  the  first  day  of  Decem- 
ber following.  It  is  22  miles  in  length,  and 
passes  through  the  townships  of  Rock  Island' 
Black  Hawk,  Bowling  and  Edgington.  It  runs  on 
the  track  of  the  Rock  Island  from  Peoria  to  Milan. 
The  stations  are  Rock  Island,  Milan,  Taylor  Ridge 
and  Reynolds.  The  assessed  value  of  the  property 
in  1884  was  $75,638. 


Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul. 

^:Rj3;  HE  Chicago,  Milwaukee  a  St.  Paul  Railway 
^§|||i  Company  operate  over  4,000  miles  of  rail- 
*  road.  In  1870  its  line  was  completed  to 
Rock  Island,  but  was  then  known  as  the 
Western  Union  Railroad.  The  Western  Union 
Railroad  Company  was  organized  in  January, 
1866,  by  the  purchase  of  a  portion  of  the  Racine  & 
Mississippi  Railway  Company — a  company  chartered 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


735 


in  Wisconsin  in  1854,  and  subsequently  consolidated 
with  the  Northern  Illinois  Railroad  Company.  The 
.  consolidations  were  made  under  the  act  approved 
Feb.  21,  1863,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  a  similar 
act  approved  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  April  1,  1863. 
In  this  county  it  uses  the  track  of  the  C,  B.  &  Q. 


from  Port  Byron  Junction  to  Rock  Island,  making  its 
main  track  in  the  county  but  about  ten  miles.  Its 
stations  here  are  Cordova,  Port  Byron,  Rapids  City, 
Hampton,  Watertown,  Port  Byron  Junction,  Moline 
and  Rock  Island.  In  1884  its  property  within  this 
county  was  assessed  at  $T5o,6o3. 


=->-s>H!!IH®>€se 


AVING  treated  under  separ- 
ate   and    general    headings 
many  of  the  important  top- 
W   ics  of  the  county's  history, 
there    yet     remain     other 
items  of  no  little  interest 
and    value.      These,    al- 
■3s*   though  valuable  and  interesting,  are 
>&    not  of  sufficient  significance  to  justify 
a     general    or    ornamental     heading 
for  each.     The  reader  will  neverthe- 
less find  them  of  an  interesting  na- 
ture   and    well   worth   the    reading. 
There    are     historical     sketches     <>f 
roads  and  bridges,  the  poor  farm,  the 
topography    of     the    county.     Black 
Hawk's  Watch-Tower,  etc.,  given  in  this  article. 

Bridges. 

OR  several  years  after  the  first  settlement 
C  of  the  county,  the  people  depended  upon 
'  '»  rope  ferries  for  crossing  the  streams  that 
could  not  be  forded.  The  first  order  made  by 
the  County  Commissioners  for  bridges  was  in 
August,  1835.  On  petition  of  a  number  of 
citizens   of  the   county,    proposals    were    asked   for 


the  construction  of  two  bridges,  one  "  at  the  head  of 
the  rapids,  commonly  called  the  mill  seat,"  the  other 
"  across  a  creek  or  slough  that  empties  into  the  Miss- 
issippi opposite  Campbell's  Island  near  Mr.  Burtis's.'' 
Both  were  to  be  of  wood.  At  the  same  term  of  court 
a  petition  of  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  Rock  Island 
County  was  received  "to  build  a  bridge  over  the 
slough  that  passes  through  the  seat  of  justice,  or  our 
county  seat."  On  this  petition  the  following  record 
was  made:  "The  Court  are  of  the  opinion  that 
proposals  may  be  handed  into  the  Clerk  to  build  the 
said  bridge.  The  bridge  is  to  be  of  frame,  and  the 
upper  part  to  be  of  good  and  substantial  plank,  and 
the  Court  to  reserve  the  right  to  accept  of  the  plan 
or  not.  If  the  plan  is  approved  of  and  cosidered 
low  enough  it  will  be  received ;  if  not  it  will  be  offered 
to  the  lowest  bidder." 

At  the  September,  1 S35,  term  the  Court  agreed  "  to 
let  out  a  contract  for  building  the  bridge  across  the 
swamp  back  of  the  town  of  Stephenson."  The  bridge 
to  be  constructed  was  to  be  160  feet  in  length  and  20 
feet  wide.  After  giving  the  plans,  proposals  for  build- 
ing were  asked  for,  the  contract  to  be  let  on  the  19th 
of  September.  Propesals  for  building  the  bridges 
across  the  mill  seat  and  also  the  one  opposite  Camp- 
bell's Island  were  also  advertised  to  be  let  on  the 
same  day.     The  construction  of  the  bridge  across 


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fOCJ  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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the  swamp  at  Stephenson  was  let  to  Michael  Bartlett 
for  $760.  The  one  opposite  Campbell's  Island  was 
let  to  John  W.  Spencer  for  $185.  Martin  W.  Smith 
secured  the  contract  for  the  third  bridge. 

Other  small  bridges  were  built  from  time  to  time 
by  the  county,  and  in  1843  the  General  Assembly 
passed  an  act  authorizing  the  Commissioners  to  con- 
struct a  bridge  across  Rock  River.  Previous  to  this 
time,  and  in  fact  for  some  years  after,  Rock  River 
was  supposed  to  be  a  navigable  stream,  and  bridges 
were  therefore  forbidden  as  they  would  obstruct 
navigation.  Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  act 
authorizing  the  construction  of  free  bridges  across  the 
river,  the  Commissioners' Court  appropriated  $1,500 
for  a  bridge  from  the  north  shore  to  Vandruff's  Isl- 
and, provided  enough  money  could  be  secured  from 
other  sources  to  complete  it  within  18  months.  John 
\V.  Spencer.  N.  B.  Buford  and  Lemuel  Andrews  were 
appointed  agents  to  receive  proposals  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  bridge.  Patrick  Gregg  and  Joseph  Knox 
were  appointed  agents  to  receive  notes  payable  to 
County  Commissioners  from  those  subscribing  in  aid 
of  its  construction.  The  contract  for  building  the 
bridge  was  subsequently  let  to  C.  H.  Case.  It  ap- 
pears that  he  did  not  fulfill  his  contract  for  some 
reason,  and  the  agents  appointed  to  contract  were  in- 
structed to  bring  suit  for  non-fulfillment.  They  were 
also  instructed  to  make  a  contract  for  the  completion 
of  the  bridge.  Mr.  Case  settled  the  damage  done 
the  county  by  the  payment  of  $448.49.  J.  Knox  and 
Geo.  Mixter  gave  notice  that  they  would  not  pay 
their  subscription  for  the  building  of  the  bridge, 
doubtless  for  the  reason  the  county  had  failed  to  com- 
ply with  the  terms  of  the  subscription. 

The  contract  for  completing  the  bridge  was  award- 
ed to  J.  and  R.  L.  Reselrough,  but  that  firm  were 
delayed  in  completing  it,  so  that  the  county  gave  no- 
tice that  suit  would  be  brought  against  them  for 
damages.  The  bridge  was  finally  completed  ;  but  in 
consequence  of  the  great  expense  necessary  to  keep 
it  in  repair,  as  well  as  the  others  crossing  Rock 
River  at  this  point,  it  was  in  September,  1852,  trans- 
ferred to  the  Rock  Island  &  Camden  Plank  Road 
Company,  an  association  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
constructing  and  operating  a  plank  road  between  the 
two  places.  The  Plank  Road  Company  agreed  to 
keep  the  bridge  in  good  order,  but  soon  found  it  was 
not  a  paying  investment  and  gladly   transferred  their 


interests  to  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  for  the  sum  of 
$25,000.  An  act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed  and 
approved  Feb.  23,  1859,  legalizing  the  transfer. 
There  are  now  four  bridges  across  the  various 
branches  of  the  river,  owned  and  controlled  by  the 
city,  which  requires  a  small  toll  on  crossing. 


Mercantile  Licenses. 


[LOR  several  years  after  the  organization  of 
the  county   a  license  was  required  of  all 
merchants.      The    first    granted   by    the 
County  Commissioners'  Court  was   in  Septem- 
^^-v  ber,  1833,  to  Eleazer   Parkhurst.     The  license 
t      permitted  him  to  "  vend,  sell  or  retail,  at  pub- 
lic auction  or  private  sale,  any  goods,  wares  or  mer- 
chandise."   Thos.  F.  Reid  was  also  granted  a  license 
for  the  same  purpose  at  the  same  term,  upon  pay- 
ment of  $5. 

At  the  June  term,  in  1834,  George  Davenport  was 
granted  a  license  as  a  merchant  upon  payment  of 
$10.  It  is  presumed  that  Mr.  Davenport  did  a  much 
heavier  business,  or  carried  a  much  larger  stock  than 
his  competitors,  as  he  was  charged  double  the  license 
fee. 

Jonah  H.  Case  secured  a  license  for  the  sale  of 
merchandise  in  July,  1834,  upon  payment  of  $5. 


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The  County  Poor. 


j£\a~cjtg 


3?  HE  poor  ye  have  with  you  always,"  was 
was  spoken  by  the  Savior  of  the  world 
f^  more  than  1800  years  ago.  It  is  as  true 
^feV  to-day  as  then,  and  doubtless  will  be  till  the 
end  of  time.  The  first  order  in  relation  to 
this  class  was  made  in  October,  1835.  It 
appears  that  Wm.  Brewster  was  thrown  upon  the 
county  for  support,  and  Michael  Bartlett  was  author- 
ized to  contract  with  some  person  to  take  care  of 
him.  Mr.  Brewster  survived  but  a  few  months  and 
was  buried  by  the  county, — "only  a  pauper  that 
nobody  owns." 


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In  1839,  the  County  Commissioners  thought  it  ad- 
visable to  appoint  an  overseer  of  the  poor  for  the 
entire  county,  the  number  of  persons  requiring 
assistance  from  the  county  being  on  the  increase. 
Joseph  R.  Taylor  was  appointed  by  the  Board  at  its 
December  term. 

In  September,  1841,  Miles  W.  Conway  was  ap- 
pointed to  succeed  Mr.  Taylor.  He  served  until 
December,  1844,  when  he  resigned  and  Thomas 
Bidderson  was  appointed  his  successor.  Mr.  Bid- 
derson  was  empowered  to  enforce  the  vagrant  act 
i  against  all  those  who  were  liable  to  become  a  county 
I  charge.  In  September,  1850,  Marcus  B.  Osbom 
was  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Bidderson.  Mr.  Os- 
bom was  succeeded  by  C.  B.  Knox,  who  in  turn 
gave  place  to  S.  S.  Guyer,  in  December,  1852. 

In  January,  1853,  the  County  Court  purchased  of 
the  heirs  of  Rinnah  Wells  a  house  and  tract  of  land 
in  and  near  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  to  be  used    for 

f  paupers,  paying  therefor  the  sum  of  $1,200.  Jon- 
athan Whitman  was  appointed  agent  to  keep  the 
/%  poor-house,  at  a  salary  of  $150  per  year,  with  $1.25 
i=i  per  week  for  each  pauper. 

In  June,  1854,  B.  I.  Cobb  was  appointed  Overseer 
1  of  the  Poor.  In  March,  1855,  Drs.  Brackett  and 
Bulkley  made  a  proposition  to  give  medical  attend- 
ance to  all  paupers  within  eight  miles  of  the  city  of 
Rock  Island  for  $roo  per  year,  which  proposition 
was  accepted.  Heretofore  any  physician  who  might 
be  called  attended  to  the  wants  of  the  poor. 

Wm,  Sanderson  was  appointed  in  March,  1S56,  at 
a  salary  of  $150  per  year  for  services  in  keeping  the 
poor-house,  and  allowed  $1.50  per  week  for  boarding 
paupers.  Dr.  Samuel  K.  Sharp  was  appointed 
County  Physician. 

In  January,  1838,  a  resolution  was  adopted,  set- 
ting forth  that  the  county  had  been  wronged  by  per- 
sons presenting  bills  for  the  care  of  paupers  ;  and  as 
a  county  poor-house  had  been  purchased  and  was 
sustained  at  considerable  cost,  and  which  was  large 
enough  to  hold  all  the  paupers  of  the  county,  there- 
fore no  bills  of  like  character  would  herealter  be 
paid,  unless  accompanied  by  an  affidavit  that  the 
poor  relieved  could  not  be  sent  to  the  poor-house  at 
the  time  such  assistance  was  rendered. 

To  prevent  non-resident  paupers  from  becoming  a 
permanent  charge  on  the  county,  it  was  unanimously 
resolved  at  the  June  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervis- 


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ors  in  1858,  to  authorize  their  being  sent  to  their 
friends,  wherever  they  might  reside.  The  sum  of 
$100  was  appropriated  for  that  purpose.  This 
action  has  generally  been  continued  year  by  year. 

In  June,  i860,  T.  J.  Robinson,  J.  A.  Boyer  and 
John  M.  Wilson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  make 
inquiries  and  report  upon  the  pauper  question.  They 
reported  that  the  expense  of  keeping  the  paupers  of 
the  county  was  constantly  on  the  increase  ;  that  in 
1839  they  had  cost  upwards  of  $6,000;  that  the 
county  poor-house  was  too  limited;  and  recommended 
the  sale  of  the  house  and  the  purchase  of  a  farm  of 
not  less  than  120  acres,  to  be  known  as  the  poor 
farm,  where  the  paupers  of  the  county  could  be  kept 
and  where  they  could  assist  in  their  own  support. 
John  M.  Wilson,  M.  A.  Swiler,  Wesley  Hanna  and 
Peter  Demoss  were  appointed  a  committee  to  exam- 
ine different  localities  for  a  farm  and  to  ascertain  on 
what  terms  the  properly  then  owned  could  be  sold. 
The  committee,  at  the  September  session  of  the 
Board,  reported  that  they  had  arranged  to  purchase 
a  farm  in  Coal  Valley  [now  Rural],  consisting  of 
180  acres,  for  $3,000.  The  old  poor-house  they 
recommended  to  be  sold  at  public  auction.  The  re- 
port was  adopted  and  recommendation  concurred  in. 
At  the  March  term,  in  1861,  the  Board  authorized 
the  construction  of  a  house  at  a  cost  not  exceeding 
$3,000. 

Wm.  Sanderson  served  as  Superintendent  of  the  ■ 
County  Poor-House  until  September,  1864,  when 
Wm.  S.  Bailey  was  appointed,  at  a  salary  of  $800  per 
year.  In  September,  1 869,  the  Board  passed  a  very 
complimentary  resolution  with  reference  to  Mr. 
Bailey  for  his  kind  treatment  of  the  poor  placed 
under  his  care,  and  for  his  excellent  management  of 
the  farm. 

At  the  August,  1873,  term  of  the  Board,  the  com- 
mittee on  poor-farm  were  instructed  to  erect  a  build- 
ing adjoining  the  one  in  use,  for  the  use  of  the  war- 
den, the  cost  of  the  building  not  to  exceed  $3500. 
The  building  authorized  was  constructed,  but  still 
there  was  not  room.  On  the  5th  of  May,  1880,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  ascertain  what  more 
should  be  done.  At  the  July  term,  in  1880,  the 
committee  reported,  recommending  the  erection  of 
a  two-story  and  basement  brick  building,  together 
with  a  boiler  house.  These  were  completed  in  1881. 
At  this  meeting,  a  memorial  was  adopted,  praying 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


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the  State  to  make  provisions  for  the  incurable  insane 
at  the  expense  of  the  county.  The  co-operation  of 
other  counties  was  asked  for  to  procure  the  passage 
of  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  to  this  end. 

Asa  Batman  succeeded  Mr.  Bailey  as  Superintend- 
ent of  the  farm.  In  April,  1883,  James  Robertson 
was  appointed  and  vet  controls  the  farm. 

The  average  number  of  inmates  has  been  about 
100  for  some  years  past. 


+a 


Railroad  and  Wagon  Bridge. 

HE  General  "Assembly  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, in  January,  1S53,  granted  a  charter 
for  the  construction  of  a  bridge  across  the 
«P  Mississippi  River  between  Rock  Island  City 
and  Davenport,  granting  the  right  of  way 
across  the  island,  then  supposed  to  be  public 
domain.  The  bridge  was  built,  though  efforts  were 
made  to  prevent  it  on  the  ground  that  the  island  was 
not  public  domain.*  It  was  constructed  across  the 
island  about  one-half  mile  from  the  lower  end.  As 
this  interfered  greatly  with  the  plans  of  the  Govern- 
ment for  the  construction  of  a  great  arsenal  at  this 
point,  a  Board  of  Commissioners  was  appointed  to 
whom  should  be  referred  the  respective  claims  of 
the  Government  and  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pa- 
cific Railroad  Company.  A  plan  was  finally  fixed 
upon  which  would  satisfy  the  requirements  of  the 
railroad  company  and  the  United  States.  This  plan 
was  drawn  up  and  approved  by  Gen.  Rodman  and 
the  officers  of  the  railroad  company.  The  main 
features  of  the  plan  were  that  the  railroad  company 
should  give  up  their  old  right  of  way  across  the  isl- 
and and  remove  their  track  and  bridges  ;  that  a  new 
bridge  should  be  built  at  the  extreme  w-est  end 
of  the  island,  the  cost  of  which  should  be  borne 
jointly  by  the  railroad  company  and  the  United 
States  ;  and  that  the  railroad  company  should  have 
a  right  of  way  over  that  bridge  and  across  the  west 
end  of  the  island.  The  bridge  and  track  across  the 
island  were  to  be  so  constructed  as  to  fulfill  the  re- 
quirements of  the   railroad   company  and  be  out  of 

*See  History  of  Rock   Island  Arsenal,  by   Major 
Flagler. 


the  way    of  improvements    proposed  by  the  Govern- 
ment, and,  at    the  same    time,   admit  of  connecting 


:T 


an  arsenal  railroad  with  the  railroad  company's  track,^' 
and  fulfill  the  requirements  of  the  arsenal  in  this 
respect.  The  recommendations  were  approved  by 
the  Chief  of  Ordnance  and  the  Secretary  of  War, 
and  Congress  asked  to  pass  the  necessary  legisla- 
tion. An  act  for  the  purpose  was  passed  and  ap- 
proved June  27,  1866,  and  several  amendatory  acts 
were  passed,  and  the  present  magnificent  bridge  in 
due  time  constructed  by  the  general  Government,  the  , 
railroad  company  paying  one-half  the  expenses.  It 
was  completed  in  1872,  and  is  1,550  feet  and  6  inches 
long,  divided  into  five  spans  and  one  draw.  The 
superstructure  of  the  main  bridge  is  a  double  system 
Whipple  truss  with  vertical  main  posts,  and  has  two 
dei  ks.  The  wagon  road  is  on  the  lower  and  the  rail- 
road on  the  upper  deck.  The  clear  height  between 
the  wagon  road  and  the  upper  deck  is  12  feet,  6 
inches,  and  the  clear  height  between  the  rails  of  '. 
the  railroad  and  the  top  bracing  is  17  feet.  The  foot 
walks  are  on  the  outside  of  the  side  chords. 


i 


Public  Buildings. 

V—;"  y. 

™\|  N  a  square  reserved  for  that  purpose  when 
at  the   village  of  Stephenson  (now  Rock   Isl- 
and) was  platted,  stands  the  Court-House, 
Circuit   and    County   Clerk's   offices   and  jail. 
The    block   is    bounded    by   Fourteenth    and 
Fifteenth  Streets,  and  Second  and  Third  Ave- 

The  Court-House  stands  on  Third  Avenue,  in  the 
center.  It  is  a  two-story  brick  structure,  with  a 
central  tower  or  cupola,  while  nearer  Third  Avenue 
it  fronts  toward  the  north  on  Second  Avenue.  In 
April,  1836,  a  contract  was  entered  into  with  Jonah 
H.  Case  to  furnish  200,000  brick  for  the  purpose,  and 
in  June  following  the  contract  for  building  was  let  to 
Samuel  Smith  for  $ro,5oo.  The  building  was  com- 
pleted in  due  time  and  yet  serves  the  purpose  for 
which  it  is  built,  though  a  few  improvements  have 
been  made. 

The  jail  is  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square, 
facing  Third  Avenue.  It  is  a  substantial  structure 
of  brick  and  stone,  and  was  erected  in   1857,  at  v 


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cost  of  $60,000.  For  a  number  of  years  the  offices 
of  the  Circuit  and  County  Clerk  were  in  this  build- 
ing, but  at  present  it  is  only  occupied  by  the  Sheriff. 
In  addition  to  the  jail  proper  it  has  the  jailor's  resi- 
dence.    But  this  was  not  the  first  one  erected. 

The  first  jail  in  Rock  Island  County  is  spoken  of 
in  the  following  order  made  at  the  October,  1835, 
term  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  : 

"  Will  be  let  to  the  lowest  bidder,  the  20th  of  Oc- 
tober, a  jail  to  be  two-story  high,  22  feet  square  from 
the  outside  to  the  outside.  The  foundation  to  be 
laid  the  whole  size  of  the  building  with  good,  sound 
white-oak  timber,  hewed  T2  inches  square,  laid  close 
together,  then  a  good  white-oak  floor  laid  trans- 
versely on  said  timber,  planked  with  two-inch-plank, 
spiked  down  with  spikes  iy£  inches  square  and 
six  inches  long,  and  five  spikes  to  every  square  foot. 
The  lowest  story  is  to  be  16  feet  square  in  the  clear, 
to  be  built  with  solid  white-oak  timber,  one  foot 
thick,  leaving  a  space  between  the  two  walls  of  one 
foot,  and  that  to  befilled  in  with  hewn  timber  stand- 
s  ing  upright,  the  cornices  to  be  dove-tailed,  the  first 
*  story  to  be  eight  feet  high.  Four  lights,  one  at  each 
J  side,  barred  with  inch-square  bar-iron  substantially 
c  fastened  in  the  walls  with  not  more  than  one  inch 
space  between  each  bar,  two  sets  of  bars,  one  on  the 
inside  and  one  on  the  outside,  in  the  middle  of  the 
logs,  and  the  said  bars  to  be  fastened  into  a  bar  of 
iron  and  pass  through  into  the  logs  four  inches.  The 
floor  of  the  upper  story  is  to  be  laid  the  whole  size 
of  the  building;  the  floor  to  be  the  same  as  the 
lower  floor,  with  a  trap-door  in  themiddle  ;  the  width 
of  the  door  to  be  two  and  a  half  feet  wide  and  three 
feet  long  ;  the  door  to  be  made  double,  of  good  oak 
plank  one-half  inch  thick,  spiked  together  with  one- 
half-inch  square  spikes,  five  inches  long  and  five  to 
the  square  foot,  well  clinched  on  both  sides,  to  be 
covered  on  both  sides  with  sheet-iron  one-eighth  of 
an  inch  thick,  spiked  on  with  three  spikes  above  de- 
scribed to  the  square  foot ;  to  be  hung  with  substan- 
tial strap  hinges  and  a  strong  double-bolted  iron 
stock-lock  fastened  to  the  same.  The  upper  story  to 
be  seven  feet  high,  with  hewed  logs  one  foot  thick  ; 
the  floor  to  be  of  timber  a  foot  thick,  with  an  outside 
door  in  the  upper  story,  two  and  a  half  feet  wide  and 
five  and  a  half  feet  high,  made  same  as  the  trap- 
door, with  platform  and  steps  and  hand-railing;  the 
whole  to  be  covered  with  a  shingle  roof;  three  win- 
dows the  same  as  the   windows    to   the  lower  story, 


(J) 


except  one  set  of  bars  only  ;  all  of  the  logs  to  be 
fitted  close.  The  whole  of  the  work  to  be  done  in 
a  workmanlike  manner;  the  jail  to  be  completed  by 
the  [oth  of  April  next. 

A  contract  was  entered  into  between  the  County 
Commissioners  and  John  W.  Spencer,  by  which  the 
latter  agreed  to  build  the  jail  according  to  the  plans 
and  specifications  for  the  sum  of  $745,  one-third 
payable  in  advance,  and  the  remainder  on  comple- 
tion and  acceptance  of   the  work. 


Geographical    and    Topographical. 

I  OCK  ISLAND  County  is  of  a  peculiar 
shape.  Extending  along  the  Mississippi 
for  60  miles,  it  has  that  river  for  its  west- 
ern boundary.  On  the  north  and  east  it  is 
bounded  by  Whiteside  and  Henry,  and  on  the 
south  by  Mercer  County.  In  width  the 
county  is  from  5  to  17  miles,  though  it  gradually 
tapers  to  a  point  on  the  northeast.  The  peculiar 
topography  of  the  county  renders  it  strikingly  beau- 
tiful, and  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  red  men,  who 
have  an  eye  for  beauty  in  nature,  should  have  chosen 
it  for  their  home.  In  reference  to  the  beauty  of  the 
scenery,  Gov.  Reynolds,  in  his  "  Life  and  Times," 
says  : 

"The  scenery  about  Rock  Island  is  not  surpassed 
by  any  in  the  whole  length  of  the  Mississippi.  It 
seems  as  though  nature  had  made  an  effort  in  form- 
ing this  beautiful  and  picturesque  country.  Rock 
Island  itself  presents  a  grand  and  imposing  appear- 
ance, rising  out  of  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  a 
solid  rock  with  many  feet  elevation.  It  is  several 
miles  long  and  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide.  The 
rocks  are  covered  with  a  fertile  soil.  The  river 
washes  around  its  base  with  a  rapid  current  of  pure 
and  limpid  water;  and  Rock  River,  a  few  miles  south, 
is  seen  in  the  distance,  forcing  its  way  with  great 
rapidity  over  the  rocky  rapids  into  the  Father  of  the 
Waters.  The  country  around  is  interspersed  with 
beautiful  groves  of  timber,  which  give  to  the  scene 
a  sweetness  and  a  beauty  rarely  equaled.  The  blue 
hills  in  the  distance,  directing  the  course  of  the  river, 
are  seen  on  the  north  and  south  to  rise  with  gentle 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


slopes  from  the  water  to  considerable  elevations,  and 
the  valley  between,  embracing  the  river,  is  some 
miles  in  extent,  presenting  a  variety  of  surface  and 
beauty  of  landscape  never  surpassed." 

The  picture  by  Gov.  Reynolds  is  not  overdrawn. 
The  grand  sweep  of  the  Mississippi,  the  bold  bluffs 
and  lovely  valleys  do  form  a  scene  surpassingly 
beautiful.  Ascending  the  high  table- land  which 
forms  the  divide  between  Rock  River  and  the  Miss- 
issippi, the  valleys  on  both  sides,  with  the  cities  of 
Rock  Island  and  Davenport,  are  brought  into  view. 
From  "  Black  Hawk's  Watch -Tower,"  a  bold  bluff 
which  arises  abruptly  from  Rock  River,  where  it  is 
said  that  Black  Hawk,  the  noted  Indian  Chief, 
watched  the  troops  sent  against  him  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds as  they  deployed  through  the  valley,  can  be 
seen  a  scope  of  country  that  is  beautiful  indeed. 
The  whole  valley  is  visible  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
reach,  while  upon  the  opposite  shore  is  the  village  of 
Milan,  the  intervening  islands   being  covered  with 

?•   groves  of  stately  elms,  the  various  channels  of  the 

»    river  being  spanned  by  wagon  and  railroad  bridges. 
From  what  has  been  said  it  can  be  seen   that   the 

!    physical  features  of  the  county  are  greatly  diversified. 

\    Together  with  the  bluffy  highlands,  there  are  low 
alluvial  bottom  lands  and  broad  sand  prairies.     The 


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bluffs  at  Cordova  rise  abruptly  from  a  sandy  plain, 
and  following  the  course  of  the  Mississippi  River 
are  very  broken  and  rough.  At  Moline  and  Rock 
Island  the  bluffs  recede  from  the  river  for  some  dis- 
tance, striking  Rock  River  at  Milan,  continuing  up 
that  river  several  miles,  and  drawing  away  from  it 
leave  a  low,  alluvial  bottom.  The  hills  and  ravines 
are  usually  covered  with  a  scattered  growth  of  tim- 
ber and  brush.  Pleasant  Valley  is  the  only  con- 
siderable depression  in  this  elevated  plateau,  and, 
though  small,  contains  some  good  farm  lands.  The 
alluvial  bottoms,  when  dry  enough  to  cultivate,  make 
good  corn  lands,  and  the  wet  portions  good  meadows. 
That  portion  of  the  county  lying  south  of  Rock  River 
is  also  greatly  diversified,  having  bottom  lands,  hilly 
barrens  and  rolling  upland  prairies,  the  latter  being 
highly  productive. 

The  Mississippi  River,  as  already  said,  forms  the 
southern  and  western  boundary  of  the  county,  and 
on  its  banks,  lying  within  this  county,  are  the  cities 
of  Rock  Island  and  Moline  and  the  villages  of  Cor- 
dova, Port  Byron,  Rapids  City,  Hampton,  Water/town 
and  Andalusia.      Rock   River  is  the   next  greatest 


watercourse.  It  strikes  the  county  in  township  19, 
range  3  east,  and  pursuing  a  southerly  and  westerly 
course  it  empties  into  the  Mississippi  about  two  miles 
south  of  Rock  Island.  Milan  is  the  only  village  on 
this  river  in  this  county.  Several  small  streams  have 
their  rise  in  the  county  and  are  tributary  to  the  larger 
ones.  Of  these  Copperas  and  Mill  Creek  are  the 
most  important. 

Coal  has  been  discovered  in  all  parts  of  the  county, 
and  several  mines  are  extensively  worked.  Lime- 
stone abounds  and  potter's  clay  is  also  found  and 
worked  to  advantage.  Altogether,  Rock  Island 
County  is  favorably  situated,  notwithstanding  its  long 
stretch  on  the  Mississippi.  With  coal,  stone  and 
fine  farming  land,  riches  lie  at  the  door  of  every 
citizen. 


Agricultural  Societies. 

Bi  N  agricultural  society  was  organized  Feb. 
22,  T853,  the  first  in  the  county,  and  was 
called  the  Rock  Island  County  Agricultural 
Society.  It  continued  to  hold  exhibitions  for 
many  years,  but  finally  stranded.  In  187  1  the 
society  was  re-organized,  and  grounds  were 
purchased  about  two  miles  south  of  the  city  of  Rock 
Island,  on  the  road  leading  to  Milan.  About  40 
acres  were  enclosed,  and  the  grounds  were  all  well 
fitted  up  for  exhibitions.  For  several  years  the 
exhibitions  attracted  large  crowds,  and  gave  good 
satisfaction  ;  but  misfortune  again  overtook  the  soci- 
ety, and  it  suspended  operations.  At  present  there 
are  two  associations  in  the  county,  one  near  Hills- 
dale, and  the  other  in  Coe  Township.  Annual  exhi- 
bitions are  held  by  each  society. 


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The  Pioneer  Association. 

N  the  10th  day  of  January,   1866,  an  Old 
Settlers'  Society  was  formed  at  Rock  Island, 
composed  of    the  pioneers  of  the   county. 
L&'   Annual  meetings  are  held  on  the  1st  Monday 

if    .  . 

J6       in  February  for   the  election  of  officers,  and 

on   the   evening  of  Feb.  22,  an  annual  supper 

is  served.     Annual  picnics  are  also  held  in  summer. 


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JPOC.A'  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


On  the  organization  of  the  society  Hon.  Bailey 
Davenport  presented  it  with  a  cane  for  the  use  of 
the  presiding  officer,  made  from  wood  from  the  old 
Barrel  House,  built  by  Davenport  and  Farnam.  On 
its  gold  head  is  a  place  for  the  name  and  date  of 
election  of  each  president.  Twenty  men  have  filled 
the  office  to  the  present  time.  The  names  are  given 
in  the  order  in  which  they  served:  Patrick  Gregg, 
John  W.  Spencer,  Jacob  Norris,  Lucius  Wells,  John 
Eby,  John  A.  Boyer,  David  Hawes,  William  Bell,  A. 
K.  Philleo,  W.  E.  Brooks,  Isaac  Negus,  James  Tay- 
lor, Elton  C.  Cropper,  Frazer  Wilson,  N.  Belcher, 
Charles  Laflin,  Adolphus  Dunlap,  Daniel  Mosher,  E. 
P.  Reynolds,  John  Lusk. 


-~S- 


-ES— - 


Marriages. 


HEY  many  and  are  given  in  marriage."     So 

I    shall  it  be   until  the  end  of  time.      During 

the  first  year  of  Rock  Island's  county  exist- 


ence,  but  two  marriage  licenses  were  issued. 
In  1834  there  were  also  but  two.  This  number 
was  increased  to  four  in  1S35.  The  number 
now  amounts  to  about  300  a  year.  The  following 
comprise  those  issued  the  first  three  years  : 

James  L.  Burtis  and  Angelina  Beardsley,  July  13, 
1833,  by  John  W.  Spencer,  County  Commissioner. 
Benjamin  Goble  and  Barbara  Vandrnff,  Aug.   27, 

1833,  by  Joel  Wells,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Adrian  H.  Davenport  and  Harriet  Sibley,  April  i, 

1834,  by  George  Davenport,  County  Commissioner. 
Martin  W.  Smith  and   Harriet  C.   Burtis,  Oct.  9, 

1834,  by  Jonah  H.  Case,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
John  Dinster  and  Betsey  Kennedy,  April  2,  1835, 

by  Walter  Phillips,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Henry   D.  Adams   and    Phebe  Hathaway,  May   4, 

1835,  t>v  Walter  Phillips,  Justice  of  the  l'eace. 
John  Wells  and  Mary   McMurphy,  July  28,  1835, 

by  Jonah  H.  Case,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

George  Griffin  and  Susan  Vandruff,  May  7,  1835, 
by  William  Poiter,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Up  to  Aug.  20,  1885,  there  had  been  issued  13,263 
marriage  licenses  in  the  county,  an  average  of  255 
each  year. 


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-     OOP     - 


Statistical. 


ROM  the  abstract  of  assessments  for  1885, 
on  file  in  the  office  of  the  County  Clerk, 
jp?^  the  following  items  are  gleaned :  There 
j^2  are  in  the  county  212,519  acres  of  improved 
'  land,  and  of  unimproved  52,578  acres,  valued 
at$3,o45,5o8.  Improved  town  lots,  5,893  ;  un- 
improved, 2,500  ;  total  value, $2,875,675.  Of  horses 
there  were  7,956  ;  cattle,  21,716;  mules  and  asses, 
387;  sheep,  2,494;  hogs,  25,401 ;  steam  engines,  76; 
fire  and  burglar-proof  safes,.  157  ;  billiard  tables,  65; 
carriages  and  wagons,  3,354;  watches  and  clocks, 
1,839;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  2,946  ;  pianos, 
504;  melodeons  and  organs,  648.  Total  value  of 
personal  property,  $1,867,842. 

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Black  Hawk's  Watch-Tower. 


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HE  most  noted  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Rock   ; 
Island,  as  well  as   the  most  beautiful   and 


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picturesque,  is  that  known  as  Black  Hawk's 
?Wjh  Watch-Tower,  lying  south  of  the  city.  The 
t&  Watch-Tower  is  shown  in  the  view  of  Hon. 
I  Bailey  Davenport's  property  on  pages  196-7. 
The  following  sketch  is  abridged  from  an  interesting 
description  of  the  Watch- Tower  by  Hon.  T.  A.  Arm- 
strong. It  stands  immediately  on  the  north  branch 
of  Rock  River,  and  about  half  a  mile  up  that  river 
from  the  upper  end  of  ancient  Saukenuk.  At  the 
lower  end  of  the  promontory,  near  the  north  bank  of 
Rock  River,  and  close  to  the  upper  end  of  Saukenuk 
the  Chippiannock,  or  Silent  City  of  the  Dead,  of  the 
Sauks  was  located. 

Unlike  the  great  number  of  Indian  nations  of  their 
time,  they  buried  their  dead  in  the  ground.  The 
spot  where  their  burial  ground  was  located  is  on  the 
lower  point  of  the  promontory,  and  some  80  feet 
above  the  level  where  Saukenuk  stood.  Then  de- 
nuded of  timber,  it  is  now  thickly  studded  with  trees, 
many  of  whose  varieties  are  never  found  elsewhere, 
except  in  bottom  land.  Thousands  upon  thousands 
of  their  dead  repose  here  without  stake  or  stone  to 


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point  out  the  spot  where  their  lives  ended  and  their 
eternity  began. 

Among  the  many  wonders  of  this  truly  wonder-land, 
this  grand  old  tower  is  among  the  most  wonderful. 
With  the  exception  of  the  rock  under  this  tower,  and 
extending  up  some  400  yards  above,  there  are  no 
sandstone  within  many  miles.  Add  to  this  the  fact 
that  it  is  located  on  a  peninsula,  whose  soil  was 
largely  formed  from  the  driftings  and  deposits  of 
vegetable  matter  of  these  two  rivers,  and  the  pro- 
montory of  which  this  tower  is  a  part  was  formed 
and  created  in  the  same  way,  whose  soil  is  rich  as 
can  be,  the  great  query  is,  how  came  these  sandstone 
and  mineral  deposits  there?  by  what  freak  of  mother 
nature  was  this  hoary  old  rock  deposited  on  this  pen- 
insula! It  is  one  of  nature's  secrets,  to  be  guessed 
at,  but  never  satisfactorily  solved,  unless  that  we  ad- 
mit that  this  land,  with  its  rich  mineral  and  rock  de- 
posits, was  there  before  the  birth  of  the  mighty 
Mississippi,  whose  waters  played  antics  with  its  sur- 
face, and  left  it  in  its  present  form  and  shape.  It  is 
at  least  a  subject  of  wonder  and  speculation. 

The  apex  of  this  Watch-Tower  is  but  a  higher  ele- 
vation of  the  promontory,  and  accessible  by  horse 
railroad,  and  embraces  an  area  of  about  a  quarter  of 
an  acre. 

The  fine  trees  which  formerly  grew  here  could  not 
withstand  the  incessant  tramping  of  the  feet  of  the 
multitude  of  visitors  hither,  and  gradually  died  and 
fell  into  decay,  and  have  finally  been  removed,  leav- 
ing not  even  a  stump  or  root  to  show  where  they 
stood.  Though  used  by  the  Sauks  as  the  r  signal 
and  lookout  station  for  over  a  century  prior  to  their 
expulsion  from  Illinois,  their  soft-moccasined  feet  did 
not  affect  these  trees;  and  when  the  Indians  left,  in 
i83t,  this  tower  was  well  studded  with  these  111011- 
archs  of  the  forest,  in  whose  tops  the  Indians  had 
constructed  platforms  for  the  accommodation  of  their 
sentinels,  one  or  more  of  whom  was  ever  on  duty 
here.  These  platforms  were  made  of  poles,  laid 
from  one  large,  nearly  horizontal  limb  to  another, 
closely  beside  each  other,  so  as  to  form  a  substan- 
tial platform.  Perched  up  among  the  high  branches 
of  these  oak  trees,  about  200  feet  above  the  river's 
surface  at  their  feet,  their  faithful  lynx-eyed  sentinels 
held  their  stations  from  early  dawn  to  dewy  eve, 
and  from  dewy  eve  to  early  morn,  with  eagle  eyes 
ever  on  the  alert  to  note  everything  that  transpired 
within    the  scope  of  their  vision.     To   the   east  he 


could  trace  Rock  River  for  12  miles.  To  the  south 
his  vision  extended  over  the  bluff,  away  over  the 
prairies.  West  of  the  lookout  stood  Saukenuk,  which 
extended  north  nearly  to  the  Mississippi.  Up  and 
down  Rock  River,  away  over  the  tree  tops,  hill  and 
bluff,  far  over  the  widespread  prairies  and  valley, 
their  vision  took  in  every  moving  object,  ready  to 
signal  the  city  everything  of  danger  or  interest,  as 
well  as  the  return  of  their  hunting  or  war  parties, 
and  the  approach  of  friends. 

They  had  a  regular  system  of  telegraphy.  The 
Watch-Tower  was  their  battery  and  machine;  signal 
lights  their  electric  wires.  This  is  no  fiction,  but  an 
absolute  reality.  By  the  use  of  fires  and  smoke  upon 
this  elevated  spot,  which  could  be  seen,  especially  at 
night,  for  a  hundred  miles  on  either  side,  these  In- 
dians communicated  news  with  the  rapidity  of  elec- 
tricity. 

Black  Hawk's  description  of  this  singular  rock  and 
locality  is  as  follows ;  "  Our  village  was  situated  on 
the  north  side  of  Rock  River,  at  the  foot  of  the  rap- 
ids, on  a  point  of  land  between  Rock  River  and  the 
Mississippi.  In  front  a  prairie  extended  to  the  Miss- 
issippi, and  rear  a  continued  bluff  gently  ascended 
from  the  prairie.  On  its  highest  peak  our  Watch- 
Tower  was  situated,  from  which  we  had  a  fine  view 
for  many  miles  up  and  down  the  Rock  River,  in 
every  direction.  *  *  *  This  tower,  to  which  my 
name  has  been  applied,  was  a  favorite  resort,  and 
was  frequently  visited  by  me,  where  I  could  sit  and 
smoke  my  pipe  and  look  with  wonder  and  pleasure 
at  the  grand  scenes  that  were  presented  by  the  sun's 
rays,  even  across  the  mighty  water.  On  one  occa- 
sion a  Frenchman,  who  had  been  making  his  home 
in  our  village,  brought  his  violin  with  him  to  the 
tower  to  play  and  dance  for  the  amusement  of  a 
number  of  our  people  who  had  assembled  there,  and 
while  dancing  with  his  back  to  the  cliff  accidentally 
fell  over  it,  and  was  killed  by  the  fall.  The  Indians 
say  that  always  at  the  same  time  of  the  year  soft 
strains  of  the  violin  can  be  heard  near  that  spot. 
On  either  side  of  the  bluff  we  had  our  corn-field,  ex- 
tending about  two  miles  up,  parallel  with  the  larger 
river,  where  they  joined  those  of  the  Foxes,  whose 
village  was  on  the  same  stream,  opposite  the  lower 
end  of  Rock  Island,  and  three  miles  distant  from 
ours.  The  land  around  our  village,  which  remained 
unbroken,  was  covered  with  blue-grass,  which  fur- 
nished  excellent   pasture    for   our   horses.     Several 


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springs  poured  out  of  the  bluff  near  by,  from  which 
we  were  well  supplied  with  good  water.  The  rapids 
of  Rock  River  furnished  us  with  an  abundance  of  ex- 
cellent fish,  and  the  land  being  fertile,  never  failed 
to  produce  good  crops  of  corn,  beans,  pumpkins  and 
squashes;  we  always  had  plenty.  Our  children 
never  cried  from  hunger;  neither  were  our  people  in 
want.  Here  our  village  stood  more  than  a  hundred 
years,  during  all  of  which  time  we  were  the  undis- 
puted possessors  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  from  Wis- 
consin to  the  Portage  des  Sioux,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Missouri,  being  about  700  miles  in  length." 

Hon.  Bailey  Davenport,  of  the  city  of  Rock  Island, 
is  the  owner  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  land 
whereon  Saukenuk  stood,  including  Black  Hawk's 
Watch  Tower,  and  has  constructed  a  horse  railway 
leading  from  the  city  of  Rock  Island  to  the  Watch 
Tower,  on  which  he  has  erected  a  neat  building  on  the 
Swiss  cottage  plan,  with  wide  porches  on  the  north 


and  south  sides  for  the  accommodation  of  the  large 
number  of  visitors  to  this  historic  place,  where  he 
who  would  for  a  short  time  withdraw  from  the  dust, 
smoke  and  noise  of  the  crowded,  busy  streets  of  the 
city  may  seek  rest  and  repose  beneath  the  green 
shades  of  God's  umbrellas — the  trees — and  snuff  the 
fresh,  pure  air  of  heaven,  laden  with  the  perfumes  of 
the  meadows  and  glades.  He  has  named  the  build- 
ing Black  Hawk's  Watch  Tower  Pavilion.  Sur- 
rounding it  are  long  tables  and  rustic  seats,  spread 
over  the  lawns  to  accommodate  picnic  parties  and 
serve  them  with  ice  cream  and  other  refreshments 
except  ardent  spirits.  The  latter  is  strictly  prohibited 
on  the  tower.  The  pavilion  with  its  large  rooms  is 
well  kept ;  and  it  can  be  made  a  very  agreeable  home, 
and  that,  too,  at  reasonable  prices — a  quiet  retreat, 
away  from  the  busy  haunts,  where  you  can  enjoy  the 
pure  air  and  beautiful  scenery  to  your  heart's  con- 
tent. It  is,  indeed,  one  of  the  most  lovely  summer 
resorts  in  the  State.     See  views  on  pages  196-7. 


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TUATED  upon  the  Missis- 
sippi midway  between  St.  Paul 
and  St.  Louis,  and  opposite 
the  historic  island  from  which 
it  derives  its  name,  is  the  well 
known  and  beautiful  city  of 
Rock  Island.  Its  location  has 
already  been  described  in  a 
previous  part  of  this  work,  and  its 
beauty  has  been  praised  by  every  one 
that  has  visited  the  spot  since  Mar- 
quette and  Joliet  descended  the  river 
in  1673.  On  the  organization  of  the 
county,  almost  opposite  the  lower 
end  of  the  island  stood  the  log  house 
of  John  Barrel,  which  had  been  erect- 
ed a  few  years  previous  by  Russell 
Farnam  and  George  Davenport.  The  County  Com- 
missioners agreed  upon  this  point  as  the  proper  loca- 
tion of  the  county  seat  and  called  it  Farnamsburg, 
thus  honoring  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
place.  Farnamsburg  continued  to  be  the  county 
seat  until  1835,  when  the  commissioners  who  had 
been  appointed  by  the  Legislature  met  and  selected 
a  point  a  little  further  down  as  the  county  seat  and 
named  it  Stephenson. 

Chas.  R.  Bennett,  at  that  time  County  Surveyor, 
was  ordered  by  the  County  Commissioners  to  survey 
and  plat  the  new  town,  which  he  accordingly  did, 
the  plat  being  recorded  July  10,  1835.  The  plat  is 
certified  to  by  Joseph  Conway,  Clerk  of  the  County 
Commissioners'    Court.      The    plat    comprised    20 


blocks  in  addition  to  the  public  square  in  which  the 
court-house  now  stands.  The  lots  were  laid  out  80 
feet  front  by  150  feet  deep.  The  northwest  frac- 
tional quarter  of  section  35,  on  which  the  town  was 
laid  out,  was  entered  by  the  County  Commissioners 
for  the  purpose  of  a  county  seat  May  n,  1836,  at 
the  land  office  in  Galena. 

In  March,  1841,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  passed  an  act  incorporating  and  changing  the 
name  of  the  town  to  that  of  Rock  Island.  By  this 
act  the  boundaries  of  the  town  were  made  to  include 
"  all  that  portion  of  land  contained  within  the  limits 
of  the  plat  of  the  town  of  Stephenson,  and  all  the 
additions  thereto,  as  of  record  in  the  Recorder's  office 
in  the  county  of  Rock  Island."  The  following  addi- 
tions had  then  been  made:  Thompson  &  Wells' 
Addition,  April  5,  1836;  Spencer  &  Case's  Addition, 
May  17,  1836;  Jones,  Guernsey  &  Beardsley's  Ad- 
dition, Oct.  22,  1836.  About  70  additions  have 
since  been  made  to  the  city,  extending  its  limits  to 
about  four  square  miles,  or  a  mile  and  a  quarter  in 
in  average  width  by  about  three  and  a  half  miles  in 
length.  Its  eastern  boundary  coincides  with  the 
western  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of  Moline. 

In  the  first  issue  of  the  Rock  Island  Banner,  in  an 
article  describing  Stephenson  (Rock  Island),  the 
editor  said :  "  Four  years  ago  there  was  but  one 
house  in  the  place.  It  now  contains  about  175 
neatly  built  houses,  and  600  inhabitants,  7  stores,  3 
taverns,  3  groceries,  2  saddle  and  harness  shops,  2 
cabinet  shops,  r  cooper  shop,  1  tinning  shop,  1  watch- 
maker, 1  pottery,  3  physicians  and  4  lawyers,  and  a 


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beautiful  court-house  two  stories  high  and  about  50 
feet  square." 

An  advertisement  in  the  first  issue  gives  notice 
that  "  Messrs.  A.  and  B.  J.  Vancourt,  formerly  of 
Pennsylvania,"  kept  the  Rock  Island  House,  "  lately 
occupied  by  David  Hawes,  Esq." 

The  Trustees  for  the  municipal  corporation  were 
Lemuel  Andrews,  William  Moore,  George  W.  Lynde, 
Harrison  Boggess  and  William  Frizzel.  L.  Andrews 
was  President;  H.  G.  Reynolds,  Clerk;  Jonathan 
Buffum,  Treasurer ;  John  A.  Boyer,  Constable;  and 
Zachariah  Cook,  Street  Commissioner.  Advertise- 
ments appear  from  H.  G.  Reynolds,  attorney -at-law ; 
Lee  &  Chamberlain,  stoves,  tin,  etc. ;  T.  F.  Cauffman, 
house  and  lot  for  sale ;  Haviland  &  Gregory,  drug- 
gists; John  S.  Miller,  groceries,  dry  goods,  argicul- 
tural  implements,  etc. ;  H.  Naylor  &  Company,  dry 
goods;  J.  M.  &  E.  Moore,  groceries,  provisions,  etc.; 
Andrews  &  McMaster,"  general  store  ;  Silas  Reed, 
physicia.i ;  and  from  James  Copp,  offering  a  house 
and  lot  for  sale. 

In  looking  over  the  files  of  the  Banner,  many  in- 
teresting items  are  noticed  in  relation  to  the  village 
of  Stephenson.  In  the  issue  of  Sept.  19,  1839,1s  a 
call  for  a  Whig  meeting,  at  the  court-house,  to  choose 
delegates  to  a  State  Convention.  It  is  signed  by  D. 
G.  Garnsey,  R.  H  Kinney,  G.  Powers,  J.  Conway, 
John  S.  Miller,  B.  F.  Barrett,  H.  H.  Beardsley,  T.  F. 
Cauffman,  Silas  Reed,  C.  A.  Garnsey,  George  Myres 
Wm.  T.  Brasher,  John  Wilson,  M.  W.  Conway,  Win. 
E.  Franklin,  George  Davenport,  Thomas  Bentley  and 
J.  A.  Boyer.  Joseph  Conway,  Samuel  Smith  and 
John  G.  Powars  were  chosen  delegates  to  Springfield. 
This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  party  convention 
held  in  the  county. 

Oct.  10,  1839,  was  published  a  local  directory,  as 
follows : 

Town  Officers. — William  P.  Cropper,  William 
Moore,  Justices  ;  William  Frizzell,  J.  A.  Boyer,  T. 
J.  Spencer,  Constables. 

Hotels. — Thomas  Bently,  Sr.,  Eagle  Hotel,  Buffalo 
Street,  near  ferry  landing;  Rock  Island  House,  A, 
&  B.  J.  Vancourt,  corner  Eagle  and  Illinois  Streets ; 
Rock  Island  Hotel,  Jonathan  Buffum,  near  court- 
house; Orleans,  between  Buffalo  and  Elk. 

Postmaster. — M.  W.  Conway. 

Physicians  and  Druggists. — Haviland  and  Greg- 
ory, P.  Gregg,  J.  R.  Hadsell,  botanic,  Silas  Reed, 
H.  Beardsley. 


Lawyers. — J.  Wilson  Drury,  "  office  in  shop  of  Dr. 
Gregg;"  J.  B.  Wells  and  H.  G.  Reynolds,  both  in 
the  court-house. 

Merchants.  —  Naylor  &  Company,  J.  M.  &  E. 
Moore,  Andrews  &  McMaster,  T.  F.  Cauffman,  John 
S.  Miller,  Lewis  F.  Sanders. 

Grocers. — John  Buford,  T.  Bentley,  Jr. 

Carpenters  and  Cabinet-makers. — Rugh  &  Horreil, 
and  Moore  &  Company,  Zadock  Kalbaugh,  Thomas 
Blish,  Z.  Cook. 

Plows. — D.  D.  Lockwood  &  Company. 

Painters. — John  Bulley. 

Saddlers  and  Harness-makers. — Jacob  Sailor,  John 
M.  Frizzell. 

Tinners. — Lee  &  Chamberlin. 

Tailors. — Dan  Stephens,  J.  Lesler,  Samuel  Shaw. 

Watchmaker. — R.  H.  Kinney. 

Blacksmiths. — J.  Shoude,  Hibbard  Moore. 

Shoemakers. — E.  Turner,  John  Metzgar. 

Bricklayers  and  Plasterers. — William  H.  Sage,  J. 
M.  Bellows. 

Coopers. — John  Thompson,  J.  Millman. 

Wheelwrights. — John  H.  &  C.  F.  Swart wout,  after- 
ward J.  H"  Swartwout  and  N.  Hoffman. 

Drayman. — John  Thompson. 

Butchers. — James  Copp,  Robert  Dunlap  &  Com- 
pany. 

In  the  issue  of  Oct.  24,  1840,  is  a  double-column 
notice,  in  large,  full-faced  type,  surmounted  by  an 
eagle,  and  signed  by  Lemuel  Andrews,  George  Mix- 
ter  and  Robert  McGrew,  Democratic  Central  Com- 
mittee of  Rock  Island  County,  calling  a  great  mass- 
meeting  of  the  people  of  Rock  Island,  Henry  and 
Mercer  Counties  at  Rock  Island — the  last  grand 
rally  of  the  campaign — October  30,  a  twhich  J.  Knox, 
J.  B.  Wells  and  H.  G.  Reynolds  were  advertised  to 
speak.  A  report  of  the  meeting  is-  published  in  the 
succeeding  issue,  signed  John  Buford,  President,  H. 
Waggoner,  Secretary. 

In  the  issue  of  Oct.  17,  1839,  among  the  new 
advertisements  is  a  call  for  a  meeting  of  the  members 
of  the  Rock  Island  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
signed  by  Lemuel  Andrews,  Joseph  Knox  and  P. 
Gregg:  November  7,  of  L.  F.  Sanders,  general  store; 
of  Bowen  &  Gray,  cabinet-makers  wanted  ;  Swartwout 
&  Hoffman,  carriage,  wagon  and  plow  factory  ;  No- 
vember 28,  an  advertisement  of  L.  Andrews  and  J. 
W.  Drury,  Assignees  of  David  Hawes;  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.   Joseph  Gerrard,  school ;    of  M.  L.  Atkinson, 


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school;  of  George  T.  Bond,  new  store  and  new- 
goods;  of  the  Stephenson  Lyceum,  signed  by  W.  E. 
Franklin,  for  the  election  of  officers;  and  also  the 
marriage  notice  of  George  L.  Davenport,  Nov.  20, 
1839,  by  Rev  Father  Michelli,  in  St.  Anthony's 
Chapel,  Davenport,  to  Miss  Sarah  G.  Clark,  of  Cin- 
cinnati. 

On  the  issue  of  Jan.  9,  1840,  is  a  notice  of  a 
discussion  before  the  Stephenson  Lyceum,  of  the 
following  question:  "  Under  the  existing  circum- 
stances, ought  the  present  system  of  internal  im- 
provement in  this  State  to  be  entirely  abandoned  ?' 
Affirmative — P.  Gregg,  William  A.  Boyer,  Robert 
McGrew,  Sr.  Negative — J.  W.  Drury,  J.  H.  Wag- 
goner and  William  Frizzell.  It  was  decided  in  the 
negative. 

In  the  issue  of  January  r6,  tS4o,  two  columns  of 
proceedings  of  a  meeting,  held  on  the  8th,  at  the 
Rock  Island  House,  for  the  celebration  of  the  25th 
anniversary  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  It  seems 
to  have  been  participated  in  by  the  people  from  all 
parts  of  the  county.  George  Mixter  was  the  orator. 
In  the  same  number  is  another  Lyceum  question: 
"  Is  legislation  calculated  to  promote  the  cause  of 
temperance  in  our  country?"  Affirmative — M.  L. 
Atkinson,  J.  B.  Wells,  J.  Knox.  Negative — L.  An- 
drews, G.  Mixter,  H.  G.  Reynolds.  This  Lyceum 
seems  to  have  been  a  live  institution,  holding  large 
meetings  and  having  spirited  discussions  every  week. 
In  the  same  issue  is  an  account  of  a  meeting  held  at 
the  Eagle  Hotel,  to  make  arrangements  to  celebrate 
Harrison's  birthday.  D.  G.  Garnsey  was  chairman, 
and  C.  C.  Washburne  (late  Governor  of  Wisconsin) 
Secretary.  He  was  then  a  clerk  in  some  business  house 
here.  The  officers  of  the  day  appointed  were  Henrv 
Powars,  President;  Charles  Eames,  Silas  Marshall, 
Lucius  Wells,  Larkin  Reynolds,  Charles  A.  Spring 
and  B.  F.  Barren,  Vice-Presidents  ;  D.  G.  Garnsey, 
C.  C.  Washburne,  J.  G.  Powars,  M.  Atkinson,  R.  H. 
Kinney,  Committee  to  prepare  toasts  ;  David  Hawes, 
Geo.  Myres,  W.  E.  Franklin,  A.  Everest,  S.  D.  Car- 
penter, H.  Boggess,  J.  G.  Haviland,  J.  A.  Boyer, 
John  Frizzell,  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

In  the  issue  of  February  4,  rS4o,  is  an  account  of 
a  meeting  held  at  the  school-house,  at  which  Joseph 
Knox,  J.  Wilson  Drury,  George  Mixter,  R.  Mc- 
Grew, J.  S.  Miller,  J.  B.  Wells,  Wm.  Frizzell,  P. 
Gregg  and  Wm.  P.  Cropper  were  appointed   a  com- 


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mittee  to  petition    Congress    for    an    appropriation 
for  the  improvement  of  navigation  in  Rock  River. 

The  early  settlers  could  not  divest  themselves  of 
the  idea  that  the  Rock  River  was  navigable,  and 
numerous  attempts  were  made  to  prove  the  correct- 
ness of  their  views.  In  i84t,  Capt.  King  took  a 
small  steamer  up  as  far  as  Sterling,  but  had  much 
difficulty  in  returning.  The  Upper  Mississippian 
in  an  editorial  July  20,  r844,  said  : 

"The  steamer  Lighter,  Capt.  Hight,  has  just  re- 
turned to  this  place  from  a  voyage  up  the  Rock 
River,  during  which  he  ascended  to  Madison,  the 
Territorial  seat  of  government,  a  distance  of  near 
three  hundred  miles!  This  is  the  first  voyage  made 
by  -team,  as  we  have  been  informed,  to  so  great  a 
distance,  and  it  has  fully  proven  what  has  been  be- 
fore believed, — that  there  are  but  slight  obstructions 
to  the  navigation  of  the  river  above  Sterling,  and  that 
the  two  rapids  below  that  point  furnish  the  oniy  se- 
rious impediment.  Were  these  removed,  it  is  the 
opinion  of  gentlemen  well  informed  on  the  subject 
that  the  stream  may  be  navigated  by  boats  of  alight 
draught,  for  one-quarter  or  one-third  of  the  year." 

In  1841  Rock  Island  was  incorporated  as  a  town, 
and  continued  under  that  form  of  government  until 
1849,  when  a  city  charter  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of 
the  people.  Those  who  have  served  the  city  in  the 
office  of  Mayor  are  as  follows: 

Benjamin  F.  Barrett 1849 

Joshua    H.  Hatch 1850 

P.  A.  Whitaker 185  r 

William  Frizzell 1852-53 

Ben  Harper 1854 

Benjamin  F.  Barrett 1855 

Wm.    Bailey 1856 

.    Patrick  Gregg 185; 

Thomas  J.  Buford 1858-59 

Calvin  Truesdale i860 

Bailey   Davenport 1861-65 

Calvin  Truesdale 1866 

Wm.    Eggleston 1867 — resigned 

B.  H.  Kimball 1867 

Thomas   Murdock 1868 

James  M.  Buford 1869 

Porter  Skinner 1870 

Elijah   Carter 1S7  1 

Thomas  Murdock 1872 

Bailey  Davenport 1S73 

Thomas  Gait 1874 

Bailey  Davenport 1875 

Wm.  P.  Butler 1S76-77 

Elisha  P.  Reynolds 1878-79 


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James  Z.  Mott 1883-84 

Thomas  Murdock 1885 

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POSTOFFICE. 

On  the  23d  day  of  April,  1825,  John  McLean, 
Postmaster-General  of  the  United  States,  wrote  a 
letter  to  Col.  Geo.  Davenport  tendering  him  the  com- 
mission as  Postmaster  on  the  island,  the  office  to  be 
known  as  Rock  Island.  In  the  fall  the  Colonel  re- 
ceived his  commission,  but  it  was  several  years  be- 
fore he  took  the  oath  of  office,  for  the  reason  that 
there  was  no  one  qualified  to  administer  it.  The 
office  was  continued  upon  the  island  until  Nov.  5, 
1834.  Joseph  Conway  having  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  Postmaster  of  Farnamsburg,  the  county  seat 
of  Rock  Island  County,  it  was  useless  longer  to  con- 
tinue upon  the  island.  Mr.  Conway's  appointment 
bore  date  April  4,  1834.  The  village  of  Stephenson 
j  being  laid  out  the  following  year,  the  name  of  the 
office  was  changed.  In  1841  it  was  again  changed, 
to  Rock  Island.  The  location  of  the  first  office  was 
opposite  the  present  residence  of  P.  L.  Cable.  It 
was  a  large  log  cabin,  and  served  as  a  court-house, 
as  well  as  postoffice  and  residence  of  the  postmaster. 
Occasionally  a  severe  storm  would  require  the  post- 
master to  put  his  valuables  between  beds  to  keep 
them  dry. 

Miles  YV.  Conway  succeeded  his  brother  as  Post- 
master Nov.  11,  1836,  serving  until  June  10,  1840, 
when  Joseph  B.  Wells,  afterwards  Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor, was  appointed.  He  served  only  till  April  13, 
1S41,  when  Chas.  A.  Garnsey  was  appointed.  Col. 
John  Buford  was  successor  to  Mr.  Garnsey,  ap- 
pointed March  21,  1S43.  His  office  was  on  First 
Avenue,  between  1 6th  and  17th  Streets.  Harmon 
G.  Reynolds  succeeded  Col.  Buford,  his  commission 
dating  Aug.  3r,  1847.  Elbridge  R.  Bean  came  next, 
his  commission  bearing  date  May  n,  1849.  The 
office  was  then  on  Second  Avenue,  between  17th  and 
1 8th  Streets.  He  served  until  May  26,  1853,  when 
James  Kelley  was  appointed.  Mr.  Kelley  moved 
the  office  to  Bailey  &  Baylis',  now  Mitchell  &  Lynde's 
Block.  Wm.  Frizzell  succeeded  Kelley,  May  15, 
1855,  and  served  until  April  2,  1856,  when  Lewis  N. 
Webber  was  appointed.  The  office  was  now  on  the 
south  side  of  Second  Avenue,  between  17th  and  18th 
Streels.       Herman    Field    was    next     commissioned, 

♦Facts  furnished  by  D.  P.  MeKown. 


serving  from  Sept.  2,  1858,  till  April  6,  1861,  when 
Dr.  Calvin  Truesdale  was  appointed,  the  office  being 
kept  in  Bailey  &  Baylis'  Block.  John  B.  Hawley 
was  commissioned  March  3,  1865,  and  served  until 
Sept.  21,  t866,  when  Capt.  James  F.  Copp  was  ap- 
pointed. Marcus  B.  Osborne  succeeded  Capt.  Copp 
April  3,1867,  serving  until  March  1,  1871,  when 
Capt.  L.  M.  Haverstick  was  appointed.  D.  P.  Me- 
Kown was  his  assistant.  Wm.  Jackson  came  next, 
his  commission  bearing  date  March  20,  1873.  He 
served  until  March  6,  1S76,  when  Thomas  Murdock 
was  appointed.  Maj.  James  M.  Beardsley  was  next 
appointed,  his  commission  bearing  date  Feb.  18, 
1880.  He  did  not  take  possession  until  April  i, 
1880.  Maj.  Beardsly  was  succeeded  by  Maj.  Chas. 
W.  Hawes,  Aug.  1.  1884. 

At  the  present  time  the  postoffice  is  very  centrally 
located,  as  for  many  years  past  it  may  be  found  in 
Michell  &  Lynde's  Block,  and  has  entrances  on  East 
and  West  17th  Streets,  between  First  and  Second 
Avenues.  Many  improvements  have  been  made  by 
the  owners  of  the  building,  from  whom  the  United 
States  rents  the  office.  It  now  ranks  with  the  largest 
and  most  perfectly  arranged  postoffices  in  the  coun- 
try, and  also  managed  with  marked  system,  punctu- 
ality and  fidelity  by  Major  Chas.  W.  Hawes  and 
well-chosen  assistants.  The  office  contains  1,500 
Yale  boxes.  The  gross  receipts  aggregate  $19,000 
per  annum.  Major  Hawes  has  proven  since  his 
appointment  as  Postmaster  in  August,  1884,  very  effi- 
cient and  painstaking,  and  has  gained  great  popu- 
larity.    See  personal  sketch  on  page  572. 

PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

The  Rock  Island  Library  was  the  first  free  public 
library  opened  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  under  the  gen- 
eral law  in  force  March  7,  1872,  it  having  been  or- 
ganized under  that  law  and  thrown  open  to  the 
public  November  25,  of  that  year.  But  the  people 
of  the  city,  recognizing  the  fact  of  the  great  value 
and  importance  of  a  public  library  as  an  educational 
institution,  opened  an  institution  of  this  kind  in  Sep- 
tember, 1855,  which  flourished  until  the  present 
ent  library  was  opened,  when,  by  consent  of 
those  interested,  it  was  donated  to  the  library  as  or- 
ganized under  the  law  mentioned  above.  It  formed 
a  very  valuable  nucleus,  around  which  books  have 
accumulated  until  the  library  at  present  numbers 
8,000  volumes,  which  embrace  the  choicest  literature 


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in  history,  biographies,  science,  fiction,  etc. ;  and 
there  will  ever  exist  with  the  people  of  Rock  Island 
a  grateful  remembrance  of  the  generosity  of  the  old 
library  organization,  which  donated  their  2,000  vol- 
umes at  its  commencement.  Three  large  rooms  in 
the  postoffice  building  are  in  use.  One  is  a  general 
reading-room,  where  may  be  found  numerous  daily, 
weekly  and  monthly  newspapers,  magazines'and  pe- 
riodicals. The  second  is  the  general  library  room, 
and  the  third  is  also  used  a  book  and  reading-room. 
Here  are  found  the  large  number  of  general  refer- 
ence books,  which  form  a  part  of  the  library.  The 
Board  arrange  for  the  keeping  of  the  rooms  in  exem- 
plary order,  while  the  business  of  the  library  is  at- 
tended to  in  an  excellent  manner  by  the  obliging 
librarian,  Miss  E.  Gale.  The  lively  interest  in  and 
high  appreciation  of  the  public  library  by  the  citizens 
of  Rock  Island,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  yearly 
attendance  is  about  40,000.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  directors  :  Maj.  H.  C.  Connelly,  Pres- 
ident; J.  H.  Southwell,  Secretary;  W.  H.  Gest,  Dr. 
C.  Truesdale,  Alexander  Steel,  Dr.  C.  Bernhardi, 
Henry  Curtis,  Elmore  W.  Hurst  and  J.  R.  Johnston. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  citizens  of  Rock  Island,  even  at  an  early  day, 
took  much  interest  in  the  cause  of  education.  Free 
schools  were  not  yet  instituted  and  private  schools 
abounded  during  the  first  and  second  decades.  In 
the  Rock  Island  Banner,  under  date  March  11, 
1841,  appears  an  advertisement  of  a  '' Female  School, 
by  Miss  Adelia  M.  Lowell,"  also  of  the  "  Rock  Isl- 
and Academical  High  School,  J.  Alden  Woodruff, 
Principal,  "  and  the  "  Rock  Island  Academy,!).  J. 
Loyd,  Principal.  "  In  the  issue  for  March  31, 1842, 
is  an  advertisement  of  the  re-opening  of  P.  H.  Ogil- 
vie's  school  in  Bu ford's  building.  Some  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Rock  Island  and  Moline  were  educated  in 
these  schools. 

A  law  was  enacted  and  a  charter  obtained  for  the 
establishment  of  the  present  school  system  Feb.  18, 
1857.  The  charter  provides  that  a  board  of  educa- 
tion, consisting  of  five  members,  shall  be  elected  by 
the  people,  and  that  they  shall  Lave  ample  power  to 
establish  and  foster  free  schools.  It  gives  them 
general  supervision  of  all  the  school,  and  power  to 
employ  a  superintendent,  who,  under  the  rules 
adopted  by  the  Board  of  Education,  shall  be  Clerk 
of  the  Board  and  ex  officio  member;    to  direct  what 


branches  shall  be  taught,  to  grade  the  schools,  em- 
ploy teachers  and  enact  suitable  rules  and  regulations 
for  their  government.  It  gives  them  ample  power  to 
levy  taxes  for  school  purposes  and  to  issue  bonds  for 
buildingschool-houses  and  purchasing  school  grounds. 
Few  cities  in  Illinois  provided  at  so  early  a  day  such 
am[_le  provisions  for  the  education  of  their  youth. 
The  present  prosperity  of  the  schools  of  Rock  Island 
demonstrates  the  foresight  and  wisdom  of  her  citi- 
zens in  obtaining  the  enactment  of  this  charter.  At 
present  the  city  is  supplied  with  seven  school  build- 
ings. 

The  High  School  building  is  located  on  the  block 
bounded  by  Sixth  and  Seventh  Avenues  and  21st 
and  22d  Streets.  It  is  a  large,  three-story  brick, 
accommodating  600  pupils  when  seated  to  its  full 
capacity. 

The  First  Ward  School  building  is  on  the  south 
side  of  Third  Avenue,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth 
Streets.  It  is  also  a  large,  three-story  brick,  with 
accommodations  for  650  pupils. 

The  Second  Ward  School  building,  on  the  south 
side  of  Third  Avenue,  on  13th  Street,  is  a  two-story 
brick  and  accommodates  140  pupils. 

The  Third  Ward  building,  on  the  corner  of  Fifth 
Avenue  and  1  9th  Street,  is  a  large,  two-story  brick, 
and  accommodates  250  pupils. 

The  Fourth  Ward  building,  located  on  Seventh 
Avenue,  is  a  two-story  brick,  and  accommodates  220 
pupils. 

In  October,  1877,  on  the  ground  purchased  of 
Bailey  Davenport,  corner  of  Ninth  Avenue  and  12th 
Street,  the  Board  of  Education  completed  a  fine,  three- 
story,  brick  building,  capable  of  seating  550  pupils, 
in  which  they  then  opened  four  rooms,  accommodat- 
ing 230  pupils.  The  plan  of  heating  and  ventilating 
this  building  is  the  most  economical  and  perfect  of 
all  in  the  city  and  perhaps  in  the  State.  The 
grounds  are  adorned  with  sliade-trees  and  in  front 
with  a  beautiful  grass  plat,  in  which  the  teachers  in- 
terspersed shrubbery  and  flower  beds. 

The  seventh  school  building  was  erected  in  1880, 
on  Seventh  Avenue,  east  of  Augustana  College. 

The  gradation  of  the  schools  is  thorough,  there 
being  nine  distinct  grades  below  the  High  School, 
and  each  grade  containing  an  A  and  a  B  class.  In 
these  grades  are  taught  tire  various  branches  per- 
taining to    a    common-school    education,   including 


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history  of  the  United  States,  music,  drawing,  the  ele- 
ments of  science,  and  geometry, — the  last  two 
branches  taught  orally.  At  the  close  of  each  year 
classes  are  promoted  from  grade  to  grade,  as  they  are 
able  to  pass  the  required  examinations.  Monthly 
examinations  are  held,  and  any  pupil  able  to  pass  to 
a  higher  grade  receives  a  special  promotion.  By  this 
means  a  bright  pupil,  by  close  application,  can  finish 
the  prescribed  studies  in  much  less  time  than  pro- 
vided in  the  course  of  study. 

Diplomas  have  been  issued  to  graduates  since 
1874,  when  the  first-class  was  graduated. 

In  addition  to  its  public  schools,  Rock  Island  has 
a  number  of  parochial  schools,  a  German-English 
school,  and  the  Augustana  College. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  this  locality,  so 
far  as  at  present  known,  was  on  the  island,  in  1826. 
The  second  was  in  1829,  Rev.  John  Kinney,  a  local 
Methodist  Episcopal  preacher  delivering  the  dis- 
course. To-day  almost  all  the  leading  denominations 
are  represented. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  this  city 
has  had  an  organized  existence  since  1833.  The  first 
meetings  of  those  holding  to  this  faith  were  held  in 
the  house  of  John  W.  Spencer,  during  that  year,  the 
Rev.  Asa  McMurtry  conducting  the  services,  and  or- 
ganizing a  class  composed  of  the  following  named 
members:  Calvin  Spencer  and  wife,  Zerah  Spencer, 
Sally  Case,  Wm.  Brasher,  James  M.  Brasher,  James 
Thompson  and  Caroline  Thompson.  Meetings  were 
held  at  private  houses  until  1836,  when,  a  school- 
house  having  been  erected,  they  were  held  therein 
until  their  first  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1844. 
This  house  stood  on  Union  Square.  The  present 
Church  edifice  was  erected  in  1855,  at  a  cost  of  $20,- 
000.  The  Church  has  prospered  in  numbers,  mate- 
terial  wealth  and  spirituality. 

The  German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Rock 
Island  was  organized  in  1855.  In  1856  they  erected 
their  first  house  of  worship,  which,  in  1874,  was  su- 
perseded by  the  present  building,  on  the  corner  of 
Sixth  Avenue  and  Fourteenth  Street,  which  cost  about 
$4,000.  Among  the  original  members  were  H.  Brock- 
mann,  J.  Rawser,  Ph.  Sherer  and  C.  Wagner.  Rev. 
J.  B.  Schwietert  is  the  present  Pastor. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  was  organized  June  4, 
1837,   at  the  house  of  •Lemuel   Ludden,  with  Titus 


Gilbert,  Z.  Cook,  Barbara  Cook,  Lemuel  and  Silah 
Ludden,  Phoebe  Skinner  and  Nancy  Taylor  as  char- 
ter members.  They  met  first  in  private  houses,  then 
in  the  court-house,  and  in  1844  purchased  the  old 
brick  school-house  on  Union  Square,  at  a  cost  of 
$45.36,  which  they  fitted  up  and  used  until  1848, 
when  they  built  a  house  of  worship,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,500.  This  house  was  used  until  1870,  when  they 
erected  their  present  Church  edifice  on  the  corner  of 
Third  Avenue  and  Fifteenth  Street,  at  a  cost  of 
$t8,ooo.  In  the  48  years  of  its  existence  it  has  given 
three  of  its  members  to  the  ministry  of  the  Word — 
W.  W.  Phares,  N.  Elton  and  John  L.  Jackson.  The 
present  membership  of  the  Church  is  190.  Its 
Sunday-school  has  an  average  attendance  of  150, 
with  an  enrollment  of  over  200.  J.  W.  Welch  is 
Superintendent.  A  mission  school  is  held  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  city,  with  Geo.  P.  Lyman  as  Su- 
perintendent. Rev.  I.  W.  Read  is  the  present 
Pastor. 

The  Second  Baptist  Church  is  composed  of  colored 
members  exclusively.  Its  first  meetings  were  held 
in  the  Mission  Chapel  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
and  an  organization  effected  April  19,  1875.  Soon 
after  its  organization,  a  lot  was  purchased  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Ninth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  on  which  they 
erected  a  small  house  of  worship,  at  a  cost  of  $670. 
Rev.  Edward  Wilson,  of  Davenport,  is  the  present 
Pastor. 

The  Swedish  Baptist  Church  is  located  on  Fifth 
Avenue,  between  20th  and  21st  Streets.  The  first 
services  were  held  in  the  old  brick  school-house,  on 
Union  Square,  and  the  Church  was  organized  Aug. 
13,  1852,  with  only  three  members, — A.  T.  Mankee, 
P.  Soderstrom  and  Frederika  Bolberg.  Their  house 
of  worship  was  erected  in  1855,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 
Notwithstanding  it  has  never  been  strong  in  numbers 
or  material  wealth,  the  Church  has  sent  out  four 
successful  missionaries,  who  have  succeeded  in  or- 
ganizing several  Churches. 

The  Central  Presbyterian  Church  dates  back  to 
1837.  The  first  steps  taken  towards  the  organization 
of  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  Rock  Island  was  at  a 
meeting  held  in  the  dining-room  of  the  old  Rock  Isl- 
and House  Nov.  27,  1S37.  Rev.  John  Montgomery 
and  Rev.  I.  Pillsbury  were  present  as  a  committee 
of  the  Presbytery.  After  a  sermon  by  Mr.  Pillsbury, 
ten  persons  united  in  forming  a  Church, — Wm.  Dick- 


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son,  A.  C.  Donaldson,  M.  Conway,  May  Donaldson, 
Miriam  C.  Dickson,  A.  F.  Russell,  David  M.  Dick- 
son, Benjamin  McKay,  Sarah  McKay.  The  name 
adopted  was  that  of  the  "  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Stephenson,  Illinois."  In  1848  the  Church  be- 
came divided  on  the  slavery  question,  seven  persons 
withdrawing  from  this  Church  and  effecting  another 
organization,  under  the  auspices  of  the  New  School 
Presbyterians.  In  the  organization  of  the  new 
Church  Rev.  A.  Kent,  of  Galena,  and  Rev.  S.  W. 
Blanchard,  of  Galesburg,  officiated.  The  Church 
was  thus  divided,  and  remained  so  until  the  general 
union  of  the  Old  and  New  School  Presbyterian 
Churches  was  brought  about,  when  the  cause  for  di- 
vision was  taken  away.  In  May,  1870,  the  two 
Churches  were  united,  taking  the  name  of  "The 
Presbyterian  Church  of  R/)ck  Island,"  and  so  re- 
mained until  May  28,  1875,  when  some  of  its  mem- 
bers were  dismissed,  that  they  might  form  the  Church 
known  as  the  Broadway  Presbyterian  Church,  when 
the  Church  took  the  name  by  which  it  is  now  known 
— the  Central  Presbyterian  Church.  The  first  meet- 
ings of  this  body  were  held  in  the  old  school-house. 
The  first  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1845,  on 
lot  1, block  n.  The  Second  Church,  or  New  School, 
erected  a  house,  25  x  40,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Central  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1855  another 
building  was  erected,  which  was  demolished  Dy  a 
tornado  Sept.  15,  1874,  and  was  immediately  rebuilt 
in  its  present  form,  and  re-occupied  July  4,  1875. 
During  the  separate  existence  of  the  First  Church 
the  building  now  occupied  by  St.  Joseph's  Catholic 
Church  was  built,  which  involved  the  Church  heavily 
in  debt.  After  the  union  of  the  two  bodies,  it  was 
sold  to  the  Catholics.  The  Central  Church  building 
is  quite  a  handsome  structure.  The  membership  of 
the  Church  is  quite  large,  with  a  flourishing  Sunday- 
school.     Rev.  S.  S.  Cryer  is  the  present  Pastor. 

Broadway  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
May  28, 1885,  in  the  lecture-room  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  by  a  committee  of  the  Rock  River  Presby- 
tery, consisting  of  Rev.  Josiah  Milligan,  Rev.  J.  H. 
Moore  and  Elder  Snyder.  Some  45  persons  received 
letters  of  dismission  to  form  this  Church.  A  beauti- 
ful and  costly  house  of  worship  was  erected  on  the 
corner  of  23d  Street  and  Seventh  Avenue  in  1877. 

German  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  May 
16,  187  1,  with  33  members.  The  house  of  worship 
was  purchased  from  the  United  Presbyterians.     The 


congregation  is  small,  and  at  present  it  is  without   a 
pastor. 

Catholic. — -The  first  Catholic  congregation  was 
formed  in  Rock  Island  at  an  early  day,  under  the 
charge  and  with  the  occasional  work  of  Father  Alle- 
man,  a  German  Dominican  Friar,  who  died  in  St. 
Louis  shortly  after  the  war.  The  congregation  was 
composed  chiefly  of  Irish,  French  and  German  emi- 
grants. Services  were  at  first  held  in  a  cooper-shop. 
After  this  period  Father  Alleman  built  a  small  Cath- 
lic  church  where  St.  Mary's  church  now  stands. 
All  the  cut  stone  used  in  this  building  was  taken 
from  the  ruins  of  the  Mormon  Temple  at  Nauvoo. 
When  a  new  building  became  necessary,  in  1866,  the 
same  stone  was  used  for  the  residence  of  the  priest. 
In  1874  it  was  thought  best  to  divide  the  congrega- 
tion, forming  one  for  the  English-speaking  people 
and  an-  ther  for  the  Germans. 

St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church  was  formed  and  the 
old  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Second  Avenue,  was 
purchased  and  re-fitted  for  the  use  of  the  congrega- 
tion. There  are  at  present  more  than  2,000  souls 
connected  with  the  congregation.  Rev.  T.  Mackin 
is  the  priest  in  charge  of  the  parish  at  the  present 
time. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church  is  composed  of  the 
German  speaking  members  of  that  body.  When  the 
congregation  was  divided  it  retained  the  old  church 
property  on  Fourth  Avenue  and  2 2d  Street.  Rev. 
H.  Liermann  is  the  Priest  in  charge  at  the  present 
time. 

Trinity  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  1853. 
Some  time  prior  to  this,  Rev.  Mr.  Louderback  held 
Episcopal  services  in  Rock  Island  in  a  hall  in  Lee's 
Block.  The  first  recorded  vestry  meeting  of  Trinity 
parish  was  held  Nov.  12,  1853,  and  it  was  about  that 
time  that  an  organization  was  effected.  Among  the 
original  number  comprised  in  its  organization  were 
Bailey  Davenport,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  M.  Harris,  Mrs. 
Langley,  Mrs.  Joseph  Brackett  and  Mrs.  Goldsmith. 
The  parish  is  now  one  of  the  best  in  the  diocese. 
The  first  church  edifice  was  completed  June  11, 
1857,  and  cost  $2,000  The  present  church  build- 
ing, costing  $16,000,  was  completed  Jan.  30,  1870. 
Rev.  L.  Goodale  was  the  first  Rector.  The  present 
Kector  is  Rev.  R.  F.  Sweet. 

The  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Rock  Island 
was  organized  July   1,   1854;  under  the   auspices  of 


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the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  Rev. 
Matthew  Bigger,  together  with  Ruling  Elders  John 
Collins  and  Wm.  Haverfield,  by  appointment  of  the 
Second  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of  Illinois, 
met  at  Rock  Island  in  the  old  seminary  building  on 
Third  Avenue  and  effected  an  organization  with  20 
members.  Erskine  McClellan,  James  Tod  and  Hugh 
VVarnock  were  elected  Elders.  For  six  months  the 
congregation  was  without  a  house  of  worship.  A 
small  building  was  then  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200. 
Before  its  completion  services  were  held  therein,  the 
ministers  occupying  a  nail  keg  for  a  seat.  Rev.  J. 
R.  McCallister  was  acting  pastor,  serving  from  July, 
1854,  to  July,  i860.  There  were  5  1  additions  during 
this  time.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  VV.  H.  Jef- 
fers  from  July,  i860,  to  September,  1861.  He  was  a 
line  preacher.  Rev.  Henry  Wallace  came  in  April, 
1 S63,  and  remained  eight  years.  He  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability.  During  his  pastorate  72 
were  added  to  the  Church.  Rev.  VV.  J.  Gillespie 
came  in  July,  187  1,  and  remained  one  year.  He 
was  succeeded  by  the  present  Pastor,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Reynolds,  who  came  in  July,  1872.  Under  his  pas- 
torate 164  have  been  added  to  the  Church,  and  a  neat 
and  attractive  house  of  worship  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
$10,000,  on  Third  Avenue,  in  1872.  The  Church 
now  numbers  92,  with  Rev.  J.  A.  Reynolds,  D.  D., 
Pastor;  Hugh  Warnock,  S.  F.  Cooke,  J.  McKee, 
Elders.  The  Sabbath-school  has  an  average  attend- 
ance of  95.  Hugh  Warnock  and  wife  are  the  only 
ones  remaining  of  the  original  number  forming  the 
Church. 

The  Christian  Church  of  Rock  Island  was  organ- 
ized on  the  23d  day  of  March,  1868.  During  the 
winter  previous  C.  W.  Sherwood,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Christian  Missionary  Society  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  held  a  series  of  meetings  here,  having  in  view 
an  organization.  Those  forming  the  organization 
were  P.  L.  Mitchell,  W.  F.  Gilmore,  Agenoria  H. 
Gilmore,  Kate  M.  Gilmore,  Almira  Holt,  Amelia 
Fiscus,  Adam  Blackball,  Jessie  E.  Blackball,  John 
Bulley,  Isaac  McGrew,  Parthena  Vermillion,  Eliza- 
beth H.  McNeal,  Christina  Swiningar,  Sarah  Ann 
Ranberger,  Abraham  Rinker.  The  congregation 
commenced  occupying,  as  a  place  of  worship,  a  hall 
in  Mitchell  &  Lynde's  block  on  West  17th  Street  north 
of  Second  Avenue,  in  which  they  continued  till  Oc- 
tober, 1S70,  at  which  time  P.  L.  Mitchell,  having 
purchased  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  the  house  va- 


cated by  them  on  the  northeast  corner  of  3d  Avenue 
and  15th  Street,  erecting  a  tower  and  otherwise  beau- 
tifying it,  presented  it  to  the  Christian  congregation 
as  a  place  of  worship,  in  which  they  have  continued 
to  the  present  time.  The  Church  has  been  fairly 
prosperous,  now  numbering  75  worthy  members.  J. 
H.  Wright  is  the  present  Pastor. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Tmmanuel  Church  was 
organized  in  1856.  Its  house  of  worship  is  situated 
on  20th  Street  near  5th  Avenue.  Services  are  held 
in  the  German  language.  This  Church  holds  to  the 
Unaltered  Augsburg  Confession  of  Faith.  Rev.  C.  A. 
Meunick  is  the  present  Pastor,  and  has  served  the 
Church   for  many  years. 

The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  is  the 
result  of  a  movement  on  the  part  of  the  pastor  of  the 
Church  at  Moline,  holding  services  in  private  houses. 
In  1870  an  organization  was  effected,  consisting  of 
members  formerly  belonging  to  the  Swedish  Luther- 
an Church  in  Moline.  Rev.  S.  Benson,  from  Moline, 
served  as  Pastor  till  1873,  then  Rev.  V.  Setterdahl 
till  1874.  Rev.  T.  N.  Hasselquist,  D.  D.,  Presi- 
dent of  Augustana  College,  has  been  in  charge  of 
the  Church  since  September,  1875. 

SOCIETIES. 

The  secret  and  benevolent  societies  are  well  repre- 
sented here  and  have  a  very  large  membership. 
Among  those  represented  are  the  Masons,  Odd  Fel- 
lows, United  Workmen,  Modern  Woodmen,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Druids,  G.  A.  R.  Posts  and  Knights  of 
Honor. 

The  Masonic  Order  in  Rock  Island  has  about  400 
members  which  help  to  make  up  the  half  million  in 
the  United  States.  The  hall  in  which  they  meet  is 
over  the  Rock  Island  National  Bank,  and  is  one  of 
the  best  arranged  and  most  elaborately  finished  and 
furnished  of  all  in  the  State.  The  order  is  in  a 
prosperous  and  harmonious  condition,  having  two 
blue  lodges,  one  chapter  and  one  coinmandery.  The 
board  of  control  of  the  order  in  Rock  Island,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  look  after  and  take  charge  of  its  various 
interests,  hall  property,  etc.,  is  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing members  :  H.  C.  Cleaveland,  Henry  Burgow- 
er,  A.  F.  Fleming,  John  Evans,  Dr.  W.  T.  Magill, 
Alex.  Steel,  J.  M.  Montgomery,  Henry  Carse.  Dur- 
ing the  early  days  of  the  order  in  this  city  meetings 
were  held  in  a  small  room  opposite  the  Rock  Island 
House  on  Second  Avenue.     From  this  location  they 


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moved  west  to  1,610  Second  Avenue,  where  they  had 
quite  a  comfortable  room.  As  the  order  increased  in 
numbers,  still  better  accommodations  were  required, 
so  a  hall  was  rented  that  stood  upon  the  site  of  Har- 
per's Theater  building.  In  1878  the  present  Mason- 
ic Temple  was  made  ready  for  their  occupancy. 
This  is  one  of  the  finest  halls  in  the  State  and  reflects 
great  credit  upon  all  instrumental  in  its  erection  and 
furnishing.  The  entire  third  story  is  fitted  up  in  an 
elegant  manner.  In  addition  to  the  large  and  hand- 
some lodge-room  there  is  a  parlor,  Knights  Templars' 
room,  kitchen,  dining,  waiting  and  toilet  rooms  and 
water-closets — everything  that  tends  to  make  it  com- 
fortable and  home-like.  A  lease  was  secured  for  20 
years. 

Trio  Lodge,  No.  57,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  instituted 
Oct.  4,  1848,  and  is  the  oldest  lodge  in  the  city. 
When  first  organized  its  membership  was  composed 
of  members  from  Cambridge,  Milan  and  Rock  Island. 
When  the  other  towns  had  a  sufficient  number  of 
members  lodges  were  formed  in  those  places.  Now 
Trio  Lodge  is  confined  to  Rock  Island.  The  lodge 
has  been  and  is  viow  in  a  very  prosperous  condition, 
with  a  membership  of  142.  One  of  its  number  has 
been  honored  with  office  in  the  Grand  Lodge:  Hen- 
ry C.  Cleaveland,  who  was  Grand  Junior  Warden. 
The  present  officers  are  M.  M.  Briggs.  M.  W.;  G.  F. 
Kramer,  S.  W.;  H.  A.  Danker,  J.  W.;  Henry  Bur- 
gower,  Treas.;  Wm.  B.  Pettit,  Sec. 

Fort  Armstrong  Lodge,  No.  186,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
was  instituted  Oct.  6,  1856,  with  seven  charter  mem- 
bers—P.  A.  Whitaker,  W.  M.;  A.  W.  Barber,  S.  W. ; 
S.  S.  Plummer,  J.  W.  The  lodge  continued  to  exist 
but  a  few  years,  and  then  suspended. 

Rock  Island  Lodge,  No.  658,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was 
instituted  Oct.  4,  1870,  with  26  charter  members. 
The  charter  was  granted  to  Moses  Rosenfield,  W. 
M.;  Charles  A.  Benser,  S.  W.  .  Milton  A.  Nills,  J. 
W.  It  has  had  a  prosperous  career,  and  now  has  a 
membership  of  71.  The  officers  for  1885  were 
Arthur  Borrall,  W.  M.;  J.  A.  Montgomery,  S.  W. ; 
James  Inglis,  J.  W.  ;  J.  W.  Baker,  Treasurer;  John 
E.  Fleming,  Secretary. 

Barrett  Chapter,  No.  18,  R.  A  M.,  was  instituted 
Sept.  30,  1S53,  with  P.  A.  Whitaker,  H.  P.;  William 
Faris,  King;  G.  Goldsmith,  Scribe.  This  is  the  only 
chapter  in  the  county;  therefore  it  is  in  a  most 
flourishing  condition,  having  194  members  in  good 
standing. 


Rock  Island  Council,  R.  A.  M.,  was  chartered  Oct. 
4,  1866,  with  35  charter  members.  It  ceased  to  hold 
meetings  some  years  ago. 

Everts  Commandery,  No.  18,  K.  T.,was  instituted 
Jan.  4,  1866,  with  nine  charter  members.  It  has 
been  quite  prosperous,  with  a  present  membership  of 
116,  and  the  following-named  officers:  H.  C.  Cleve- 
land, E.  C. ;  James  M.  Montgomery,  Generalissimo; 
M.  M.  Briggs,  C.  G.;  W.  S.  Parsons,  Rec. ;  W.  T. 
Magill,  Treas. ;  J.  Frank  Robinson,  Prelate;  O.  F. 
Soper,  S.  W. ;  C.  Denkman,  J.  W. 

Odd  Fellowship  is  established  in  this  city,  with 
three  subordinate  lodges,  one  Encampment  and  uni- 
formed Degree  Camp,  and  one  lodge  of  the  Rebecca 
Degree.  All  meet  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  corner  of 
Second  Avenue  and  18th  Street,  except  Hecker 
Lodge,  which  meets  over  No.  1901  Second  Avenue. 

Rock  Island  Lodge,  No.  18,  is  the  oldest  lodge  of 
this  order  in  Rock  Island,  having  been  instituted  July 

4,  1846.  Its  meetings  are  held  on  Monday  evenings 
of  each  week.  The  present  membership  of  the  lodge 
is  144,  and  it  is  in  excellent  condition  in  every  way. 
The  following-named  were  its  officers  in  the  fall  of 
1885:  H.  N.  Crippen,  N.  G. ;  George  W.  Reaugh, 
V.  G.;  W.  B.  Hancock,  R.  S. ;  Charles  Engel,  P.  S. ; 
W.  L.  Sweeney,  Treasurer. 

Ucal  Lodge,  No.  608,  was  instituted  March  9,  1876, 
with  1 2  charter  members.  It  has  had  a  prosperous 
career,  and  is  now  in  fine  working  order.  But  one 
of  its  members  has  been  removed  by  death,  though 
there  has  been  much  sickness  among  them.  The 
lodge  financially  is  sound,  having  at  present  $1,000 
in  the  treasury.  One  of  its  members,  James  F.  Van 
Horn,  has  been  honored  with  office  in  the  Grand 
Lodge.  The  present  membership  is  70,  with  the 
following-named  officers  :  Charles  Guldingopp,  N.  G. ; 
Chris.  Einfeld,  V.  G. ;  \V.  V.  Stafford,  R.  S.  ;  James 
VanHorn,  P.  S. ;   M.  S.  O'Neil,  P.  S. 

Rock  Island  Encampment,  No.  12,  was  instituted 
November,  1848,  with  seven  charter  members.  Its 
conditions  has  uniformly  been  good,  those  uniting 
having  the  work  at  heart  and  doing  all  in  their  power 
to  advance  its  interests.  The  present  membership 
is  70,  and  the  present  elective  officers  are  A.  H. 
Grimm,  C.  P. ;  W.   H.  Scott,  H.   P. ;   J.  W.  Herbert, 

5.  W.;  J.  F.  Van  Horn,  Scribe;  C.  B.  Knox,  Treas- 
urer ;  C.  Engle,  J.  W. 

Star  U.  D.  Camp,  No.  9,  I.  O.O.  F.,  was  instituted 


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May  9,  18S3,  with  21  charter  members.  Its  present 
membership  is  26,  and  all  supplied  with  handsome 
uniforms.  The  camp  is  in  good  working  order,  meet- 
ing on  the  2d  and  4th  Saturday  in  each  month.  T. 
\V.  Stack  is  the  present  Commander ;  J  F.  Van  Horn. 
Vice  Commander;  B.  F.  Knox,  Secretary;  C.  B. 
Knox,  Treasurer. 

Rebecca  Degree  Lodge,  No.  73,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  is  in 
flourishing  condition,  having  about  40  members.  Its 
officers  in  the  spring  of  1885  were  :  B.  F.  Knox,  N. 
G. ;  Mrs.  J.  F.  Van  Horn,  V.  G.;  Mrs.  W.  T.  Sug- 
den,  Secretary;  C.  B.  Knox,  Treasurer. 

The  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  in  this  State 
had  its  beginning  in  Rock  Island,  and  in  the  city  it 
has,  from  the  organization  of  its  first  lodge,  been  very 
successful,  and  has  a  large  aggregate  membership. 
The  different  lodges  have  always  occupied  the  same 
hall.  They  first  met  in  a  hall  below  the  Rock  Island 
House,  and  remained  there  three  years,  moving  from 
thence  to  a  hall  on  the  corner  of  Second  Avenue  and 
Seventeenth  Street,  where  they  also  remained  three 
years,  since  which  time  they  have  been  meeting  in 
their  fine  hall,  on  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and 
Sixteenth  Street.  The  upper  rooms  were  specially 
arranged  for  the  use  of  the  order,  having  parlor, 
kitchen,  dining  and  ante  rooms,  in  addition  to  the 
regular  lodge  rooms.  The  rooms  were  fitted  up  at  a 
cost  of  over  $r,ooo. 

Noble  Lodge,  No.  1,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  instituted 
Nov.  18,  1874,  with  27  charter  members.  T.  W. 
Russell  was  the  first  Master.  The  lodge  has  had  a 
prosperous  existence,  and  now  numbers  98  members 
in  good  standing.  Its  officers  for  the  last  half  of 
1885  were:  Chris  Danielson,  P.  M.  W.  ;  Ira  C.  Peck, 
M.  W. ;  George  L.  Gorman,  Foreman  ;  E.  H.  Barker, 
Overseer;  Chris  Oswald,  Recorder;  John  Russell, 
Financial  Secretary  ;  F.  T.  Hill,  Receiver.  Six  deaths 
have  occurred  among  its  members:  Frank  1).  John- 
son, O.  S.  Grinereed,  Edwin  Sutcliff,  George  Zeigler, 
Axel  A.  Bodinson  and  T.  A.  Frey. 

Island  City  Lodge,  No.  4,  was  instituted  April  23, 
1875,  with  9  charter  members.  For  a  time  the  lodge 
worked  slowly,  as  the  people  had  to  be  educated  to 
a  knowledge  of  the  order  and  its  principles  ;  but  it 
has  had  a  gradual  increase  in  membership.  Two  of 
its  members  have  held  office  in  the  Grand  Lodge — 
E.  W.  Boynton,  G.  M.  W.,  and  E.  G.  A.  Solander, 
Grand  Recorder. 


Germania  Lodge,  No.  6,  was  instituted  Sept.  18, 
1875,  iis  members  being  confined  to  those  speaking 
the  German  tongue.  It  has  a  present  membership 
of  76,  and  is  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition.  E. 
Krell,  a  member  of  the  lodge,  has  been  Grand  Re- 
ceiver of  the  Grand  Lodge.  The  lodge  has  lost 
seven  of  its  members  by  death.  The  principal  offi- 
cers at  present  are  Victor  Beck,  M.  W.  ;  Charles 
Kolls,  G.  F. ;  Rudolph  Schwecke,0.;  Robert  Koeh- 
ler,  Recorder  ;  F.  Rudolph,  Receiver. 

Black  Hawk  Lodge,  No.  81,  was  instituted  May  31, 
1877.  Like  the  other  lodges  in  this  city,  it  is  in  good 
working  condition,  with  a  membership  of  46. 

Eureka  Legion,  No.  2j,  Select  Knights,  was  insti- 
tuted Oct.  6,  1883,  with  15  charter  members. 

St.  Paul's,  No.  117,  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  organ- 
ized in  July,  18S2.  lis  meetings  are  held  every 
Friday  evening,  in  the  A.  O.  U.  I).  Hall,  Star  Block. 
The  order  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  in  this  place. 

Gen.  John  Buford  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  was  organized 
May  30,  1883.  It  has  a  large  and  rapidly  increasing 
membership,  the  old  soldiers  of  the  city  taking  great 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  order. 

Imperial  Lodge,  No.  1,237,  Knights  of  Honor,  was 
organized  Oct.  30,  1878.  This  lodge  is  doing  well, 
and  numbers  among  its  members  some  of  the  best 
citizens  of  Rock  Island. 

The  O-Sau-Kee  Tribe,  No.  I  J,  Improved  Order 
of  Red  Men,  was  organized  in  April,  1879,  and  holds 
regular  meetings  in  their  hall  every  Wednesday  eve- 
ning. 

Knights  of  Labor. — Freedom  Assembly,  No.  1,957, 
Knights  of  Labor,  was  organized  in  1882,  and 
meets  in  hall  on  corner  of  17th  Street  and  Third 
Avenue. 

Rock  Island  Lodge,  No.  i6g,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  was 
organized  Jan.  11,  1872,  and  holds  its  regular  meet- 
ings the  first  and  third  Sunday  in  each  month.  In 
the  spring  of  1885  the  following  named  were  its 
officers:  Louis  May,  Pres. ;  J.  E.  Goldsmith,  Vice- 
Pres. ;  H.  Regensburger,  Rec.  Sec;  I.  Bamberger, 
Treas. 

Rock  Island  Grove,  No.  28,  U.  O.  A.  D.,  was 
instituted  April,  1872.  It  has  now  108  members, 
and  holds  its  meetings  every  Thursday  in  their  hall 
in  Star  Block.  Its  officers  in  the  spring  of  1885 
were:  Jacob  F.  Ohlweiler,  N.  A.;  Jacob  Schillinger, 
V.  A.;  Chas.  Otto,  Sec:.;  August  Schneid,  Treas 
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The  Rock  Island  Mutual  Building,  Loan  and  Sav- 
ings Association  was  incorporated  July  10,  1880,  and 
since  then  has  proven  of  great  benefit  to  the  men  of 
small  means  and  enabled  many  to  secure  lots  and 
homes  who  would  not  have  done  so  but  for  its  in- 
ducements. It  has  a  capital  of  $500,000  and  600 
members,  many  of-  the  leading  and  substantial  citi- 
zens of  the  place  being  included  in  this  list.  Officers  : 
Alex.  Steel,  Pres. ;  Lothar  Harms,  Vice-Pres.  ;  E. 
H.  Guyer,  Sec.  ;  J.Frank  Robinson,  Treas. ;  M.  E. 
Sweeney,  Attorney  or  Solicitor. 

Frederick  Mucnch  Lodge,  No.  4g6,  D.  O.  If.,  was 
organized  June,  1884,  and  is  composed  entirely  of 
those  speaking  the  German  language.  It  has  35 
members,  its  object  being  benevolence  in  its  widest 
sense.  Its  meetings  are  held  the  first  and  third  Fri- 
day in  each  month  at  1609  Second  Avenue.  Its 
present  officers  are  :  Henry  Kruse,  O.  B. ;  Christ. 
Limburg,  U.  B.  ;  August  Herkert,  D.  D.  G.  B. 

The  Rock  Island  County  Medical  Society  was  or- 
ganized in  the  spring  of  1884,  and  meets  the  first 
Tuesday  of  each  month  in  the  Board  of  Education 
rooms,  Post  office  Block.  The  following  physicians 
are  its  officers  in  1885  :  James  Cozad,  Pres. ;  War- 
ren Hunter,  Treas.  ;  Geo.  L.  Eyster,  Sec. 

The  Iowa  and  Illinois  Central  District  Medical 
Association  was  organized  in  1868,  and  has  60  mem- 
bers. It  meets  quarterly,  alternately  in  Rock  Island 
and  Davenport,  January,  April,  July  and  October. 
Its  present  officers  are :  M.  B.  Cochrane,  Pres.;  G. 
G  Craig,  Vice-Pres.  ;  A.  W.  Cantwell,  Treas.;  Geo. 
L.  Eyster,  Sec,  having  held  this  position  since  1876. 

The  Avion  Singing  Society  was  organized  Novem- 
ber, 1 881,  and  has  at  the  present  time  34  members, 
[  although  at  one  time  it  had  85.  Its  object  is 
voice  culture  and  mutual  entertainment,  and  it  is  in  a 
finely  organized  and  flourishing  condition.  Meetings 
are  held  every  Wednesday  night,  corner  First  Ave- 
nue and  1 8th  Street.  Its  officers  in  the  spring  of 
1885  were:  Gottlieb  Beck,  Pres. ;  Henry  Peetz,  Vice- 
Pres. ;  Joseph  Huber,  Treas.  ;  John  Westphal,  Sec. ; 
Emil  Jacobsen,  Librarian. 

Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers,  Ttoin  City 
Lodge,  No.  2Q,  was  organized  in  rS8o,  and  has  now 
83  members.  Its  officers  in  the  spring  of  1885  were: 

t    James  B.  Lidders,  Master  ;  Wm.  Clark,  Vice-Master  ; 
j.  M.  Colburn,  Financial  Secretary  ;  Samuel  Nichols, 
(®    Chaplain. 

Division  No.  106,  O.  R.  Conductors,  was  organized 


ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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Feb.  3,  1884.  Its  meetings  are  held  the  first  Mon- 
day and  third  Sunday  in  each  month,  in  Star  Block. 
A.  S.  Craig,  C.  C. 

Brotherhood  of  Brakemen. — Island  City  Lodge, 
No.  1 1,  Brotherhood  of  Brakemen,  was  organized 
June  24,  1884.  Its  meetings  are  held  the  second 
Monday  and  fourth  Sunday  in  each  month.  In  the 
spring  of  1885,  J.  W.  Quinn  was  Master,  and  T.  J. 
Flanigan,  Secretary. 

Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers. — Rock  Isl- 
and Division,  No.  60,  was  organized  Dec.  6,  1864, 
and  has  a  large  membership.  Its  meetings  are  held 
the  first  Sunday  and  third  Saturday  of  each  month. 
In  1885  James  Ewing  was  C.  E.,  and  P.  H.  Wells, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Deborah  B  Society  meets  on  call  at  16 10  Second 
Avenue,  its  officers  being  Mrs.  J.  Rosenfield,  Presi- 
dent; Mrs.  J.  Levy,  Vice-President ;  Mrs.  B.  Cohn, 
Secretary;  Mrs.  J.  Bear,  Treasurer. 

Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  was  organized  in 
1881  and  has  40  members,  its  object  being  "  Friend- 
ship, Unity  and  True  Christian  Charity."  Meetings 
are  held  first  Sunday  of  each  month  over  1806  Sec- 
ond Avenue.  Its  officers  are  at  present:  David 
Fitzgerald,  President;  John  Mulcahy,  Vice-President; 
John  Mulligan,  Recording  Secretary ;  Pierce  Kane, 
Financial  Secretary;  John  O'Neil,  Treasurer;  Morris 
Mulcahy,  County  Delegate. 

St.  Patrick's  Benevolent  Society  is  another  flourish- 
ing organization  and  holds  meetings  the  second  Sun- 
day in  each  month  at  the  Catholic  Church  school- 
house.  The  officers  in  the  spring  of  1885  were: 
Patrick  Kinney,  President ;  Thomas  Shea,  Treasurer  ; 
Martin  F.  O'Reilly,  Secretary. 

The  Western  Catholic  Union  has  two  branches, 
St.  Joseph's  and  a  German,  the  former  meeting  the 
second  Tuesday  of  each  month,  its  officers  being:  J. 
W.  Cavanaugh,  President;  G.  L.  Wynes,  Recording 
Secretary;  Chas.  J.  Larkin,  Financial  Secretary; 
John  Brennan,  Treasurer. 

St.  Luke's  Cottage  Hospital  is  a  new  and  one  of  the 
beneficial  institutions  of  the  city,  its  object  being  to 
care  for  the  indigent  sick  and  maimed  people  irre- 
spective of  sex,  nationality,  color  or  religious  creed. 
The  movement  was  started  by  the  ladies  of  Trinity 
Episcopal  Church,  aided  by  other  benevolent  per- 
sons of  the  city,  and  the  entire  building  has  been  fur- 
nished by  donations  from  the  citizens.  It  is  located  at 


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xV  915  Second  Avenue,  and  following  are  the  officers  of 
the  medical  staff:     D.\  Thomas  Gait,  President ;  Dr. 
if:  C.   Truesdale,  Vice-President ;  Dr.  Geo.  L.   Eyster, 
Secretary. 

The  Rock  Islam!  County  Bible  Society  was  estab- 
lished May  31,  1844,  and  although  it  has  no  president 
at  this  writing  yet  it  is  doing  a  commendable  work 
under  those  exemplary  Christian  gentlemen — E.  W. 
Spencer  and  J.  W.  Stark,  Secretary  and  Depositary 
respectively. 

The  y  oung  Men's  Christian  Association  has  its 
rooms  over  17 19  Second  Avenue,  where  general 
meetings  are  held  the  first  Tuesday  in  each  month  at 
7:30  p.  m.,  and  directors'  meetings  the  last  Tuesday 
in  each  month.  Officers:  Frank  Nadler,  President ;  - 
A.  M.  Bruner  and  F.  H.  Kaupke,  Vice-Presidents; 
Geo.  P.  Lyman,  Secretary ;  J.  D.  Warnock,  Treas- 
urer. 

Woman's    Christian    Temperance    Union  meets   at 
the  above  rooms  the  first  Tuesday  in  each  month  at 
k    3:30  P.  M.     Mrs.  H.  Kingsbury,  President;  Miss  Ella 
j.  Taylor,  Secretary  ;  Miss  Belle  Fleming,  Treasurer. 

The  Rock  Island  Business  Mens  Association  is  an 
organization  instituted  by  a  number  of  the  leading 
citizens,  its  object  being  the  promotion  of  the  inter- 
ests of  the  city  in  every  possible  way.  I.  W.  Stewart 
is  President,  and  J.  Frank  Robinson,  Secretary. 

The  Rock  Island  Turn-Gemcinde  was  founded  in 
April,  1857,  and  became  an  incorporated  society  in 
1869.  The  society  has  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  hall 
a  fine  brick  building,  50  by  30  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $2,- 
000,  and  used  as  a  gymnasium,  Theodore  Bessing,  an 
accomplished  gymnast,  being  the  paid  instructor. 
The  society  numbers  about  7 5, among  whom  are  a  large 
portion  of  the  best  educated  and  liberal  German  citi- 
zens. The  hall  is  located  at  1518  and  1520  Third 
Avenue,  and  rented  by  him  for  public  entertainments 
when  not  used  by  the  turners.  Officers:  Julius  G. 
Junge,  President;  C.  J.  W.  Schreiner,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; Albert  D.  Huesing,  Secretary;  G.  Otto  Hiick- 
staedt,  Treasurer. 

MILITARY. 

Co.  A,  Sixth  111.  Inf.,  better  known  as  the  Rodman 
Rifles,  was  mustered  into  the  State  service  in  August 
1877.  It  numbers  75  men  and  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  State,  having  distinguished  itself  for  precision 
in  military  tactics  and  for  soldierly  conduct   gener- 


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ally.  The  Rifle  Team  has  made  the  best  record  of 
all  in  the  Second  Brigade,  and  won  the  prize 
for  marksmanship  offered  by  that  brigade  in  1880, 
and  also  prizes  in  contests  in  other  States.  In  1879 
a  corporation  was  formed  by  the  members  of  this 
company  and  purchased  a  lot,  on  which  they  erected 
their  present  handsome  and  imposing  brick  armory, 
60  x  150  feet,  at  an  expense  of  $15,000.  It  is  lo- 
cated at  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  16th  Street, 
and  besides  its  own  headquarters,  the  City  Council, 
police  station  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges  are  located 
therein.  The  officers  are  Henry  M.  Abell,  Captain; 
C.  C.  Carter,  First  Lieutenant;  W.  H.  Steel,  Second 
Lieutenant. 

ARTIFICIAL  LIGHT. 

The  Rock  Island  Brush  Electric  Light  Company 
was  organized  under  its  present  name  Aug.  25,  1882, 
but  had  been  in  existence  since  December,  1881. 
On  November  1,  1882,  a  contract  was  made  with 
the  city  for  the  tower  system  of  lighting,  to  run  five 
years.  The  company  has  11  towers,  each  132  feet 
in  height,  with  two  lights  and  ten  miles  of  wire  in 
the  tower  circuit.  They  have  also  some  30  private 
consumers.  The  capital  stock  of  the  company  is 
$24,000.  It  has  one  dynamo  of  60-light  capacity, 
located  on  the  corner  of  First  Avenue  and  16th 
Street,  J.  R.  Johnston  is  President;  F.  M.  Whea- 
ton,  Secretary ;  J.  Frank  Robinson,  Treasurer ; 
James  Blaisdell,  electrician. 

The  Merchants'  Electric  Light  Company  originated 
in  Moline  in  November,  1882,  and  but  recently  com- 
menced operations  in  Rock  Island.  It  has  a  fine, 
substantial  brick  building  on  19th  Street  near  First 
Avenue,  38x48  feet,  in  which  is  a  fine  engine  and 
boiler  and  two  dynamos  of  20-light  capacity  each. 
Thos.  B.  Davis  is  President;  Samuel  S.  Davis, 
Sei  retary;  C.  Lynde,  Treasurer. 

The  Rock  Island  Gas  Works  are   located  on  the 
corner  of   17th   Street  and  First   Avenue,  and    are 
among  the  best  equipped  and  most  complete  works^ 
in   the  country.     The  present  company  took  posses- 
sion in  1877. 

MEDICAL. 

Until  1S36,  the  village  and  surrounding  country 
were  dependent  upon  the  island  for  medical  aid. 
In  that  year  came  Dr.  Patrick  Gregg  (see  page  234), 
who  commenced  an  active  practice  which  has  ex- 
tended over  a  period  of  49   years.     To-day,   while 


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his  hair  is  whitened  by  the  frosts  of  many  winters, 
his  step  is  as  active  as  many  who  have  scarcely 
reached  the  prime  of  life.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  the  Government  physician  on  the  island.  Like 
most  young  physicians,  Dr.  Gregg  commenced  his 
professional  career  a  poor  man,  but  his  energy  was 
unbounded.  In  the  early  spring  after  his  arrival 
here,  he  had  an  experience  which  endeared  him  to 
the  place  and  increased  his  confidence  in  humanity 
to  a  great  extent.  At  that  time  he  received  a  sum- 
mons to  go  over  to  the  island  to  attend  George  L.,  a 
son  of  George  Davenport,  who  was  threatened  with 
fever.  The  Doctor  carefully  attended  him  through 
a  short  spell,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  Colonel 
came  over  to  his  office  and  placed  a  $roo  bill  in  his 
hand.  The  Doctor,  when  he  saw  the  amount  of  the 
bill,  said,  "Why,  Colonel,  I  am  a  poor  man  ;  I  cannot 
change  that."  "  I  don't  want  you  to  change  it,"  re- 
sponded the  Colonel.  "  If  you  are  satisfied  with  the 
amount,  I  am."  It  was  several  times  what  the  Doc- 
tor would  have  charged :  still  it  was  acceptable. 

Among  the  regulars  in  practice  since   1836  to   the 
present  time  are  the  following  named  : 

Bardwell    &    Gregory    came    in    1836.       Present 
whereabouts  unknown. 

E.  H.  Bowman  came  in  1844;  still  here. 

W.  S.  Pierce  came  in  the  forties ;  now  residing  in 
Indianapolis. 

Dr.  Sharpe,  from  Kentucky. 

D.  B.  Rice  came  in  the  forties  ;  now  in  Oregon. 

J.  W.  Brackett,  now  of  Rochester,  Ind. 

A.  G.  Brackett,  now  Colonel  of  cavalry   in    United 
States  Army. 

J.  W.  Buckley,  a  brother-in-law  of  Judge    Pleas- 
ants ;  now  in  Washington,  D.  C. 

Wm.  A.  Knox,  now  in  Chicago. 

Dr.  Powers;  date  of  arrival  and  departure  not   re- 
membered. 

S.  C.  Plummer  came  in  1848. 

W.  F.  Cady  came  in  the    fifties  ;  became    Surgeon 
in   United  States  Volunteers.     Thought  to  be  dead. 

Calvin  Truesdale  came  in  1854. 

Blygh  &  Blaine;  arrival  and  departure  not  remem- 
bered. 

O.  P.  S.  Plummer,  now  in  Oregon. 

Dr.  Morey,  died  in  California. 

Dr.  Hayes;  arrival  and  departure  not  remembered. 

Thos.  Gait,  Geo.  G.  Craig  (see  page   408),  G.    L. 


Eyster,  C.  Barnhard,  G.  E.  Barth  (see  page  385)  and 
C.  C.  Carter  all  came  in  the  past  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury and  are  still  here 

Dr.  Stiles  was  probably  the  first  homeopathist  in 
Rock  Island.  He  was  here  before  the  war.  During 
the  Rebellion,  he  served  his  country,  and  at  its  closej 
or  shortly  after,  returned  to  Vermont,  his  native 
State.  Among  the  other  homeopathists  were  Dr. 
Lawrence,  now  of  Colorado  Springs;  Dr.  Minier, 
Dr.  Jenks,  and  Dr.  Dart,  a  lady  physician.  The 
present  representatives  of  this  branch  of  the  medical 
profession  are  Drs.  Kinyon  (see  page  487),  Reiter 
and  Paul. 

BANKS. 

The  banking  business  in  Rock  Island  was  com- 
menced in  1852  by  the  establishment  of  two  banks, 
— the  Rock  Island  Bank  and  the  private  bank  of 
Cook,  Sargent  &  Parker.  The  Rock  Island  Bank 
was  a  bank  of  issue,  and  incorporated  with  a  capital 
of  $500,000,  but  how  much  was  paid  up  is  not 
known.  M.  B.  Osborn  was  President  and  S.  H. 
Mann,  Cashier.  The  bank  failed  during  the  panic 
of  1857. 

Cook,  Sargent  &  Parker  continued  until  1856, 
when  P.  L.  Mitchell  and  P.  L.  Cable  purchased  it 
and  continued  the  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Mitchell  &  Cable.  Mr.  Cable,  at  the  end  of  four 
years,  retired,  and  Cornelius  Lynde  became  a  part- 
ner, the  business  being  coniinued  under  the  firm 
name  of  Mitchell  and  Lynde.  This  firm  has  now 
been  in  existence  25  years  and  is  considered  one  of 
the  strongest  banking  firms  in  the  State.  The  busi- 
ness is  managed  by  Judge  Lynde,  Mr.  Mitchell  giv- 
ing his  attention  to  the  interests  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  of  which  he  is  President. 

In  1855  Goodale  &  Lee  commenced  the  banking 
and  insurance  business.  They  continued  for  three 
years,  but  the  panic  of  1857-8  was  too  much  for 
them  and  they  failed. 

N.  B.  Buford  &  Co.,  in  1856,  organized  a  private 
banking  institution,  which  was  merged  into  the  Bank 
of  Federal  Union  in  1858,  and  which  subsequently 
failed. 

The  First  National  Bank  was  organized  in  Novem- 
ber, 1863,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  P.  L.  Mitchell, 
President;  J.  M.  Buford,  Cashier.  The  bank  com- 
menced business  on  the  corner  of  Second  Avenue 
and  16th  Street,  where  it  continued  until  September, 


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1876,  when  it  was  removed  to  its  present  location 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  2d  Ave.  and  18th  Street. 
The  capital  stock  yet  remains  at  $100,000,  but  it  has 
a  surplus  of  $50,000.  P.  L.  Mitchell  (see  page  459) 
has  been  its  President  from  its  organization.  Mr. 
Buford  continued  as  cashier  till  the  spring  of  1884, 
when  he  resigned  and  George  M.  Truesdale  was 
elected  to  the  position.  The  conservative  policy 
pursued  by  the  officers  and  directors  of  this  bank 
commends  it  to  the  community  generally. 

I  he  Rock  Island  National  Bank  was  organized 
in  November,  1871,  as  the  1,889th  national  bank,  and 
ever  since  that  date  has  been  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Capt.  T.  J.  Robinson,  and  to  his  praiseworthy 
attention  to  its  affairs,  sound  judgment  and  liberal, 
yet  accommodating  conduct  when  consistent  with 
security,  the  unusual  success  and  high  standing  of 
the  bank  is  mainly  due.  In  addition  to  this,  how- 
ever, the  directors  and  stockholders  are  men  of  high 
standing  and  financial  responsibility  in  the  commu- 
nity, and  have  added  largely  to  its  standing  and 
splendid  success.  Its  capital  stock  is  $100,000. 
The  directors  are  J.  H.  Wilson,  Fred.  Weyerhaeuser, 
Peter  Fries,  E.  D.  Sweeney,  Capt.  T.  J.  Robinson, 
W.  C.  Welch  and  J.  Frank  Robinson.  The  vault 
room  is  built  up  from  solid  rock,  the  walls  being 
lined  with  iron  and  steel,  so  interwoven  that  it  is 
an  impossibility  for  any  one  to  gain  unlawful  en- 
trance. 

The  People s  National  Bank  was  organized  in 
1S74,  with  a  paid  up  capital  of  $100,000.  Among  its 
stockholders  are  some  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the 
county.  The  bank  at  once  took  a  leading  position 
and  did  a  good  as  well  as  safe  business  from  the 
start.  The  capital  stock  remains  at  $100,000,  while 
its  surplus  now  amounts  to  $30,000.  Bailey  Dav- 
enport is  President;  Joseph  Rosenfield,  Vice-Presi- 
dent :  John  Peitz,  Cashier.  Its  directors  are  Bailey 
Davenport,  Joseph  Rosenfield,  F.  C.  A.  Denkman, 
C.  Speidel,  George  Wagner,  Peter  Fries,  Ignatz  Hu- 
ber,  Geo.  Schneider,  Henry  Woltman,  Frederick 
Hass,  August  Huesing. 

CITY    WATER-WORKS    AND    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

In  187  i  the  water-works  question  was  agitated,  and 
£jy     in  March,  1872,  the  works  were  open  to  the  people.  At 
*j>     that  time  they  had  about  nine  miles  of  mains,  64  hy- 
drants, a  capacity  of  2,000,000  gallons   per   day,  at  a 
cost  of  $1 10,000.  Since  then  the  mains  have  been  in- 

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creased  to  16  miles,  the  city  owning  98  hydrants  and 
the  manufacturers  30  extra.  At  the  present  time 
there  are  1,000  patrons  of  the  works  and  the  revenue 
derived  therefrom  amounts  to  $15,000  per  annum. 
Since  their  first  establishment  the  works  have  been 
moved  from  the  lower  end  of  the  city  to  their  pres- 
ent location,  at  the  foot  of  24th  Street,  where  the 
solid,  convenient  and  ornate  brick  and  stone  build- 
ings stand  as  enduring  monuments  to  the  enterprise 
and  usefulness  of  the  city  and  her  citizens.  Water 
is  drawn  from  the  main  channel  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  through  a  cast-iron  inflow  pipe,  20  inches  in 
diameter  and  2,126  feet  in  length,  thus  insuring  an 
abundance  of  pure  water  at  all  times.  The  pumps 
are  of  the  Holly  construction  and  have  a  daily  ca- 
pacity of  5,000,000  gallons.  For  this  $200,000  have 
been  expended.  J.  H.  Kerr  is  Superintendent,  W. 
H.  Pierce  and  I.  N.  Cox  the  engineers. 

The  Fire  Department  is  an  institution  of  which 
the  people  of  Rock  Island  may  justly  feel  proud.  It 
consists  of  no  firemen,  with  an  abundance  of  the 
best  and  most  approved  apparatus  at  their  command, 
the  city  officers  having  been  liberally  discreet  in 
making  this  abundant  provision.  The  water- works 
give  the  department  an  immense  volume  and  press- 
ure of  water  when  required,  which  materially  assists 
the  firemen,  under  whose  skill  it  is  well  directed,  so 
that  Rock  Island  suffers  but  little  from  the  fire  fiend. 
The  organization  is  under  the  control  of  Jacob  F. 
Ohhveiler  as  Chief,  who  has  been  connected  there- 
with the  past  1  r  years,  having  taken  every  step  from 
the  ranks,  including  Assistant  Foreman,  Foreman 
and  Assistant  Chief.  He  has  held  his  position  since 
February,  1884,  and  has  done  nobly,  as  has  his 
assistant,  D.  E.  Butler,  the  various  foremen  and  the 
whole  department.  The  department  is  composed  of 
one  steamer  for  an  emergency  and  five  companies, 
as  follows  :  Phoenix  Hose  Co.,  No.  1,  was  organized 
in  1S72,  has  20  men,  with  George  Schmidt,  Foreman; 
James  Albery,  Assistant  Foreman;  and  J.  M. 
Beardsley,  Treasurer.  Wide-Awake  Hose,  Hook  and 
Ladder  Co.,  No.  2,  was  organized  in  1873,  has  30 
men,  with  Philip  M.  Betts,  Foreman ;  Win.  Ecker- 
mann,  Assistant  Foreman  ;  George  Haymaker,  Sec- 
retary; and  B.  Winter,  Treasurer.  Rescue  Hose 
Co..  No.  3,  was  organized  in  1876,  has  20  men,  with 
B.  F.  Knox,  Foreman  ;  Thomas  Moore,  Assistant 
Foreman;  and  Chris.  Trefz,  Treasurer.  Cable  Hose 
Co.,  No.  4  (formerly   the  Fourth  Ward   Hose  Co.), 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


was  organized  in  1876,  has  20  men,  with  Christ. 
Baker  Foreman.  Holly  Hose  Co.,  No.  5,  was  or- 
ganized in  1874,  has  20  men,  with  Horace  J.  M<  - 
Gregor  and  J.  D.  Beecher,  Treasurer  and  Secretary, 
respectively. 

CEMETERIES. 

The  Chippiannock  Cemetery  Association  was  or- 
ganized in  1855  and  owns  60  acres  of  ground  in  one 
of  the  most  lovely  spots  in  this  vicinity.  The 
cemetery  is  very  appropriately  located  for  the  pur- 
poses designed,  while  the  name  it  bears,  Chippian- 
nock, which  is  of  Indian  origin,  signifies  "  city  of  the 
dead."  Over  $30,000  have  been  expended  in  pur- 
chase and  improvements.  Up  to  December  r,  1884, 
752  lots  had  been  sold,  while  to  the  same  date  3,479 
interments  had  been  registered.  P.  L.  Mitchell  is 
the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Association, 
whose  office  is  at  the  First  National  Bank. 

The  Hebrew  Burying-Ground  Association  was 
organized  in  1869,  and  owns  one  acre  in  the  above 
cemetery  that  is  very  beautifully  laid  out  and  enclosed 
with  a  living  hedge.  The  officers  are  Henry  Burgo- 
wer,  Pres. ;  M.  Rosenfield,  Vice-Pres.;  L.  Simon, 
Sec,  and  Joseph  May,  Treas. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

Rock  Island  city  has  within  its  limits  some  very- 
extensive  manufactories,  the  existence  of  which  has 
done  much  to  promote  the  growth  of  the  place. 
Among  the  number  are  the  following  extensive  con- 
cerns : 

Buford  Plow  Works,  which  have  been  here  for 
many  years,  furnishing  employment  to  hundreds  of 
men,  is  one  of  the  leading  establishments. 

The  glass  works  is  also  a  notable  institution,  which 
has  had  quite  a  prosperous  career. 

The  sash  and  door  factories,  planing-mills,  soap 
works,  stove  works,  carriage  factories,  bone-meal 
factory,  breweries,  baby-carriage  factory,  iron  works 
and  machine  shops,  iron-fence  factory,  cracker 
factory,  pork-packing  establishment  and  saw  works 
have  each  contributed  to  the  general  prosperity  of 
the  place.  Few  cities  present  greater  opportunities 
for  the  development  of  manufacturing  enterprises 
than  Rock  Island.  With  a  fortunate  geographical 
position,  the  leading  Western  railways  entering  the 
place,  the  Mississippi  also  affording  an  outlet  for  its 
productions,  there  is  no   reason    why   it   should   not 


rank  among  the  best  manufacturing  points  in  the 
country. 

The  lumber  manufacture  is  a  leading  industry  in 
Rock  Island.  There  are  two  companies  doing  an 
immense  business  : 

The  Rock  Island  Lumber  and  Manufacturing  Co. 
was  incorporated  in  1878  and  was  the  outgrowth  of 
several  concerns  which  were  started  nearly  twenty 
years  before  that  time.  Since  incorporation  it  has 
met  with  wonderful  success,  its  progress  from  an 
ordinary  to  an  extraordinary  institution  being  very 
rapid.  The  company  owns  two  saw-mills  and 
a  large  sash  and  blind  factory,  and  occupies  about 
20  acres  of  ground.  While  the  company  does 
a  large  business  in  this  vicinity  yet  most  of  its 
product  finds  its  way  into  the  Western  and  Southern 
States,  which  consumes  4,000  car-loads  a  year.  The 
two  saw-mills  have  a  capacity  of  producing  45,000,000 
feet  of  lumber,  7,000,000  shingles,  10,000,000  lath, 
and  50,000  pickets  per  annum.  Their  sash  manu- 
factory is  a  fine  brick  structure  80  by  130  feet,  three 
stories,  and  has  an  annual  capacity  of  75,000  doors, 
including  those  of  all  sizes,  150,000  sash,  30,000 
blinds,  and  moldings  measuring  4,000,000  lineal  feet. 
In  the  production  and  care  of  this  immense  out-put 
some  500  hands  find  employment  and  receive  annu- 
ally in  wages  nearly  $200,000.  Last  year  nearly 
4,000  cars  of  materials  were  shipped  from  this  estab- 
lishment, the  lumber  principally  finding  a  market  in 
Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Colorado,  and 
the  sash,  doors,  blinds  and  moldings  in  the  States 
of  Missouri,  Tennessee,  Alabama,  Louisiana  and 
Texas. 

Weyerhauser  &  Renkman  do  a  very  large  business. 
This  mill  was  established  in  1859,  on  a  small  capital, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  largest  concerns  in  the  Missis- 
sippi valley. 

STATISTICAL. 

According  to  Holland's  City  Directory,  published 
in  the  spring  of  1885,  there  were  2  abstract  offices, 
17  law  firms,  6  bakeries,  4  banks,  12  barber  shops, 
2  beer  bottlers,  6  billiard  halls,  2  blank-book  manu- 
facturers, 5  blacksmiths,  6  boarding-houses,  1  board- 
ing stable,  1  boat  builder,  3  bookbinders,  3  book- 
sellers, 8  boot  and  shoe  dealers,  2  bowling  alleys,  1 
box  factory,  1  brass  founder,  3  breweries,  4  brick 
yards,  13  butcher  shops,  7  carpenter  shops,  1  carpet 
dealer,  2  carriage  manufacturers,  2  cement  and  lime, 


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i  children's  carriage  manufactory,  8  cigars  and  tobac- 
co, 8  clothing,  6  coal  merchants,  3  commission  mer- 
chants, 2  coopers,  1  cracker  manufacturer,  7  crockery, 
1  dairyman,  4  dentists,  12  druggists,  7  dry  goods, 
1  dyer,  2  express  companies,  2  feed  stables,  3  iron- 
fence  manufacturers,  13  flour  and  feed,  2  foundries, 
13  fruits  and  confectionery,  3  furniture,  3  gas  and 
steam  fitters,  1  glass  w  >rks,  1  granite  works,  48  gro- 
cers, 2  gunsmiths,  1  hair  goods,  3  hardware,  4  har- 
ness, 2  hats  and  caps,  4  horse-shoers,  8  hotels,  4 
house  furnishers,  2  ice  dealers,  7  insurance  agents,  1 
insurance  company,  2';iron  works,  5  jewelers,  2  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  1  leather,  2  lime  and  cement,  6 
livery  stables,  2  lumber  manufacturers,  3  ma- 
chine   shops,  2    marble  works,  6  merchant  tailors, 

3  milliners,  1  music  house,  1  news  depot,  6 
newspapers,  6  painters,  3  photographers,  17 
physicians,  4  picture-frame  dealers,  1  planing-mill, 
1  plow  manufacturer,  3  plumbers,  1  pork-packer,  1 
poultry-breeder,  10  produce  dealers,  2  pump  dealers, 

4  real-estate  dealers,  1 1  restaurants,  42  saloons,  1 
saw-maker,  5  second-hand  stores,  1  seed  merchant, 
16  shoemakers,  1  soap  manufacturer,  2 -soda-water 
manufacturers,  2  steamboat  lines,  5  stoves  and  tin- 
ware, 1  stove  works,  3  tailors,  1  tea  and  coffee  store, 

1  telegraph  company,  1  undertaker,  4  wagon-makers, 

2  wall-paper~dealers,  1  wood  dealer. 

According  to  the  abstract  of  assessments  in  the 
office  of  the  County  Clerk,  there  were  in  r885  of 
improved  land,  241  acres;  unimproved  land,  808 
acres  ;  total  value,  $98,632.  Town  lots,  1,706  im- 
proved, and  763  unimproved,  valued  at  $1,653,220. 
Of  horses  there  were  692;  cattle,  271;  mules  and 
asses,  69;  hogs,  27;  steam  engines,  31;  fire  and 
burglar  proof  safes,  63  ;  billiard  tables,  23;  carriages 
and  wagons,  540;  watches  and  clocks,  492  ;  sewing 
and  knitting  machines,  727  ;  pianos,  270  ;  melodeons 
and  organs,  68.  The  total  value  of  personal  prop- 
erty was  $634,235. 


THE   COUNTY  BOARD. 

When  the  township  organization  law  was  adopted, 
Rock  Island,  which  then  included  all  of  the  township 
of  South  Rock  Island,  was  entitled  to  two  representa- 
tives upon  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors.  In  1875 
the  number  was  increased  to  three,  and  in  1881  to 
five.  The  following  named  have  served  upon  the 
Board  : 

1857— R.  M.  Marshal,  Z.  Cook. 

1858— A.  S.  Wait,  Frazer  Wilson. 

1859 — Harrison  Boggess,  C.  M.  Knox. 

i860 — T.  J.  Robinson,  M.  A.  Swiler. 

1861— T.  J.  Robinson,  M.  A.  Swiler. 

1862 — B.  H.  Kimball,  Jacob  Frysinger. 

1863— B.  H.  Kimball,  L.  D.  Dimick. 

1864— S.  B.  Stoddard,  B.  H.  Kimball. 

1865— B.  H.  Kimball,  S.  B.  Stoddard. 

1866— B.  H.  Kimball,  S.  B.  Stoddard. 

1867— B.  H.  Kimball,  S.  B.  Stoddard.     ' 

1868— S.  B.  Stoddard,  Jacob  Ohbveiler. 

1869^-Chas.  B.  Knox,  t.  D.  Barnes. 

1870 — Chas   B.  Knox,  Win.  A.  Johnston. 

187  1 — H.  H.  Mayo,  Wm.  A.  Johnston. 

1872— H.  H.  Mayo,  Ernst  Krell. 

1873— W.  N.  Jarvis,  Ernst  Krell. 

1874 — Henry  Dart,  Ernst  Krell. 

1875— Henry  Dart,  Ernst  Krell,  Henry  S.  Case. 

1876 — Henry  Case,  John  Aster,  W.  L.  Sweeney. 

rS77 — Henry  Case,  John  Aster,  W.  L.  Sweeney. 

1878 — John  Aster,  Julius  Strohle,  Adam  Mancker. 

1879— M.  Koch,  Wm.  Atkinson,  H.  C.  Cleveland. 

1880 — Wm.  Atkinson,  C.  H.  Ritter,  Julius  Masen- 
felder. 

1881— Wm.  Atkinson,  C.  H.  Ritter,  Geo.  Schnei- 
der, Arthur  Burrall,  Chas.  J.  Blomberg. 

1882— C.  H.  Ritter,  F.  M.  Sinner,  C.  H.  Stoddard, 
Geo.  Schneider,  Sr.,  C  J.  Blomberg. 

18S3 — John  Aster,  Chas.  J.  Blomberg,  James  I). 
Warnock,  Wm.  E.  Brooks,  Geo.  Schneider,  Sr. 

1884 — John  Aster,  Geo.  Schneider,  C.  P.  Swanson, 
Arthur  Burrall,  David  Fitzgerald. 

1885— John  Aster,  Arthur  Burrall,  C.  P.  Swanson, 
David  Fitzgerald,  Thomas  Smart. 


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Augustana  College  and    Theological  Seminary, 
at  Rock  Island,  Illinois. 

?F  this  institution  and  of  the  self-denying 
efforts  of  those  devoted  Christian  men  who 
J^r  founded  and  fostered  it,  the  history  is  of  the 
qgJT  greatest  interest.  Already  at  the  organization 
of  the  Scandinavian  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Augustana  Synod,  which  took  place  at  Clinton, 
Rock  Island  County,  Wis.,  in  June,  r86o,  a  resolution 
was  passed  to  establish  and  maintain  an  institution 
of  learning.  This  was  done  at  a  time  when  the 
Swedish  Lutherans  of  the  United  States  numbered 
only  seventeen  (17)  ministers,  thirty -six  (36)  congre- 
gations and  three  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
(3,750)  communicants,  all  of  whom  were  poor  emi- 
grants. But  God  has  abundantly  blessed  their  ef- 
forts, so  that  from  a  very  small  beginning  this  insti- 
tution has  had  an  unusuil  and  wonderful  growth  and 
development.  This  school  to  which  was  given  the 
name  of  Augustana  Seminary*  was  temporarily  lo- 
cated at  Chicago. 

Rev.  L.  P.  Esbjorn,  who  had  for  nearly  two  years 
been  the  Scandinavian  Professor  at  the  Illinois  State 
University,  Springfield,  was  chosen  its  first  Professor. 
This  position  he  occupied  until  the  summer  of  1863, 
when  he  returned  to  Sweden. 


*Augnstana  i>  taken  from  the  Latin  name  of  the 
principal  confession  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  the  Augs- 
burg Coufessiou.  It  was  called  (in  Latin;  Confessio 
Augustana,  because  it  was  delivered  bythe  Lutherans 
to  the  Emperor  Charles  V  at  the  Diet  of  Augshurein 
1530. 


The  institution  remained  at  Chicago  for  three 
years.  During  this  time  Rev.  Esbjorn,  who  was  the 
only  Professor,  received  a  yearly  salary  of  $600, 
being  assisted  in  the  work  by  two  of  the  more  ad- 
ed  students.  The  attendance  numbered  from 
12  to  20  students,  almost  equally  divided  between 
Swedes  and  Norwegians. 

The  year  1S63  marks  a  new  era  in  the  history  of 
this  institution.  The  school  was  now  removed  from 
Chicago  to  Paxton,  Ford  Co.,  111.,  and  the  handsome 
gift  of  $10,190,  which  was  collected  from  all  the 
Churches  in  Sweden,  and  granted  by  the  King,  Karl 
XV,  gave  the  school  fresh  impulse  in  its  new  quar- 
ters. Rev.  T.  N.  Hasselquist  had  been  elected 
Professor  in  the  place  of  Rev.  Esbjorn,  and  later,  in 
1864,  Rev.  W.  Kopp  was  chosen  as  Professor  of  the 
English  Language  and  Literature.  In  the  first  few 
years  the  number  of  students  was  small,  but  later  it 
began  gradually  to  increase  until  at  the  Commence- 
ment, in  June,  1875,  the  institution  numbered  five 
Professors  and  eighty-six  students. 

In  the  year  1875  another  important  step  in  the 
history  of  '\ugustana  College  and  Theological  Semi- 
nary* was  taken,  by  transferring  the  institution — 
professors,  students,  library  and  museums  —  from 
Paxton  to  Rock  Island,  as  a  much  more  central  loca- 
tion. The  grounds,  consisting  of  over  iS  acres  of 
picturesque  bluff  land,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city, 
were  purchased  by  H.  P.  Hull,  in  1873,  for  $10,000. 
The  college  building  was  erected  in  1874  and  1S7:;, 

*  In  I860  the  institution  received  a  charter,  under  the 
name  ol  Augustana  College  and  Theological  Seminary. 


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al  a  cost  of  $40,267.63  ;  the  professors'  houses  subse- 
quently, at  .1  cost  of  $11,913-53;  total  for  buildings 
in  Rock  Island,  $52,182.16.  School  was  opened  in 
this  beautiful  and  commodious  edifice  Sept.  22, 
1875,  and  't  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  God  and  his 
Church  Oct.  14,  the  same  year.  Near  the  center  of 
population  of  the  United  States,  Rock  Island  is  the 
most  central  and  convenient  point  for  the  Swedish- 
American,  and  the  above  changes  have  yielded  rich 
results.  Situated  high  upon  the  side  of  the  bluff, 
the  location  is  free  from  miasma  and  very  healthful. 
The  view  from  the  ground  is  unsurpassed  in  pictur- 
esque beauty,  including  the  three  cities,  the  Missis- 
sippi River  and  Rock  Island,  which  here  divides  the 
river,  and  is  the  site  of  the  Government  Arsenal, 
situated  just  opposite  the  college.  The  scene  is  en- 
livened by  the  constant  movement  of  trains  on  the 
Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific,  and  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy,  and  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & 
extent.  Among  those  who  settled  here  after  that 
St.  Paul  Railways,  all  of  which  run  between  the  river 
and  the  institution. 

Since  the  removal  here  the  institution  has  enjoyed 
a  healthy  and  rapid  growth,  the  number  of  students 
increasing  from  86  the  last  year  in  Paxton,  to  2 1 1 
the  school  year  of  1884-5.  ^  nas  a  fa^  corPs  °f 
well  educated  and  efficient  professors,  a  valuable 
library  of  7,3to  bound  volumes  and  5,100  pamphlets, 
a  fine  museum  of  natural  history,  including  ethno- 
logical and  numismatic  collections,  a  chemical  and 
physical  laboratory,  and  a  gymnasium  in  which  in- 
struction is  given  by  the  Ling  method. 

In  the  Theological  Seminary  young  men  are  pre- 
pared for  the  gospel  ministry  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 
The  instruction  is  given  by  three  professors,  two 
Swedes  and  one  American. 

In  the  college  with  its  two  courses,  classical  and 
scientific,  a  broad  and  solid  foundation  is  laid  for 
professional  studies  and  for  usefulness  in  life.  There 
is  also  a  musical  conservatory  for  instruction  in  vocal 
and  instrumental  music.  Except  in  the  Swedish  lan- 
guage and  literature,  and  in  a  part  of  the  religious 
instruction,  the  English  language  is  used  as  the 
medium  of  instruction.  Seven  of  the  professors  were 
born  in  Sweden  and  six  in  the  United  States. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  while  this  is  not  a 
sectarian  institution,  it  is  based  on  sound  Christian 
principles.     Its  aim  is  to  educate  not  only  the  head 


but  also  the  heart ;  not  only  to  give  a  thorough  classi- 
cal and  scientific  education,  but  also  to  build  up  a 
good,  reliable  and  steadfast  moral  character,  resting 
on,  and  upheld  by,  thorough  Christian  principles. 
Its  discipline  is  good  and  the  behavior  and  habits  of 
the  students  highly  commendable. 

When,  in  1875,  the  Board  of  Directors  reported  to 
the  Synod  concerning  the  building,  some  of  the  del- 
egates proposed  to  censure  them  for  extravagance  in 
erecting  a  building  unnecessarily  large.  One  of  the 
delegates  proposed,  however,  to  wait  five  years,  and 
before  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  attendance 
had  so  increased  that  it  was  already  inconveniently 
small.  The  necessity  for  larger  accommodations 
constantly  increasing,  the  Synod  at  Red  Wing,  in 
1883,  authorized  the  Board  to  procure  drawings  and 
solicit  subscriptions  for  a  new  building,  which,  how- 
ever, should  not  be  begun  before  $30,000  had  been 
subscribed  and  $10,000  paid.  These  conditions  being 
complied  with,  the  Synod,  at  Andover,  in  1884,  au- 
thorized the  Board  to  proceed  with  the  erection  of 
the  building.  It  is  168  feet  long,  the  central  part  76 
feet  wide  and  the  wings  64  feet,  four  stories  high,  in- 
cluding the  basement.  A  full  page  view  of  the  col- 
lege with  its  surrounding  buildings  and  beautiful 
scenery  is  given  in  connection  with  this  historical 
skelch. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  Nov.  6,  18S4.  There 
are,  however,  few  men  of  large  means  among  the 
Swedes,  and  as  the  hard  times  checked  contributions, 
it  seemed  necessary  to  suspend  work,  when  on  the 
9th  of  June,  1885,  the  Board  were  rejoiced  by  the 
munificent  gift  of  $25,000  from  the  Hon.  P.  L.  Cable 
This  timely  and  liberal  aid  has  enabled  them  to  push 
the  work  as  vigorously  as  consistent  with  thorough- 
ness of  construction.  The  structure  will  be  alike  an 
honor  to  the  Swedish-Americans  and  their  generous 
benefactor,  Hon.  P.  L.  Cable,  and  an  ornament  to 
the  city  and  county  of  Rock  Island,  and  will  be  ready 
for  use  at  the  fall  term,  1886.  Besides  this  munifi- 
cent gift,  the  Swedes  have  collected  $25,000  among 
themselves  and  at  least  $25,000  more  will  be  needed 
to  complete  the  building. 

Having  no  endowment,  the  institution  is  dependent 
on  the  Synod  and  its  congregations  for  its  support, 
the  annual  expenses  being  from  $25,000  to  $30,000. 
But  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the  Father  of  Light,  who  has 
sustained  them  hitherto  can  help  them  hereafter,  and 


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there  is  a  living  endowment  in  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
people  for  their  educational  institutions. 

May  Augustana  College  and  Theological  Seminary, 
from  Zion  Hill,  its  elevated  position  on  the  bluffs  of 
the  Mississippi  River,  shine  as  a  light-house  for 
generations  to  come! 

Tne  Board  of  Directors  for  the  year  1885  consisted 
of  the  following  members:  Rev.  Erland  Carlsson, 
President ;  Mr.  Nelson  Chester,  Secretary  ;  Mr.  J.  H. 
Westrand,  Treasurer;  Rev.   H.   O.    Lindeblad,  Mr. 


d^  -X~Vr:<  \ 


Gustaf  Johnson,  Rev.  S.  P.  A.  Lindahl,  Mr.  Peter 
Colseth  and  Rev.  T.  N.  Hasselquist,  D.  D.  The 
members  of  the  theological  faculty  are  Rev.  T.  N. 
Hasselquist,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Prof.  O.  Olsson  and  Rev. 
Prof.  R.  F.  Weidner.  The  college  faculty  consists 
of  Rev.  Prof.  C.  O.  Granere,  Rev.  Prof.  C.  P.  Ryd- 
holm,  Prof.  Josua  Lindahl,  Ph.  D.,  Prof.  A.  O.  Ber- 
sell,  Prof.  A.  W  Williamson,  Prof.  C.  M.  Esbjorn, 
Prof.  C.  W.  Foss  and  Rev.  Prof.  G.  W.  Sandt,  Prof. 
C.  L.  E.  Esbjorn  and  Prof.  Gustav  Stolpe. 


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OLINE,  the  City  of  Mills, 
is  one  of  the  most  widely 
^o    known  of    the  smaller 

cities  of  the  Union.  Its 
large  and  excellent  manu- 
factories have  given  it  a 
world  -  wide  reputation, 
and  its  manufactured  products  have 
taken  the  first  premium  at  every 
world's  fair  or  exhibition  in  which 
they  have  been  exhibited.  The  im- 
mense water-power  attracted  atten- 
tion at  a  very  early  date,  and  it  was 
only  a  question  of  time  when  it 
should  be  utilized.  In  1838,  in  a 
letter  to  Judge  Spencer,  Hon.  John 
Buford  discussed  the  practicability  of  improving  the 
natural  power  and  predicting  that  in  time  Rock  Isl- 
and would  be  the  center  of  50,000  population.  He 
recommended  the  formation  of  a  joint- stock  com- 
pany, which  should  purchase  and  hold  the  land  at 
this  point,  and  which  also  should  develop  the  power. 
Mr.  Buford  outlined  a  plan  for  a  canal  and  mills, 
which  should  be  erected.  "  In  the  first  place,"  he 
says,  "four  feet  clear  fall  must  be  obtained.    I  would 


recommend  to  you  to  have  a  line  of  level  run  from 
the  mouth  of  the  branch  below  the  rocks  and  near 
the  house  occupied  by  one  of  your  partners,  upon  the 
most  favorable  low  grounds,  and  as  high  up  the  rap- 
ids as  experience  and  utility  will  authorize.  I  think 
the  ground  is  most  favorably  adapted  for  such  an 
improvement.  The  average  depth  of  the  canal  will 
not  exceed  nine  feet.''  The  cost  of  this  canal  Mr. 
Buford  reckoned  at  $2 r, 870,  which,  together  with  a 
good  mill  for  grinding  grain  and  sawing  lumber, 
would  cost  $30,000.  "This  establishment,"  he  said, 
"  would  build  up  Stephenson  (Rock  Island),  and  as 
the  tefwn  and  country  demand, other  additions  will  be 
added." 

In  1841,  John  W.  Spencer,  David  B.  Sears  and 
Spencer  H.  White  built  the  first  dam  at  this  point, 
made  of  brush  and  stone.  They  also  built  a  saw 
and  flouring  mill  on  the  Moline  side,  just  north  of 
where  the  Moline  Plow  Company's  woiks  now  stand. 
This  dam  was  erected  under  the  superintendency  of 
David  B.  Sears.  About  this  time  these  gentlemen, 
together  with  Gov.  W.  Lynde,  laid  out  a  town,  to 
which  they  gave  the  name  of  Rock  Island  Mills.  The 
plat  of  this  village  was  never  recorded. 

Nothing   further  was    done  towards   the  location 


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hereof  a  village  until  1843,  when  the  original  owners 
of  Rock  Island  Mills,  together  with  the  owners  of  the 
land  adjoining  (Huntington  Wells,  Chas.  Atkinson, 
Joel  Wells  and  D.  B.  Sears)  had  surveyed  and 
platted  what  is  recorded  as  the  original  town  of 
Moline.  At  this  time  the  only  buildings  upon  the 
town  plat  were  those  of  Chas.  Atkinson,  Huntington 
Wells,  David  B.  Sears,  Benedict,  Patterson,  Hoskins, 
Hun  toon,  White,  Weir,  Kinzie,  Bell,  Reynolds  and 
Benham — in  all  13. 

When  the  survey  was  made  two  copies  of  the  plat 
were  prepared  by  the  surveyor,  in  one  of  which  lie 
wrote  in  pencil  in  the  space  left  for  the  name  of  the 
place  the  word  Hesperia,  and  in  the  other  Moline. 
A  name  had  not  then  been  agreed  upon,  and  the 
surveyor  was  asked  the  meaning  of  the  two  words. 
Hesperia,  he  said,  meant  "  Star  of  the  West,"  while 
Moline  signified  "  Milltown."  Chas.  Atkinson  re- 
sponded, "  Moline  let  it  be  called  ;"  and  thus  it  was 
named. 

The  mill  erected  by  Spencer,  Sears  &  White  was 
in  running  order  in  1842,  Jonathan  Huntoon  being 
placed  in  charge  as  miller.  Mr.  Huntoon  is  yet  an 
honored  citizen  of  the  place,  and  is  President  of  the 
Rock  Island  &  Moline  Horse  Railway. 

David  B.  Sears  opened  a  small  store  in  his  own 
residence,  which  stood  near  the  mill,  in  1843.  This 
was  the  first  in  the  place. 

Joseph  Huntoon  was  the  first  shoemaker,  com- 
mencing in  T842. 

Geo.  W.  Bell  commenced  work  at  the  tailor  trade 
in  1844. 

Chas.  Atkinson  in  the  fall  of  1S45  began  merchan- 
dising on  Wells  Street,  now  Second  Avenue.  He 
carried  a  line  of  general  merchandise. 

Cyrus  Kinzie  started  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in 
1843,  his  shop  being  located  where  Deere's  Plow 
Factory  now  stands. 

Spencer  H.  White  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
brick  in  1843. 

The  first  hotel  was  kept  by  Huntington  Wells, 
who  opened  his  rouse  for  that  purpose  in  the  (all  of 
1843. 

The  first  drug  store  was  kept  by  Addison  Chamber- 
lain in  1847. 

There  was  no  exclusive  grocery  store  here  for  some 
years  after  the  town  was  commenced. 


INCORPORATION. 

Moline  was  organized  as  a  town  in  1843  and  so 
remained  until  1872,  when  it  was  incorporated  as  a 
city,  under  the  general  laws  of  the  State,  which  came 
in  force  July  1,  1872.  On  the  third  of  that  month  a 
petition  was  presented  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  town  of  Moline,  asking  that  the  question  of  the 
adoption  of  a  city  government  be  submitted  to  the 
legal  voters  of  the  town.  The  petition  was  granted, 
and  an  election  was  held  Tuesday,  August  6,  1872. 
There  were  cast  261  votes  for  incorporation  and  22 
against;  for  minority  representation  in  the  City 
Council,  21 ;  against  minority  representation,  247. 

On  Tuesday,  Aug.  29,  1872,  an  election  for  city 
officers  was  held  and  the  following  named  elected  : 
Mayor,  Daniel  L.  Wheelock  ;  City  Clerk,  Orrin  K. 
Ferguson ;  City  Attorney,  John  T.  Browning ;  Al- 
dermen, George  W.  Vinton,  Luke  E.  Hemenway,  J. 
S.  Keator, Marvel  H.  White,  Henry  Klahn,  Chas.  W. 
Lobdell,  Swan  Hanson,  Daniel  W.  Dimock,Chas.  F. 
Hemenway. 

The  following  named  have  served  as  Mayors  since 
1873:  John  Deere,  1873-74;  D.  L.  Wheelock, 
1875-76;  S.  W.  Wheelock,  1877-82;  E.  B.  Knox, 
1883-84;  Martin  Schillinger,  1885. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The  post  office  was  established  in  1844,  with  David 
B.  Sears  as  postmaster.  The  office  at  this  time  was 
not  a  sinecure,  but  yet  there  were  others  willing  to 
serve.  Between  1844  and  1853  Dr.  Wells,  Geo.  W. 
Jackman  and  Joseph  J.  Jackman  served,  it  is  be- 
lieved, in  the  order  named:  Absalom  B.  Williams 
was  appointed  in  1853,  at  which  time  the  office  was 
on  what  is  now  the  comer  of  Second  Avenue  and 
1 6th  Street.  Here  it  remained  some  time  and  then 
was  removed  a  few  doors  west  on  the  same  avenue. 
In  1873  it  was  removed  to  the  Library  Building  on 
15th  Street.  J.  M.  Gould  succeeded  Mr.  Williams 
as  postmaster  and  served  until  April  17,  1861,  when 
Win.  iCerns  was  appointed,  serving  until  June,  1865. 
Geo.  D.  Gould  was  his  successor,  serving  some  22 
months,  when  Mr.  Kerns  was  appointed.  On  the 
nth  of  August,  1869,  he  was  succeeded  by  Henry 
E.  Wells,  who  served  until  April  1,  1877,  when 
Luke  E.  Hemenway  was  appointed.  Mr.  Hemen- 
way, it  is  but  just  to  say,  is  regarded  as  a  model 
postmaster,  and  gives  personal  supervision  to  every 
department   of    the  office.     By    six  o'clock   in   the 


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morning  he  is  found  at  his  post,  and,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  time  required  for  his  meals,  he  is  there  till 
the  closing  hour  at  night.  He  is  methodical  in  every- 
thing, and  can,  in  a  few  moments'  time,  show  the 
record  of  every  transaction  in  his  office  since  his  ap- 
pointment. The  office  contains  2,409  Yale  boxes, 
producing  a  rental  of  $Soo  per  quarter.  The  gross 
revenue  of  the  office  for  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1883,  was  $20,500,  entitling  it  to  a  free  delivery,  but 
in  consequence  of  the  reduction  in  postage  and  the 
general  stagnation  in  business,  it  has  fallen  to  a  lit- 
tle less  than  $20,000.  With  the  return  of  better  times 
it  will  be  increased  to  more  than  the  required  amount. 
While  this  work  is  in  preparation  the  office  is  occu- 
pying temporary  quarters  on  3d  Avenue  between 
1 6th  and  17th  Streets,  while  a  building  is  being 
erected  expressly  for  its  accommodation  on  the  cor- 
ner of  3d  Avenue  and  16th  Streets,  which  will  be  the 
finest  postoffice  building  in  the  State. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  first  school-house  in  Moline  was  erected  in 
1843,  shortly  after  the  platting  of  the  village,  on  the 
site  of  the  present  city  engine-house  on  ground  do- 
nated by  the  proprietors  of  the  place.  The  building 
was  of  brick  and  was  used  for  religious  as  well  as 
school  purposes.  It  was  erected  by  the  people,  each 
donating  as  he  was  able  or  willing.  Joseph  Jackman 
was  the  first  teacher.  Mr.  Jackman  is  remembered 
by  all  the  early  settlers.  S.  P.  Hodges  was  the  next 
teacher.  He  was  subsequently  county  clerk  for 
many  years. 

As  a  matter  of  course  the  first  schools  were  of  a 
primitive  character.  As  the  scholars  were  few  in 
number,  ranging  from  the  child  sent  by  its  mother 
"  to  get  rid  of  it  "  to  the  young  man  who  should  have 
graduated  years  before,  and  all  confined  in  one 
room,  the  teacher  had  to  teach  all  grades  from  the 
a-b,  abs  to  the  higher  branches  in  mathematics.  All 
this  has  since  been  changed.  The  schools  are  now 
thoroughly  graded,  the  present  system  dating  from 
April,  1873,  when  the  first  Board  of  Education  was 
elected  under  the  city  charter  and  in  accordance  with 
the  revised  school  laws,  consisting  of  the  following 
named:  C.  A.  Wheelock,  President;  H.  H.  Grover, 
Secretary;  Wm.  H.  Edwards.  Ezra  Smith,  C.  O. 
Nathan  an  Jonathan  Huntoon.  The  first  annual 
report  of  the  Board  showed  two  school  buildings  that 
were  known  was  the  Central  and  the  West  Ward. 


In  the  Central  building,  in  addition  to  the  Superin- 
tendent, W.  H.  Russell,  there  were  11  teachers  em- 
ployed and  four  in  the  West  Ward.  The  salaries  of 
of  teachers  and  superintendent  amounted  to  $8,014- 
.77.  There  was  a  total  enrollment  of  750  and  an 
average  of  624. 

After  serving  some  two  and  a  half  months  in  the 
fall  of  1874,  Mr.  Russell  resigned  the  superintend- 
ency  and  L.  Gregory  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
He  served  until  the  fall  of  1878,  when  W.  S.  Mack 
(see  page  289)  was  appointed.  During  his  adminis- 
tration great  improvement  was  made  in  the  schools, 
which  had  increased  in  numbers  very  largely. 
During  his  last  year  there  was  an  enrollment  of 
1,104.  Twenty  teachers  were  employed,  the  salaries 
of  whom,  together  with  the  superintendent,  amounted 
to  $10,386.59.  There  were  three  school-houses  at 
this  time. 

1  Kiting  Prof.  Mack's  first  year  there  were  employed 
20  teachers  regularly,  the  salaries  of  whom,  together 
with  that  of  the  superintendent,  amounted  to 
$10,436.02.  There  were  then  in  the  district  1,819 
persons,  between  six  and  20  years  of  age,  with  an 
enrollment  in  the  schools  1,285.  New  rules  and 
regulations  were  adopted,  and  the  time  in  the  High 
School  was  increased  to  four  years,  the  number  of 
studies  being  reduced  each  year.  A  new  school- 
house  has  since  been  built,  and  in  the  summer  of 
1885  the  district  in  South  Moline,  adjoining  the  city 
on  the  south,  voted  to  unite  the  city  district.  There 
were  in  that  district  two  good  school-houses.  Added 
to  the  number  in  the  city,  it  gives  six  school-build- 
ings, valued  at  about  $134,500. 

The  first  class  was  graduated  in  1876,  since  which 
time  one  class  has  graduated  each  year  as  follows  : 


1 87  6 . 
1877. 
1878. 

1879- 
1880. 


6 

1881 

6 

1882 

14 

1883 

14 

1884 

8 

1885 

Total 94 

The  present  Board  of  Education   is    composed  of 

the  following  gentlemen  :  W.  C.  Bennett,  President 

(see  page  233):  L.  E.  Fish  (see  page  293),  Secretary  ; 

W.  K.  Sloan  (see  page  234),   W.   W.  Wells,  F.  W. 

Gould  and  P.  Colseth  (see  page  240). 
The  following  is  the  corps  of  teachers  for    1885-6, 


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giving  the  school  and  room  to  which   each  teacher  is 
assigned  : 

W.  S.  Mack,  Superintendent. 

CENTRAL  SCHOOL. 

R.  E.  Call,  Principal  High  School. 
Miss  Eva  F.  Covalt,  First  Assistant. 
Miss  Annie  M.  Holbrook,  Second  Assistant. 
Miss  Mattie  W.  Davidson,  Room  9. 
Miss  Lanette  Covalt,  Room  8. 
Miss  Gertrude  M.  Waters,  Room  7. 
Miss  Emma  L.  Proseus,  Room  6. 
Miss  Lottie  M.   Proseus,  Room  5. 
Miss  Marilla  L.  Healy,  Room  4. 
Miss  Nellie  M.  Anderson,  Room  3. 
Miss  Lizzie  B.  Mason,  Room  2. 
Miss  Emma  F.  Stratford,  Room  1. 

WEST  WARD  SCHOOL. 

Miss  Mary  Tague,  Room  7  (Principal). 
Miss  Carrie  E.  Parsons,  Room  6. 
Miss  Ella  B.  Wells,  Room  5. 
Miss  Nellie  M.  Curtis,  Room  4. 
Miss  Maggie  McCool,  Room  3. 
Miss  Lucy  D.  Evans,  Room  2. 
Miss  Ada  M.  Strawder,  Room  1. 

NUMBER  TWO  SCHOOL. 

H.  D.  Hatch,  Principal. 
Miss  Jennie  Ray,  Room  8. 
Miss  Eleanor  M.  Vitzthum,  Room  7. 
Miss  Mary  A.  Tyrrell,  Room  6. 
Miss  Sadie  L.  Batker,  Room  5. 
Miss  Fannie  A.  Huntoon,  Room  4. 
Miss  Carrie  Reid,  Room  3. 
Miss  Emma  L.  Cooper,  Room  2. 
Miss  Jennie  W.  Ives,  Room  1. 

EAST  WARD  SCHOOL. 

Miss  Minnie  O.  Olson,  Room  3  (Lovejoy's  Hall). 
Miss  Maggie  Medill,  Room  2. 
Miss  Sara  E.   Doxsee,  Room  1. 

SEVENTH  STREET  SCHOOL. 

Miss  Hattie  A.  Moore,  Room  2. 
Miss  Kittie  G.  Battles,  Room  1. 

16TH    STREET  SCHOOL. 

Herbert  E.  Griffith,  Room  3  (Principal). 
Miss  Ella  L.  Doyle,  Room  2. 
M  iss  M  ary  K.  Moore,  Room   1 
Geo.  R.  House!,  Teacher  of  Music. 


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RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  services  in  this  place  were  held 
in  the  dining-room  of  D.  B.  Sears'  house  about  1842, 
Rev.  A.  B.  Hitchcook  conducting  the  exercises  and 
preaching  the  sermon.  Rev.  Isaac  Bliss  was  the  first 
to  have  a  regular  appointment  here.  He  began  to 
hold  services  in  the  old  brick  school-house  shortly 
after  its  completion.  To-day  the  city  is  well  sup- 
plied with  handsome  church  edifices,  and  is  repre- 
sented by  the  Baptists,  Catholics,  Congregationalists, 
Lutherans,  Methodist  Episcopal  and  others.  The 
Congregationalists  and  Lutherans  have  very  hand- 
some houses  of  worship,  and  all  have  fair  congrega- 
tions. 

Rev.  A.  B.  Hitchcock  was  the  first  Congregational 
minister  who  preached  in  the  place.  His  first  ser- 
mon was  in  the  dining-room  of  Sears'  boarding-house, 
in  1843.  Rev.  Mr.  Woodruff  also  preached  during 
this  year  at  the  same  place.  Rev.  Isaac  Bliss  soon 
after  was  employed  to  hold  services  at  stated  times 
and  labored  for  eight  months,  and  in  connection  with 
a  series  of  interesting  meetings,  a  Congregational 
Church  was  organized.  Preliminary  steps  were  taken 
at  the  house  of  Amos  Gordon. 

The  congregation  met  for  worship  in  the  "  brick 
school-house"  until  June  25,  185  1,  when  a  church 
edifice  was  dedicated  on  the  corner  of  Lynde  and 
Illinois  streets.  This  edifice,  afterwards  enlarged, 
was  occupied  until  the  completion  of  the  present 
structure,  in  18*9,  on  the  corner  of  Bass  and  Henry 
Streets,  at  a  cost  of  $35,000.  In  1877,  Mr.  Charles 
Atkinson  offered  the  Church  $2,500  for  the  erection 
of  a  parsonage,  on  condition  that  the  debt  still  rest- 
ing on  the  church  edifice  be  paid.  The  offer  was  ac- 
cepted, the  condition  fulfilled,  and  a  new  parsonage 
duly  occupied  by  the  Pastor. 

Of  those  who  laid  the  foundation  of  Moline's  social 
and  religious  character,  Mr.  Hitchcock  will  always 
remain  the  honored  head.  With  a  zeal  for  truth, 
which  was  sweetened  by  a  love  for  all  men,  he  labored 
to  build  here  a  Church  from  which  no  sectarian  tenets 
should  debar  any  true  disciple  of  Christ. 

In  the  great  slavery  question  he  was  an  avowed 
friend  of  the  oppressed,  and  to  his  fearless  zeal  for 
temperance  it  was  chiefly  due  that  for  years  no  in- 
toxicating liquor  could  be  legally  sold  as  a  beverage 
in  the  community.  Mr.  Hitchcock  continued  to  re- 
side in  Moline  until  called  to  rest  Dec.  15,  1873. 


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PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

Soon  after  the  law  was  passed  permitting  cities  and 
towns  to  raise  money  by  taxation  for  library  purposes, 
steps  were  taken  to  secure  a  library  for  this  city.  On 
the  2 1 st  of  September,  1872,  the  Mayor,  Hon.  D.  L. 
Wheelock,  appointed  the  following  named  persons  a 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Moline  Public  Library: 
J.  T.  Browning,  Eugene  Lewis,  S.  H.  Velie,  J.  C. 
Starr,  Win.  H.  Russell,  H.  A.  Ainsworth,  H.  H. 
Grooves  and  E.  Okerberg.  The  latter  gentleman 
declining,  the  place  was  filled  by  Charles  Atkinson. 
The  city  council  a  short  time  previously  had  made 
an  appropriation  of  $800,  which  formed  the  nucleus 
for  the  library.  The  sum,  though,  was  too  small  to 
do  more  than  provide  a  building  and  meet  contingent 
expenses;  therefore  additional  funds  must  be  secured 
in  other  ways.  A  meeting  was  accoidingly  called  for 
that  purpose  Dec.  17,  1872,  and  $3,000  were  pledged, 
the  ladies  organizing  a  society  and  becoming  re- 
sponsible for  $500  of  the  amount.  This  sum  was  soon 
increased  to  $5,566.24.  With  this  financial  aid  the 
Board  proceeded  to  procure  rooms  and  to  purchase 
books.  Rooms  were  obtained  in  the  postoffice 
building  of  Hon.  S.VV.  Wheelock,  the  first  installment 
of  books  purchased  and  the  library  opened  to  the 
public  Jan.  6,  1873.  On  the  29th  of  March,  1873, 
Mrs.  Kate  S.  Holt  was  appointed  Librarian. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  1877,  Mr.  Wheelock  and 
wife  deeded  to  the  Board  the  building  in  which  was 
kept  the  library  and  which  cost  upwards  of  $20,000. 
The  building,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  deed,  was 
to  be  known  as  the  Wheelock  Library  Hall. 

SOCIETIES. 

The  various  secret  and  benevolent  societies  are 
well  represented  in  this  city.  Among  the  number 
are  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  United  Workmen  and 
Modern  Woodmen. 

Masonic. — The  Masons  are  represented  by  one 
blue  lodge.  The  proximity  of  the  city  to  Rock 
Island,  where  the  order  was  first  established  in  the 
oounty,  has  rendered  it  impossible  heretofore  to 
obtain  charters  for  the  higher  degrees  of  Masonry. 

Doric  Lodge,  No.  319,  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  was  organ- 
ized in  1859,  with  20  charter  members,— John  H. 
Dillon,  W.  M.;  L.  E.  Hemenway,  S.  W. ;  H.  G. 
Nourse,  J.  W.  For  a  time  the  lo.lge  seemed  to 
prosper,  but  during  the  dark  days  of  the  war,  in 
consequence  of  the  absence  of  a  number  of  its  mem- 


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bers,  who  were  at  the  front  fighting  the  battles  of 
their  country,  under  a  rule  adopted  by  the  Grand 
Lodge  its  meetings  were  suspended  until  brighter 
days  should  come.  It  was  re-organized  in  1866. 
For  a  time  the  lodge  met  in  Chamberlain's,  now 
Dunn's  Hall,  removing  from  thence  to  Dahm's  Hall, 
on  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  17th  Streel, 
and  from  thence  to  the  hall  over  Moline  National 
Bank.  After  remaining  here  for  some  years  they 
removed  to  the  hall  in  the  library  building,  where 
they  remained  until  their  removal  to  their  present 
elegant  quarters,  on  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and 
17th  Street,  July  1,  1885.  The  building  in  which  is 
situated  their  hall  was  erected  by  John  Deere  and  is 
one  of  the  handsomest  structures  in  the  city.  Doric 
Lodge  occupies  the  entire  third  floor  and  was  ar- 
ranged especially  for  its  use.  The  main  lodge  room 
is  36x60  feet,  with  20-foot  ceiling.  There  is  a 
double  parlor  on  the  east  (Masonically  speaking), 
43  x  18  feet,  14  feet  high.  A  long  hall  is  upon  one 
side,  7^x66  feet.  The  dining-room,  south  of  the 
main  lodge  room,  is  21x60  feet.  There  are  three 
ante-rooms,  each  12  x  14  feet;  kitchen  and  vestibule, 
each  18x21  feet,  with  water  closets  and  toilet  room. 
The  lodge  room  and  the  parlors  are  furnished  with 
body  Brussels  carpet,  solas,  etc.  The  rooms  are 
said  to  be  the  most  convenient  of  all  lodges  in  the 
State,  and  have  been  furnished  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 
The  lodge  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  having  101 
members  in  July,   1885,   and  constantly  increasing. 

Fifteen  persons  were  initiated  the  first  six  months 
of  this  year.  D.  O.  Reid  is  the  present  Master;  A. 
C.  Grout,  S.  W.  ;  F.  H.  Davis,  J.  W. ;  J.  S.  Gillmore, 
Treas. ;  D.  W.  Gould,  Sec. 

A  colored  lodge  of  Masons  exists,  known  as  King 
Solomon  Lodge,  No.  20,  organized  in  1875.  This 
order  is  not  recognized  by  the  whites. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  have  three 
subordinate  lodges  and  an  encampment  in  this  city, 
with  a  large  membership,  composed  of  some  of  the 
best  citizens  of  the  place. 

Moline  Lodge,  No.  133,  was  instituted  Jan.  4, 
1854,  and  is  in  a  very  flourishing  condition,  its 
membership  embracing  many  of  the  oldest  and  best  ' 
known  citizens  of  the  city.  It  numbers  90  members 
in  good  standing.  Fred.  Volkman  is  the  present 
Noble  Grand  and  O.  E.  Tyler,  Vice-Grand. 

Swedish   Olive    Lodge,   No.    583,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was 


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instituted  Oct.  13,  1875,  with  15  charter  members, 
Andrew  Anderson,  N.  G.  ;  B.  P.  Oakley,  V.  G. ;  A. 
P.  Ahngren,  Sec. ;  J.  P.  Soderstrom,  P.  S. ;  Peter 
Nelson,  Treas.  The  lodge  has  been  quite  prosperous 
and  is  now  in  a  most  healthy  condition,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  84.  Its  present  officers  are  P.  B.  Anderson, 
N.  G. ;  J.  A.  Swanson,  V.  G.  ;  N.  J.  Pierson,  Sec.  ; 
A.  O.  Lindstrom,  P.  S. ;  August  Lindgren,  Treas.  ; 
Andrew  Anderson,  Representative  to  the  Grand 
Lodge. 

Moline  Encampment,  No.  153,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was 
chartered  Oct.  13,  1874,  with  eight  charter  members. 
On  the  1 6th  of  July  1885,  Cleveland  Encampment, 
No.  84,  of  Cleveland,  111.,  was  consolidated  with  this 
camp.  Lieut. -Gov.  J.  C.  Smith,  Grand  Scribe, 
conducted  the  ceremonies,  assisted  by  W.  S. 
Sweeney,  Grand  Representative.  The  camp  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  with  60  members.  Meetings 
are  held  in  hall  in  Moline  National  Bank  Building. 
The  officers  for  the  last  half  of  1885  are  :  C.  W. 
Phillips,  C.  P.;  Andrew  Anderson,  H.  P.;  L.  E. 
Woodruff,  S.  W.;  J.  P.  Amberg,  J.  W. ;  N.  J. 
Pierson.  Scribe;  A.  O.  Lindstrom,  Treas. 

Manufacturers'  Lodge,  No.  485,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was 
instituted  April  16,  1872,  with  12  charter  members. 
Its  first  officers  were:  H.  H.  Grover,  N.  G, ;  C.  A. 
Wheelock,  V.  G. ;  J.  V.  Van  Horn,  R.  S. ;  J.  P. 
Morey,  P.  S. ;  W.  M.  Dunham,  Treas.  Meetings 
were  first  held  in  lodge  room  over  Moline  National 
Bank.  The  present  membership  of  the  lodge  is  64, 
and  its  general  condition  is  good.  The  present  officers 
are  :  G.  F.  Downs,  N.  G. ;  F.  B.  Simian,  V.  G.  ;  W. 
A.  McBeth,  R.  S.  ;  S.  Kennedy,  P.  S. ;  G.  G. 
Gifford,  Treas.  Meetings  are  now  held  in  Deere's 
Hall. 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. — Four  lodges 
and  one  legion  represent  this  order  in  this  city,  each 
being  in  a  very  gratifying  financial  and  harmonious 
condition. 

Harmony  Lodge,  No.  2,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  organized 
Dec.  3,  1874,  with  23  charter  members.  This  was 
the  second  lodge  instituted  in  the  State,  Noble  Lodge, 
No.  1,  of  Rock  Island,  being  the  first.  The  lodge  now 
numbers  54,  and  is  in  good  condition  in  every  respect. 
D.  R.  Ziegler  is  the  Master  Workman;  Benton  Davis, 
Recorder;  C.  F.  Ziegler,  Financier.  There  has 
been  but  one  death  in  the  lodge  since  its  organiza- 
tion. 

Schiller  Lodge,  No.  1 1,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  organized 


April  19,  1876.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  Library 
building,  until  July,  1885,  when  the  lodge  was 
removed  to  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  17th 
Street. 

Franklin  Lodge,  No.  16,  A.  O.  CJ.  W.,  was  organized 
Sept.  25,  1876.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  Library 
building,  and  continued  there  until  July,  1885,  when 
a  removal  was  made  to  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue 
and  1 7th  Street.  For  some  years  the  lodge  has  only 
been  holding  its  own  in  regard  to  membership,  having 
69  in  good  standing.  Death  has  visited  three  times 
since  its  organization — L.  Pinkham,  John  A.  Steele 
and  Frank  Gunnell.  Its  principal  officers  in  July, 
18S5,  were:  Alex.  E.  Montgomery,  M.  W. ;  Robert 
Young,  F.;  G.  W.  Parker,  O. ;  S.  Kennedy,  Sec. 

North  Star  Lodge,  No.  48,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was 
organized  March  16,  1877,  with  35  charter  members, 
with  Chas.  E.  Piper,  M.  \V.  The  lodge  has  a  present 
membership  of  5  1.  Death  has  visited  the  lodge  four 
times  since  its  organization,  removing  Aleck  Vener- 
luns,  John  Erickson,  Arel  Blombergson,  Andrew 
Wickstrom.  This  lodge  is  composed  of  Swedish 
members  exclusively,  though  it  works  in  English, 
only  using  the  Swedish  language  when  some  one 
is  initiated.  Its  principal  officers  in  July,  1885, 
were :  N.  H.  Caderberg,  M.  W. ;  C.  E.  E.  Engmark, 
F. ;  James  B.  Nelson,  O. ;  C.  G.  Carlson,  Sec. 

McLean  Legion,  No.  26,  Select  Knights,  A.  O.  U. 
\V.,  was  organized  in  March,  1884,  with  18  charter 
members.  Its  membership  at  present  is  about  the 
same,  and  all  are  supplied  with  handsome  uni- 
forms. A.  E.  Montgomery  is  the  present  Comman- 
der. 

The  Modem  Woodmen  of  America  have  one  camp 
in  this  place,  Moline  Camp,  No.  38,  which  was  or- 
ganized May  7,  1SS4,  with  32  charter  members.  It 
lias  been  exceedingly  prosperous,  and  has  a  present 
membership  of  137.  No  deaths  have  as  yet  occurred 
in  this  camp.  Its  officers  are  :  W.  A.  Mase,  Consul ; 
Geo.  Lee,  Adviser;  W.  C.  Thede,  Clerk;  F.  A. 
Burgsten,  Banker. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. — The  old  soldiers 
are  represented  by  one  Post.  R.  H.  Graham  Post, 
No.  312,  G.  A.  R.,  was  mustered  Aug.  12,  1883,  with 
20  charter  members.  The  principal  officers  were  : 
A.  C.  Grout,  Com.  ;  Amos  Altimus,  S.  V.  C.  ;  F.  M. 
Andrews,  Adj.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  hall  of 
Library  building  until  July,  1885,  when  they  moved 
to  hall  corner  Third  Avenue  and   17th   Street.     The 


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Post  has  been  very  prosperous,  its  present  member- 
ship being  79.  The  principal  officers  in  July,  1885, 
were  :  Wm.  Clendennin,  Com.  ;  H.  E.  Barber,  S.  V. 
C. ;  T.  D.  Wheelock,  J.  V.  C.  ;  E.  B.  Knox,  Q. ;  P. 
L.  McKinnie,  Surg. ;  L.  E.  Fish,  Adj. 

The  Iron-Molders'  Union,  Aro.  2jj,  was  organ- 
ized June  12,  1875,  and  has  about  65  members.  Its 
meetings  are  held  every  Tuesday  night  in  hall  over 
the  Moline  National  Bank.  In  April,  1885,  Chas. 
French  was  President,  and  Isaac  Dawson,  Secretary. 

Moline  Grove,  No.  26,  Druids,  was  organized  Jan- 
1  uary,  1872,  and  holds  its  meetings  on  the  second 
and  last  Wednesday  evening  in  each  month.  Wm. 
Runge,  N.  A  ,  J.  Mueller,  V.  A.;  Claus  H.  Reimers, 
Treas  ;  Geo.  Oldefest,  Sec, — were  among  its  officers 
in  the  spring  of  1SS5. 

iWississippi  Valley  Grove,  No.  jj,  Druids,  was 
organized  February,  18S3.  Nels  Peterson,  ,N.  A.; 
Nels  Nelson,  V.  A. ;  Joseph  Perry,  Sec, — were  among 
the  officers  in  18S5.  Meetings  were  held  over  Moline 
National  Bank. 

The  Concordia  Germania  Turnverein  was  organ- 
ized in  1876  by  the  consolidation  of  the  Concordia, 
Germania  and  the  Turners.  It  has  about  100  mem- 
bers. In  the  past  few  years  the  society  has  spent 
several  thousands  of  dollars  in  improvements,  in- 
cluded in  which  is  a  fine  and  imposing  building  used 
as  a  gymnasium,  in  which,  besides  themselves,  a 
Scandinavian  society  meets  and  enjoys  its  benefits. 
The  Concordia  Germania  Turnverein  has  now  three 
buildings,  two  being  frame  and  one  brick,  all  located 
at  the  corner  of  15  th  Street  and  Sixth  Avenue,  and 
used  as  school-room,  assembly-room  and  gymnasium 
respectively. 

The  Moline  Building,  Savings  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion was  incorporated  May  25,  1880,  its  special  object 
being  to  provide  a  safe  and  profitable  investment  for 
small  savings  and  furnish  money  to  its  members  for 
the  purpose  of  securing,  improving  or  purchasing 
homes.  Since  its  organization  it  has  accumulated 
$33,000,  and  the  association  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition, having  nearly  200  members.  Meetings  are 
held  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  each  month  at  W. 
R.  Moore's  law  office,  314,  1 6th  Street.  Its  officers 
in  1885  were  C.  F.  Grantz,  President;  C.  F.  Hem- 
enway,  Vice-President;  J.  W.  Warr,  Secretary ;  P. 
C.  Simmon,  Treasurer;  W.  R.  Moore,  Attorney. 

BOARD   OF   ASSOCIATED   CHARITIES. 

The  Board  of  Associated  Charities  is  one  of  the 


noble  and  benevolent  institutions  in  this  city.     From 
its  first  annual  report  the  following  is  taken  : 

"The  association  may  be  called  an  outgrowth  of 
our  Thanksgiving  distribution  of  1883,  when,  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  recent  custom  among  us,  the 
Churches  and  various  charitable  societies  contrib- 
uted clothing,  provisions  and  money,  to  be  distributed 
among  the  worthy  poor  of  the  city,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  different 
Churches.  After  the  distribution  of  the  Thanksgiv- 
ing offerings  of  1883,  it  was  found  that  the  fund  had 
been  unwisely  distributed;  that  the  committee  de- 
pending on  hearsay  as  to  the  need  of  the  different 
families,  and  without  time  to  properly  investigate 
the  cases  reported,  had  in  some  instances  given  as- 
sistance where  it  had  been  better  withheld,  and  that 
with  the  best  intention  on  the  part  of  the  committee, 
others,  more  deserving,  had  been  passed  by.  The 
committee  were  convinced  that  a  more  thorough  in- 
vestigation should  accompany  relief,  and  that  the 
truest  and  best  charity  is  to  help  people  to  become 
self-supporting,  and  that  every  exertion  must  be 
used  to  this  end  before  bestowing  gifts  of  clothing, 
provisions  or  money.  A  public  meeting  was  called, 
and  with  these  ideas  as  a  basis,  the  Associated 
Charities  was  organized,  with  a  plan  of  work  similar 
to  or  identical  with  that  found  to  be  most  efficient  in 
the  larger  cities  where  it  had  been  tried,  and  is,  we 
believe,  the  first  charitable  society  in  our  State  organ- 
ized on  this  plan  of  relief.  At  this  meeting  the  fol- 
lowing Board  of  Directors  was  chosen,  and  at  a 
subsequent  meeting  of  the  directors  the  following 
officers  were  elected :  L.  E.  Fish,  President ;  H. 
W.  Hyde,  Secretary;  Mrs.  C.  W.  Heald,  Treasurer; 
Mrs.  Julia  M.  Dunn,  Corresponding  Secretary  ;  Mrs. 
H.  B.  McKeever,  Conrad  F.  Grantz,  Charles  H. 
Boman,  H.  Kohler.  Immediately  after  organization, 
a  soliciting  committee  was  appointed  to  collect  funds 
and  solicit  membership,  and  the  society  was  soon  in 
working  order.  At  the  outset  the  association  had 
many  difficulties  to  encounter;  they  were  without 
practical  knowledge,  inexperienced  as  to  methods, 
with  themselves  to  educate,  and,  in  short,  everything 
to  learn  that  pertained  to  the  work  itself.  The 
Associated  Charities  is  non-sectarian  and  non-par- 
tisan ;  it  has  no  creed,  save  to  do  good  ;  its  field  is 
as  broad  as  humanity  itself,  and  Jew,  Christian  or 
atheist  is  alike  welcome  to  dispense  or  receive   its 


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aid.  Its  chief  aim  is  to  establish  friendly  intercourse 
with  the  poor." 

During  its  first  year,  42  families  received  aid,  and 
employment  was  found  for  170  persons.  Persons 
who  had  been  dependent  on  the  county  for  years 
were  placed  in  a  position  to  be  self-supporting,  and 
much  good  was  otherwise  done.  The  receipts  were 
$709.35,  with  expenditures  of  $360.24. 

At  the  annual  election,  held  Dec.  21,  1884,  the 
following  named  officers  were  elected:  Conrad  F. 
Grantz,  President;  L.  E.  Fish,  Secretary  and  Man- 
ager; John  N.  Mason,  Treasurer;  Mrs.  Julia  M. 
Dunn,  Corresponding  Secretary;  Peter  Lind,  Mrs. 
C.  W.  Heald,  Mrs.  H.  B.  McKeever. 

MILITARY. 

Upon  the  re-organization  of  the  Illinois  National 
Guard,  in  the  spring  of  1S82,  the  Sixth  Regiment  of 
Infantry  was  formed  from  portions  of  the  Fourth  and 
Seventh  Regiments  and  the  whole  of  the  Fourteenth 
Battalion.  From  the  Fourth,  Companies  A,  B,  C  and 
D;  from  the  Seventh,  Company  H;  and  from  the 
Fourteenth,  Companies  B,  C,  D  and  E  were  assigned 
to  form  the  new  organization  with  Company  F,  at 
Moline.  Lieut.  Col.  William  Clendennin,  of  Moline, 
was  elected  Colonel  (see  page  295).  Immediately 
upon  receipt  of  his  commission,  Colonel  Clendennin 
established  his  headquarters  at  Moline  and  an- 
nounced the  following  appointments  on  the  staff  and 
non-commissioned  staff:  John  H.  Porter,  Capt.  and 
Adjt,  Moline;  William  B.  Young,  Capt.  and  I.  R. 
P.,  Monmouth;  W.  S.  Bryan,  Asst.  Surgeon,  Cam- 
bridge; A.  R.  Morgan,  Chaplain,  Orion  ;  J.  M.  Holt, 
Quartermaster,  Moline;  E.  Kittilsen,  Sergt.  Major, 
Moline;  B.  R.  McClary,  Q.  M.  Sergt.,  Lacon  ;  W. 
O.  Chapman,  Com.  Sergt.,  Cambridge;  Chas.  Deven- 
dorf,  Hospital  Steward,  Galesburg.  The  regiment  is 
armed  with  breech-loading  rifles  and  is  thoroughly 
organized  and  well  equipped,  and  has  so  conducted 
itself  as  to  merit  and  receive  much  praise  and  many 
commendations  for  readiness,  efficiency  and  soldierly 
bearing. 

STREET    RAILWAYS. 

The  Moline  Central  Street  Railway  Company  was 
incorporated  September,  1884,  for  the  purpose  of 
operating  a  street  railway  from  Fourth  Avenue  and 
15th  Street,  south  one  and  a  half  miles  to  what  is 
known  as  Stewartville,  a  populous  district  lying  just 


outside  the  city  limits,  but  whose  residents  are  chiefly 
engaged  in  the  various  factories  of  the  city.  The 
capital  is  placed  at  $12,000,  and  at  the  head  are  solid 
and  earnest  men,  while  the  stockholders  are  numer- 
ous. Its  officers  are  Hon.  S.  W.  Wheelock,  Prest. ; 
M.  Y.  Cady,  Vice-Prest. ;  W.  R.  Moore,  Secy  ;  C. 
F.  Hemenway,  Treas. 

SYLVAN    BOAT    CLUB. 

This  club  was  organized  in  February,  1874,  and 
was  incorporated  July  19,  1876.  It  has  a  boat  house  , 
located  at  the  foot  of  161I1  Street,  containing  boats 
and  other  appliances  valued  at  $6,000.  The  active 
membership  is  composed  of  representative  young 
men  of  the  city,  about  35  in  number,  while  the  hon- 
orary roll  bears  the  names  of  some  20  of  the  older 
and  solid  business  men.  W.  R.  Moore  is  President; 
Austin  May,  Secretary. 

BANKS. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Moline  was  organized 
in  1863.  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000.  Jerman  S. 
Keator*  was  its  first  President  and  John  M.  Gould  * 
cashier.  Mr.  Keator  served  as  President  until  Jan. 
12,  1866,  when  John  Deere*  was  elected.  Mr.  Deere 
served  but  one  year  and  was  succeeded  by  John  M. 
Gould,  who  still  continues  to  fill  the  duties  of  the 
office.  Mr.  Gould  served  as  cashier  till  January, 
1867,  at  the  time  of  his  election  to  the  presidency, 
when  John  S.  Gillmore*  was  elected  and  yet  serves 
in  that  capactiy.  The  capital  stock  of  the  bank  has 
been  increased  from  $50,000  to  $150,000  and  a  sur- 
plus of  $30,000  is  reserved.  The  First  National  Bank 
of  Moline  is  regarded  a  safe  depository,  its  affairs 
being  managed  in  a  conservative  manner,  though  it 
is  liberal  with  its  patrons,  as  much  so  as  business 
prudence  will  justify.  The  names  of  its  officers  and 
directors  will  substantiate  this  assertion.  John  M. 
Gould  is  President ;  Chas.  Atkinson,  Vice-President; 
John  S.  Gilmore,  Cashier ;  J.  M.  Gould*  Chas.  At- 
kinson* D.  C.  Dimock*  John  Deere*  Chas.  H. 
Deere*  James  Shaw*  H.  A.  Barnard,*  John  S.Gill- 
more*  Jonathan  Huntoon*  Samuel  Bowles*  J.  T. 
Browning*  Porter  Skinner*  Morris  Rosenfield* 
directors. 

A  savings  department  was  organized  April  26, 
1868,  under  the  management  of  the  same  officers. 
This  department  is  well  patronized  and  has  been  a 
blessing  to  many. 

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Moline  National  Bank. — One  of  the  leading  banks 
of  the  country  is  the  Moline  National.  This  bank  is 
the  outgrowth  of  the  Manufacturers'  Bank,  of  Moline, 
organized  under  a  special  State  charter  in  1869,  with 
a  capital  of  $100,000.  At  this  time  the  organization 
could  not  secure  a  national  bank  charter,  the  limit  of 
the  United  States  circulation  allowed  by  law  having 
been  already  readied.  In  1872,  however,  Congress 
changed  this  law,  compelling  the  Eastern  States  to 
retire  a  portion  of  their  circulation,  in  order  to  dis- 
tribute 1  he  same  in  the  West,  which  up  to  that  time 
had  an  unequal  share.  It  was  in  April,  this  year, 
that  the  change  was  made  to  its  present  name,  with 
the  same  amount  of  capital,  and  was  the  1,941st  na- 
tional bank  organized.  It  has  a  large  surplus  added 
to  its  capital,  and  has  during  its  prosperous  career 
accomplished  much  good  and  made  many  friends, 
and  this  because  it  has  always  been  liberal,  yet  cau- 
tious in  its  dealings.  The  bank  is  located  at  the 
corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  15th  Street,  in  its  own 
fine  and  rather  imposing  building,  which  ranks 
among  the  solid  structures  of  the  city.  Its  officers  at 
present  are  S.  W.  Wheelock,*  President ;  Porter 
Skinner*  Vice-President ;  and  C.  F.  Hemenway* 
Cashier;  each  having  held  his  respective,  responsible 
position  most  of  the  time  since  organization.  The 
directors  are  :  H.  Darling,  N.  Chester,*  E.  Smith* 
L.  E.  Hemenway*  Dr.  C.  Vitzthum,*C.  F.  Hemen- 
way* Porter  Skinner*  J.  Silas  Leas,  A.  S.  Wright,* 
J.  M.  Christy*  H.  A.  Barnard,*  J.  S.  Keator*  and 
S.  W.  Wheelock* 

The  Moline  Savings  Bank  transacts  business  under 
a  special  State  charter,  and  was  organized  in  1869. 
It  is  the  only  chartered  savings  bank  in  Rock  Island 
County,  and  has  been  of  much  benefit  to  the  me- 
chanic and  man  of  small  means.  It  has  about  1,000 
depositors,  whose  total  deposits  foot  nearly  $250,000, 
on  which  a  liberal  interest  is  allowed.  Its  office  is 
in  the  above  bank's  building,  and  the  same  respons- 
ible and  efficient  officers  and  directors  govern  its 
affairs. 

CITY    WATER-WORKS    AND    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

Until  recently  there  was  no  very  well  organized 
system  of  water-works  in  Moline  ;  but  as  the  city  has 
made  rapid  strides  in  manufactures  and  consequently 
population,  everything  in  the  way  of  advantage  and 
convenience    has    been    added    to   her  welfare,  and 

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among   these   the  water-works.     These  works   were  O^ 
orgnaized   in  November,  1883,  and    have   proven    a  /D 
great  modern    necessity,   and    have    at    the    present   % 
time  between    300  and    400  "  takers."     The  mains 
extend  over  the  entire  city,  and  measure  over  eight     L 
miles,  and  have  26  valves  and  116  hydrants  for  lire 
purposes.     The    mains,    laying,    etc.,   cost   the    city 
$65,000;  the  engine  house,   pumps,  etc.,  which  be- 
long to   Davis    &   Co.,  cost  $25,000.     Thus  $90,000 
have  been   expended  in  providing  the  citizens  with 
complete  water-works,  and  a  full  supply  at  all  times 
of  pure  water,  obtained    from   the   main  channels  of 
the  Mississippi  River.     There   are   three  compound 
condensing  Dean   pumps,  of  a  combined  capacity  of 
two  and  a   half  million  gallons   per  day,  which    will 
prove  sufficient  for  some  time   to  come.     Two  main 
pipes  bad  from  the  works,  one  to  the  lower  part  of 
the  city,  the  other  to   the  higher  or  the   bluff  part 
thereof.     The  water  obtained  for  the  supply  is  taken 
through  an    eighteen-inch  pipe,  from  the  rapids  of   (  )\ 
the  river,  half  a   mile   distant,  and  carried  through   * 
the  wing-dam.     The   city  pays   Davis  &  Co.  $6,500    /& 
per   annum   for    fuel,  attention,   power,   etc.,  for    the    * 
works   and    the   interest  on  their  investment,  but   in 
due  time  has  contracted  to  purchase  at  a  stipulated   1 
price  the  entire  interest  of  Davis  &  Co.     The  works 
are  located  at  the  foot  of  Seventeenth  Street,  and  are 
ably  managed    by  S.  S.   Davis,  Fred  Alsterlund   and 
Will  T.  Channon,  the    latter  two  being  the  efficient 
engineers. 

The  fire  department  of  Moline  consists  of  100 
well-trained  men,  who  are  in  a  high  state  of  efficiency, 
under  the  control  of  a  chief.  The  following  compa- 
nies compose  the  force  :  Union  Hose  Company,  No. 
1;  Onward  Hose  Company,  No.  2;  Minnehaha  Hose 
Company,  No.  3;  Deane  Hose  Company,  No.  4; 
Moline  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  ;  Moline  Plow 
Company's  Hose  Company;  Deere  Hose  Company. 
The  water  for  the  reservoir  of  the  department  is 
supplied  by  the  city  water-works,  whose  pumps  of 
the  Dean  pattern  send  a  reliable  supply  through  the 
mains,  which  are  distributed  over  the  whole  city, 
hydrants  being  located  at  proper  and  convenient 
places. 

THE    CITY    POLICE     FORCE. 

The  police  of  Moline  consists  of  seven  officers,  in- 
cluding the  Marshal  and  one  merchants'  policeman. 
They  are  acknowledged  an  efficient  and  intrepid  body    j/ 


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of  men  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  manage  the 
affairs  of  their  department  with  skill,  and  receive 
public  commendation.  The  calaboose  is  located  at 
413  Sixteenth  Street,  where  the  cells  and  everything 
pertaining  to  an  institution  of  this  kind  are  kept  in 
excellent  order,  and  the  whole  healthily  heated  and 
ventilated.  A  patrol  wagon  is  kept  for  the  depart- 
ment's use;  and  the  Marshal's  office,  located  at 
1508^  Third  Avenue,  is  centrally  located,  neatly 
kept,  and  well  arranged,  the  whole  affairs  of  the 
force  reflecting  much  credit  upon  the  Chief  and 
those  under  his  immediate  charge.  Officers — Ed- 
ward Kittilsen,  Marshal  (see  page  592) ;  J.  G.  Wells, 
Deputy;  John  M.  Geisberger,  John  Nelson,  John 
Messer  and  Joseph  Enderle,  policemen,  with  George 
C.  Lee,  merchants'  police. 

ARTIFICIAL    LIGHT. 

Moline  is  lighted  by  gas  and  electricity.     The  gas 

is  furnished  by  the  Gas  Company,  superintended  by 

.   C.  W.  Lobdell.    The  Merchants' Electric  Light  Com- 

■,    pany   was  organized  in    1883,   taking  the  place  of 

another  company   that   had   been   in  operation   for 

about  one  year.     Thomas  B.  Davis  is  President,  and 

S.  S.  Davis  Secretary. 
£=1 

CEMETERY. 

The  Riverside  Cemetery  is  owned  by  the  city  of 
'  Moline,  contains  100  acres,  and  is  located  one  mile 
east  from  the  postoffice.  There  are  r,4oo  lots  of  all 
sizes  and  shapes,  which  are  sold  at  one  uniform  price 
of  15  cents  per  square  foot,  the  revenue  derived 
therefrom  being  expended  upon  improvements  and 
preserving  the  grounds.  The  cemetery  is  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  beautiful  spots  that  could  be  selected 
fcr  a  burying-ground,  being  of  easy  occess  to  the  city 
and  yet  far  enough  distant  to  be  secluded  from  the 
turmoil  of  its  business  affairs.  It  is  managed  by  a 
Board  of  six  Directors,  Walter  J.  Entrikin  being 
Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

MOLINE  WATER  POWER  COMPANY 

When  the  United  States  Government  determined 
to  take  entire  possession  of  Rock  Island  for  arsenal 
purposes,  the  Moline  Water-Power  Company  were 
joint  owners  with  the  Government  of  the  water  pow- 
er, which  they  were  using  to  a  consicerable  extent 
for  manufacturing  purposes.  A  board  of  comrriis- 
)  sioners  was  appointed  by  the  Government  to  settle 
and  adjust  all  questions  appertaining  to  entire  pos- 


ds 


session,  it  being  then  the  purpose  of  the  Government 
to  utilize  the  water  power  as  a  motor  for  driving  its 
machinery. 

By  these  commissioners  it  was  represented  that 
the  developments  necessary  to  this  end  should  be  of 
a  more  substantial  and  extensive  character  than  a 
private  company  could  either  afford  or  would  be 
likely  to  undertake.  An  arrangement  was  sought  by 
the  commissioners  and  ordnance  officers,  whereby 
the  work  of  development  and  maintenance  should  be 
done  solely  by  the  United  States.  This  proposition 
was  considered  by  the  Water-Power  Company,  and 
afterwards  exhaustively  discussed  by  it,  by  the  com- 
missioners, and  by  other  accredited  representatives 
of  the  Government.  As  a  result,  an  agreement  was 
entered  into  by  which,  in  consideration  of  the  trans- 
fer of  the  company's  interest  in  the  water  power  to 
the  Government,  the  latter  would  develop  and  main- 
tain it,  and  the  company  should  have  free  use  in  per- 
petuity of  one-fourth  part  of  the  entire  power 
developed. 

The  large  manufacturing  interests  already  using 
water  power,  encouraged  by  the  prospect  of  such  de- 
velopment and  maintenance  of  the  power  by  Gov- 
ernment, added,  at  great  expense,  extensive  improve- 
ments for  utilizing  this  power,  and  continued  to 
prosper  in  its  use  until  the  power,  for  reason  of  the 
Government's  failure  to  keep  its  agreement,  began  to 
diminish.  By  neglecting  to  remove  the  deposit  from 
the  pool,  but  permitting  it  to  increase,  the  power  was 
not  only  not  maintained,  but  damaged  to  an  extent 
which  made  it  imperative  for  the  manufacturers  to 
substitute  steam  power.  The  result  of  such  failure 
to  maintain  and  develop  the  power  was  its  practical 
abandonment  by  manufacturers,  involving  a  positive 
damage  to  themselves,  and  a  damage  of  very  great 
extent  to  the  Water-Power  Company. 

The  original  purpose  of  the  Government  was  to 
use  the  power  to  compress  air  for  the  purpose  of  op- 
erating its  machinery.  Finding  that  plan  objection- 
able, they  sought  a  modification  of  it,  and  requested 
the  Water-Power  Company  to  make  a  new  contract, 
in  1869,  whereby  the  water  power  could  be  brought 
nearer  the  Government  shops,  which  was  according- 
ly done,  the  Government  agreeing  to  develop  and 
maintain  the  power  as  in  the  original  contract.  In- 
asmuch as  this  new  contract  has  never  been  carried 
out  in  acccordance  with  its  terms,  the  company  has 


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instituted  a  suit  against  the  Government,  the  Hon. 
John  B.  Hawley,  of  Chicago,  being  employed  to  rep- 
resent the  company's  interests. 

Hon.  Chas.  Atkinson,  the  able  President  of  the 
company,  has  worked  long  and  faithfully  in  its  inter- 
est. A  New  England  man,  raised  where  they  know 
the  value  of  water  power,  he  quickly  realized  its  val- 
ue here,  and  is  to  be  commended  for  the  labor  be- 
stowed upon  this  effort  to  utilize  the  mighty  force  of 
the  Father  of  Waters  as  it  rushes  by  Moline.  With 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Moline  Water- Power  Company  the  legal  steps 
were  taken,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  success  will 
crown  their  efforts.  In  the  history  of  the  island  this 
subject  is  further  treated. 


¥^j- 


Manufacturing  Interests. 

HE  design  of  the  founders  of  this  city  was 
to  make  of  it  a  manufacturing  point.  How 
^  well  they  have  succeeded  the  pages  of  this 
work  will  testify.  As  stated,  in  1841  Spencer, 
Sears  &  White  erected  a  grist  and  saw  mill, 
which  was  the  nucleus  around  which  all  other 
manufacturing  enterprises  have  grown. 

In  1843  Monroe  D.  Sherman  erected  a  foundry 
where  the  paper-mill  now  stands.  He  continued 
the  business  about  one  year  and  then  sold  to  David 
B.  Sears,  who  soon  after  sold  to  Fergus  &  Buford. 
The  latter,  after  running  the  foundry  for  some  years, 
sold  to  S.  W.  Wheelock,  who  converted  the  building 
into  a  paper-mill. 

In  1844  David  B.  Sears  commenced  the  erection 
of  another  mill,  near  the  site  of  the  first.  It  was  a 
a  larger  and  much  better  mill,  used  exclusively  for 
grinding.  It  was  completed  in  1845  and  had  four 
run  of  buhrs.  The  mill  continued  to  be  operated  by 
various  persons  until  after  the  war.  The  building 
is  now  used  for  storage  purposes. 

In  1846,  Chamberlain  &  Atkinson  built  a  saw-mill 
and  commenced  operating  the  same.  Chas.  Atkin- 
son became  sole  proprietor  and  in  1848  put  in  a 
planing-machine,  the  first  north  of  St.  Louis. 

JOHN  DEERE  &  CO. 

The  name  of  John  Deere  (see  page  205)  has  be- 


come  famous  the  world  over.  A  Green  Mountain  boy, 
born  in  1804,  when  but  13  years  of  age  he  com- 
menced to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  Ten  years 
later  he  was  running  a  shop  of  his  own,  and  in  time 
began  the  manufacture  of  shovels  and  pitchforks,  ac- 
quiring a  reputation  for  superiority  of  goods  that  has 
been  maintained  in  other  branches  during  his  entire 
business  career.  While  in  Vermont  a  few  years 
since,  he  found  some  of  his  shovels  and  pitchforks 
that  had  been  used  almost  half  a  century  and  were 
yet  serviceable  goods.  In  1 837  he  came  West,  his 
destination  being  Grand  Detour,  Ogle  County.  As 
Mr.  Deere's  early  labors  are  quite  fully  set  forth  in 
his  personal  sketch  on  page  205,  we  deem  it  un- 
necessary to  recount  them  here. 

At  Grand  Detour  a  shop  was  started  for  general 
work,  and  the  building  of  plows  added.  In  1839  ten 
plows  were  built,  and  the  entire  iron  works  of  a  new 
saw  and  flouring  mill  made,  with  no  help  except  that 
of  in  inexperienced  man  as  blower  and  striker.  In 
1840  a  second  anvil  was  placed  in  the  shop,  a  work- 
man employed,  and  forty  plows  made.  The  following 
year  seventy-five  plows  were  built,  and  a  brick  shop 
45  x  50  feet  erected,  and  in  1842  one  hundred  plows 
were  made  and  sold.  Steadily  and  rapidly  the 
business  grew,  until  in  1846  the  product  of  the  little 
shop  was  r  ,000  plows. 

Seeing  the  advantage  offered  by  Moline  as  a  man- 
ufacturing place,  Mr.  Deere  sold  his  Grand  Detour 
shop  and  came  to  Moline. 

In  James  Swunk's  book,  "  Iron  in  all  Ages,"  will 
be  found  the  following  reference  to  Mr.  Deere : 
"  The  first  slab  of  plow  steel  ever  rolled  in  the 
United  States  was  rolled  by  Wm,  Woods  at  the  steel 
works  of  Jones  &  Quigg,  in  1846,  and  shipped  to 
John  Deere,  of  Moline,  Illinois."  This  shows  that 
Mr.  Deere  not  only  imported  the  first  steel  for  plows, 
but  that  he  was  instrumental  in  starting  this  branch 
of  manufacture  in  the  United  States. 

As  stated,  the  difficulties  were  too  great  for  the 
profitable  manufacture  of  his  line  of  goods  in  Grand 
Detour,  so  he  determined  to  move  to  Moline.  Here 
was  a  good  water  power,  coal  near  in  abundance,  and 
cheap  river  transportation.  A  partnership  was 
formed  between  R.  N.  Tate  and  John  N.  Gould, 
shops  built  and  work  commenced,  resulting  the  first 
year  in  the  production  of  700  plows. 

About  this  time  came   to  hand  the  first  shipment. 


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of  steel  from  England,  and  with  it  50  plows  were 
made  and  sent  to  different  parts  of  the  country  where 
the  soil  was  not  difficult  to  work.  They  proved 
successful,  the  trade  increased,  and  in  1850,  1,600 
plows  were  built.  Mr.  Deere  then  bought  out  the 
company  and  continued  alone  until  1857,111  which' 
year  he  made  10,000  plows.  In  1858  he  took  his 
son  Charles  H.  into  the  business  as  a  partner,  and 
the  business  was  conducted  under  the  name  of 
Deere  &  Co.  until  1S6S,  when  the  business  had 
assumed  such  proportions  that  a  company  was 
incorporated  under  the  general  laws  of  the  State, 
with  John  Deere  as  President,  Charles  H.  Deere, 
Vice-Presinent  and  Manager,  and  Stephen  H.  Velie, 
Secretary.  During  all  the  subsequent  years  the 
business  hadasteady  and  marvelous  growth,  requiring 
the  annual  addition  of  shop  room,  men  and  machin- 
ery, until  the  shops  occupy  three  sides  of  a  space 
300  x  400  feet.  Besides  this  there  is  a  foundry  and 
pattern  building  and  core  shop  150  x  1 15  feet,  making 
in  all  a  floor  area  of  ten  acres,  and  lumber  sheds 
covering  an  area  of  300  x  400  feet.  The  product 
for  this  immense  establishment  for  r884  was  120,000 
plows,  amounting  to  more  than  one  and  one-half 
million  dollars. 

In  1866  the  company  started  with  a  paid-up 
capital  of  $250,000  ;  since  then,  year  after  year,  it  has 
increased  until  it  now  amounts  to  $1,000,000  paid- 
up  capital. 

The  tremendous  business  of  Deere  &  Co.  is  the 
result  not  only  of  the  ability  of  its  founder,  but  of 
the  great  executive  ability,  the  indomitable  will  and 
push  of  Charles  H.  Deere*  who  has  been  manager 
for  the  past  quarter  of  a  century,  assisted  by  S.  H. 
Velie*  the  Secretary;  C.  O.  Nelson  and  Gilpin 
Moore,  Superintendents. 

DIMOCK,  GOULD  &  CO. 

are  manufacturers  of  wooden-ware  and  dealers  in 
lumber.  The  busines  was  commenced  in  1852  by 
D.  C.  Dimock  and  J.  M.  Gould*  under  the  firm 
name  of  Dimock  &  Gould,  who  leased  some  land 
on  the  island  and  began  the  manufacture  of  wooden- 
ware  and  furniture,  employing  from  40  to  45  men. 
They  continued  on  tlie  island  until  the  winter  of 
1867-8,  when  they  purchased  ground  on  the  main 
land,  dropped  the  furniture  business  and  added  that 
of  lumber.   They  now  manufacture  wooden-ware  and 


'  See  personal  sketch. 


paper  pails,  the  manufacture  of  the  latter  having  be- 
gun in  1S79.  About  200  men  are  employed,  and 
the  firm's  sales  of  lumber  amount  to  20,000,000  feet 
annually,  their  sales  extending  through  Northwestern 
Illinois,  Kansas,  Iowa  and  Nebraska.  It  requires 
12  acres  of  ground  for  their  lumber  and  mills. 

MOLINE  WAGON  COMPANY. 

The  Moline  Wagon  Company  had  its  origin  in  a 
humble   and   unpretentious  way.      In    1854  James 
First  opened  a  shop  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  repair  of  wagons. 
For  15  years  he  continued  alone,  when  a  partnership 
was   formed  with   Morris    Rosenfield   and  Chas.  A. 
Benser,  under  the  firm  name  of  First,  Rosenfield  & 
Co.,  and  the  new  firm  moved  to  the  present  location, 
on   Third  Avenue,   where   they   erected   a  building 
two  stories  in   height,  with  basement.     Fifty  hands 
were  at  first  employed,  and  the  business  steadily  in- 
creased.    In  1871  a  stock  company  was  formed  and 
incorporated  under  the  general   laws  of  the  State, 
under  the   name  of  the   Moline  Wagon   Company, 
with   Morris   Rosenfield   (see   page   265),  president, 
and  Chas.  A.  Benser,  secretary.     Since  then  it  has 
had  an  unparalleled  growth,  and  has  been  under  the 
presidency  and  general  management  of  Morris  Rosen- 
field, who  has  proven  by  his  laborious  career,  enter- 
prise, shrewdness  and  determination  to  produce  the 
best  in  the  market,  a  valuable  executive  chief  officer, 
and  erected  an  establishment  of  which  he  may  justly 
be  proud.      During  the   past    13    years,  although  de- 
pression in  business  has  afflicted   the  country  more 
than  half  that  time,  the  institution  has  continued  to 
thrive  and  extend  its  trade  in  the  midst  of  this  draw- 
back and  the  keenest  competition  until  1 885  finds  it 
one  of  the  very  largest  farm  and  spring  wagon  facto- 
ries of  the  country.     Its  capital  stock  is  $600,000, 
and  its  business  approaches  $1,000,000  a  year.     In 
shops,  which  are  of  brick   and  mostly  four  stories 
high,  store-rooms,  lumber  sheds,  etc.,  over  r,ooo  feet 
frontage  on  the  main  avenue  of  the  city  is  employed, 
with   a  depth  of  450  feet  to  the  river.     The  whole 
establishment  presents  a  mammoth  and  magnificent 
appearance,  by  which  all  persons  coming  to  Moline 
on  the  cars  or  otherwise  cannot  avoid  being  attract- 
ed.    Between  300  and  400   here   find   employment, 
and  the  number  of  vehicles  produced  daily,  when  in 
full  running  order,  number    too.     These  consist  of 


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farm,  truck  and  sptjng  wagons,  which  find  ready  sale 
amidst  keen  competition  in  the  territory  between 
Ohio  on  the  east,  to  the  Pacific  coast  on  the  west, 
and  from  Manitoba  on  the  north  to  Texas  on  the 
south.  The  company  has  branch  and  distributing 
houses  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  including 
Des  Moines,  Council  Bluffs,  Minneapolis,  St.  Louis, 
Indianapolis,  Kansas  City,  Fort  Worth,  Salt  Lake 
City  and  Winnepeg.  Mr.  Rosenfield  is  President  and 
General  Manager;  R.  H.  Wilson,  Secretary. 

WILLIAMS,  WHITE  &  CO. 

are  manufacturers  of  steam  hoisting  engines  and  all 
sorts  of  mining  machinery,  steam  engines,  rotary  and 
gang  saw-mills,  power  hammers,  gang  boring-ma- 
chines, drop  presses,  tools  for  plow  shops  and  cast- 
ings of  all  kinds.  The  company  was  incorporated 
in  187  i  with  a  paid  up  capital  of  $50,000.  Alfred 
Williams  was  elected  President,  M.  H.  White  Vice- 
President  and  H.  A.  Ainsworth  Secretary  and 
Treasurer.  The  present  officers  are  M.  H.  White, 
President  (see  page  245);  F.  H.  Williams,  Vice- 
President  ;  H.  A.  Ainsworth,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
These  works  were  established  in  1854,  by  Alfred 
Williams*  C.  W.  Heald  *  M.  H.  White*  and  Parley 
Williams,  under  the  firm  name  of  Williams,  Heald  & 
Co.  The  partnership  agreement  was  entered  into  at 
Barre,  Mass.,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  between  the 
above-named  parties.  Alfred  Williams  and  Mr. 
Heald  came  out  to  Moline  at  once.  They  purchased 
the  present  site  of  the  works  and  erected  a  wooden 
building  32x70  feet,  which  was  completed  and 
opened  for  business  in  October  of  that  year  ( 1 S 5 4) 
the  firm  beginning  business  with  the  modest  capital 
of  $2,500.  Parley  Williams  came  later,  and  Mr. 
White  in  February  following.  Alfred  Williams  was 
Business  Manager.  Mr.  White  superintended  the 
foundry  department  and  Mr.  Heald  the  machine 
shops.  At  the  beginning  the  firm  employed  only 
five  men. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  they  began  erecting  addi- 
tional buildings  to  accommodate  their  increasing 
business.  Wooden  buildings  of  various  dimensions 
were  added  till  1866,  when  they  began  to  supplant 
them  with  solid  brick.  In  18S0  they  erected  the  ex- 
tensive brick  building  on  the  west  side  of  Eighth 
Street  en  Third  Avenue,  which  is  their  latest  im- 
portant improvement. 


*See  personal  sketch. 


■^ ^jA^HIIIOT&A^ s^g^ 


Their  buildings  now  cover  an  area  of  two  and  a 
half  acres,  and  are  complete  in  all  appointments. 
Parley  Williams  sold  his  interest  to  his  partners  in 
1856,  and  about  the  same  time  Daniel  P.  Beery 
bought  in,  but  the  firm  name  remained  unchanged. 
Mr.  Beery  continued  in  the  business  till  1859,  when 
he  sold  to  his  partners.  In  1866  Mr.  Heald  sold  his 
interest  to  Williams  &  White,  who  became  sole  pro- 
prietors, under  the  firm  name  of  "  Williams  &  White." 
In  1870  Mr.  H.  A.  Ainsworth  purchased  an  interest 
in  the  business,  and  the  following  year  the  present 
company  was  incorporated,  as  before  stated.  In  the 
fall  of  1883  Mr.  Williams  retired  from  the  presidency 
on  account  of  failing  health,  and  Mr.  White  was 
elected  to  that  position.  F.  H.  Williams  (son  of  Al- 
fred Williams)  became  a  stockholder  in  the  company 
and  was  elected  vice-president. 

Mr.  Ainsworth  has  served  continuously  since  the 
incorporation  of  the  company  as  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, and  is  the  general  business  manager.  The 
company  employs  from  50  to  100  men  and  does  an 
annual  business  of  $100,000. 

The  history  of  these  works  show  a  healthy  and 
steady  development  in  business  and  wealth  from  the 
time  of  their  establishment,  31  years  ago,  to  the 
present  date.  They  have  always  ranked  among  the 
important  industries  of  Moline,  and  their  founders 
and  managers  are  practical  business  men  of  high 
standing. 

THE  BARNARD  &  LEAS  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 

dates  its  existence  since  i860.  H.  A.  Barnard,*  a 
millwright  by  trade,  came  to  Moline  in  1856.  For 
about  four  years  he  worked  at  his  trade,  combined  with 
that  of  chair-making,  when  his  attention  was  called 
to  the  model  of  a  smut  machine,  the  invention  of 
John  A.  Woodward.  Consulting  his  partner  in  the 
chair  business,  L.  E.  Hemenway,*  the  present  Post- 
master of  Moline,  a  partnership  was  formed  under 
the  firm  name  of  Woodward,  Hemenway  &  Barnard, 
for  the  manufacture  of  smut  machines.  The  firm 
prospered,  and  in  1863,  Mr.  Barnard  having  im- 
proved  the  old  Woodward  mill  almost  beyond  recog-  ( 
nition,  and  obtained  the  patents  on  his  improvements, 
Mr.  Woodward  retired  from  the  firm  and  Joseph  t 
B.  Wyckhoff  took  his  place.  In  1864  Mr.  Hemen-  £ 
way  retired  and  the  firm  of  Wyckhoff  &  Barnard  was  jffs, 
formed.  In  1865  they  began  the  manufacture  of  ' 
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Silas  Leas  was  admitted  to  the  firm.  In  1869  a  new 
wood  shop  and  foundry  were  erected,  each  of  the  pro- 
prietors contributing  $2,000  for  this  purpose.  In 
1870  Mr.  WyckhofF  retired,  the  firm  then  being 
known  as  Barnard  &  Leas.  In  1872  Capt.  W.  C. 
Bennett*  was  admitted  and  the  Barnard  &  Leas 
Manufacturing  Company  was  incorporated. 

From  1872,  with  Mr.  Barnard  in  constant  super- 
vision of  the  mechanical  department,  Mr.  Leas  act- 
ing as  general  traveling  salesman,  and  Capt.  Bennett 
as  business  manager,  the  company  made  rapid  strides 
forward.  Every  new  year  witnessed  either  the  in- 
vention of  some  new  machine,  or  valuable  improve- 
ments in  those  already  in  use.  First  appeared  the 
Victor  Smutter  and  Separator,  which  at  once  took 
high  rank  among  machines  of  that  class;  then  came 
the  renowned  Victor  Double  Brush,  with  its  unex- 
celled principle  of  scouring  by  brush  on  brush.  In 
1877  the  manufacturers  found  themselves  so  cramped 
for  room  that  a  third  enlargement  of  their  works  was 
an  absolute  necessity,  and  a  substantial  four-story 
brick  building,  50  x  52  feet,  was  erected,  the  first 
floor  being  occupied  as  an  extension  to  their  machine 
shop,  with  one  end  partitioned  off  for  the  office,  the 
second  for  the  wood  department,  the  third  for  var- 
nishing and  finishing  the  pattern-making,  and  the 
fourth  for  storage. 

During  the  year  1878  Mr.  Leas  visited  Europe 
and  established  an  agency  with  Wm.  R.  Dell  &  Son, 
of  26  Mark  Lane,  London,  E.  C,  for  the  sale  of  their 
machines  abroad.  This  wise  move  was  the  means 
of  widely  extending  their  foreign  trade.  Every  year 
large  numbers  of  mill  separators,  brush  machines, 
flour  packers,  etc.,  are  sent  through  Dell  &  Son  to 
millers  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent. 

In  1879  the  company  brought  out  and  patented 
the  Advanced  Combined  Adjustable  Brush  and  Smut 
Machine,  the  Victor  Corn-Sheller,  Barnard's  Dust- 
less  Corn-Cleaner,  and  Victor  Combined  Corn  Sheller 
and  Cleaner,  which,  with  subsequent  improvements 
devised  by  Mr.  Barnard,  Mr.  Leas  and  Mr.  John 
B.  Cornwall,  foreman  of  the  construction  depart- 
ment, have  won  great  favor  with  millers. 

A  fourth  addition  to  the  works,  in  the  shape  of  a 
three-story  brick  wood  shop,  in  1882,  gave  their  pres- 
ent shops  the  extensive  dimensions  they  now  have. 
The  establishment  as  it  now  stands  consists  of  the 
*See  personal  sketch. 

!«•— — 


main  building,  dimensions  given  above;  a  wood 
shop  three  stories  high,  52  x  40  feet,  with  the  new 
extension,  60  x  90  feet;  a  machine  shop,  general 
construction  and  storage  building,  three  stories,  54  x 
80  ;  foundry,  60  x  80  ;  warehouse,  two  stories,  60  x 
60  ;  sand  and  storage  shed,  48  x  15  ;  oil  and  varnish 
house,  15  x  15  ;  brush  factory,  16  x  20;  cleaning 
house,  lumber  sheds  and  stables.  Including  the  foun- 
dry, and  exclusive  of  the  smaller  outbuildings,  the 
entire  floor  space  afforded  is  something  over  67,000 
square  feet.  The  establishment  is  splendidly  equip- 
ped throughout  with  first-class  machinery  and  tools 
— the  machine  shop  probably  the  most  complete  in 
its  appointments  of  all  similar  institutions  west  of 
Chicago.  The  recent  addition  of  the  new  Daverio 
three-high  roller-mills  to  the  company's  line  of  man- 
ufactures, made  it  necessary  to  expend  several  thou- 
sands of  dollars  in  the  purchase  of  heavy  machinery, 
such  as  gear  cutters,  shapers,  grinders,  tool  lathes 
and  planers.  These  include  a  Brown  &  Sharpe's 
Universal  Milling  Machine,  one  of  Pratt  &  Whitney's 
celebrated  tool  lathes,  and  a  Gleason  double-headed  '} 
iron  planer  of  six  tons  weight.  No  less  than  150  r 
men  are  now  employed  in  tnese  works,  and  the  pay  £ 
roll  averages  $2,000  weekly. 


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THE  MOLINE  PUMP  COMPANY. 

Is  the  outgrowth  of  a  small  business  established  by 
Harper  Bros,  in  1863,  on  the  corner  of  2d  Avenue 
and  19th  Street,  the  firm  purchasing  stock  at  Erie, 
Pa.,  and  Jinishing  it  by  hand.  In  1865  A.  S.  Wright 
purchased  the  interest  of  one  of  the  brothers,  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  Harper  &  Wright  the  manu- 
facture of  pumps  was  added.  They  put  the  machin- 
ery in  White's  mill,  on  the  island,  for  the  purpose. 
In  1866  they  purchased  a  portion  of  their  present 
location  and  erected  shops.  In  1868  Walter  Hill- 
house  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  the  business  being 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Harper,  Wright  & 
Cc.  In  1869  Harper  sold  his  interest  to  Daniel 
Wheelock,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Wright, 
Hillhouse  &  Co.,  continuing  as  such  until  May  r, 
1872,  when  a  joint-stock  company  was  formed  under 
the  name  of  the  Moline  Pump  Company,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $75,000.  A.  S.  Wright  was  President 
and  Walter  Hillhouse,  Secretary.  In  1874  Chas.  G. 
Moore  became  interested,  purchasing  a  large  share 
of  the  stock.  Chas.  A.  Rose  subsequently  purchased 
a  number  of  shares  of  stock,  and  at  the  present  time 


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the  stock  is  about  all  held  by  A.  S.  Wright*,  C.  G. 
Moore  and  C.  A.  Rose.  The  business  has  gradually 
increased  until  now  the  average  products  amount  to 
$125,000  annually:  employment  is  given  to  about 
50  men.  Wooden  pumps  were  manufactured  ex- 
S{)  clusively  for  many  years,  but  in  1878  the  company 
began  preparations  for  the  manufacture  of  iron  pumps 
of  every  kind.  To  the  improvement  of  existing  pat- 
terns much  time  and  labor  was  given,  and  a  number 
of  entirely  new  styles  were  designed.  In  1880  their 
foundry  was  built,  their  machine  shop  fitted  up,  and 
the  manufacture  of  iron  pumps  begun  in  earnest. 
New  styles  are  introduced  from  time  to  time  and  old 
ones  improved. 

THE  MOLINE  PIPE  ORGAN  COMPANY 

Was  established  in  1871  by  the  present  proprietors, 
and  incorporated  March  26,  1879,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $15,000.  This  company  manufacture  pipe 
organs  exclusively,  and  employ  from  2c  to  25  men, 
and  do  an  annual  business  of  $40,000.  Their  organs 
are  of  the  finest  workmanship,  and  are  rapidly  grow- 
ing in  favor  throughout  the  States  and  Territories, 
where  their  market  extends.  The  company  have 
received  very  gratifying  commendations  from  Quincy, 
111.,  Omaha,  Neb.,  Muscatine,  Iowa,  and  other  places 
where  they  have  built  organs. 

THE   UNION  MALLEABLE  IRON  COMPANY 

Was  incorporated  in  April,  1872,  with  a  paid  up 
capital  of  $30,000,  which  has  since  been  increased 
to  $90,000.  Its  first  officers  were  C.  S.  Eells,*  Pres- 
ident; C.  W.  Heald  *  Vice-President;  C.  O.  Mitchell, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1875  by  H.  O.  Sleight,*  who  held  the 
office  up  to  Oct.  1,  1881,  when  Wm.  T.  Ball*  bought 
a  third  interest  in  the  business  and  was  elected  to 
the  office.  The  company  has  extended  its  business 
and  enlarged  the  capacity  of  its  works  from  time  to 
time  till  now  their  works,  consisting  of  solid  brick 
buildings,  cover  and  area  of  two  and  a  half  acres  of 
land,  and  constitute  the  largest  establishment  of  its 
kind  west  of  Chicago.     The  dimensions  of  the  var- 

tious  buildings  and  rooms  are  as  follows  :  Foundry, 
65x200  feet;  store  and  annealing  room,  50x125 
feet;  sand,  coke  and  tumbling  room,  52  x  117  feet, 
with  an  addition  of  20  x  50  ;  finishing  room,  50  x  60; 
shipping  room,  30  x  40  ;  pattern  room,  30  x  40;  office, 
20  x  40,  with  capacious  fire  and  burglar-proof  vault. 


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See  personal  sketch. 


The  entire  ground-floor  room  embraces  32,300  square 
feet.  When  working  to  full  capacity,  the  works  em- 
ploy 140  men,  while  their  average  output  is  from 
1,400  to  1,600  tons  of  finished  metal.  The  maximum 
output  of  the  works  exceed  this  amount  by  several 
hundred  tons.  They  make  a  specialty  of  wagon 
irons  and  those  used  in  agricultural  business. 

THE  MOLINE  STOVE  COMPANY 

Was  established  in  1874  by  E.  B.  Beers  &  Co.,  and 
was  incorporated  in  July,  18S1.  E.  B.  Beers*  is 
President  of  the  company,  and  Joshua  Norris*  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer.  The  history  of  this  company 
shows  the  usual  struggles  incident  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  new  enterprise  from  small  beginnings.  In 
this  case  the  proprietors  were  men  skilled  in  their 
business,  possessed  of  pluck  and  energy,  and  who, 
by  judicious  management  and  indefatigable  applica- 
tion, forced  success.  The  universally  acknowledged 
superiority  of  their  stoves  have  given  them  a  good 
reputation  and  secured  a  large  and  rapidly  increas- 
ing trade.  This  superiority  has  been  brought  about 
from  the  fact  that  the  proprietors  are  practical 
moulders  of  many  years'  experience,  and  who  give 
personal  supervision  to  the  details  of  the  business. 
The  company's  grounds  have  a  frontage  of  100  feet 
and  a  depth  of  600  feet,  while  the  buildings  are 
commodious  and  well  adapted  for  the  business.  The 
"  City  of  Moline,"  for  wood,  and  "  Dictator,"  for  coal, 
are  among  their  leading  cook  stoves,  and  the  "  Mo- 
line," a  cannon  heating  stove.  In  addition  to  the 
regular  stove  manufacture,  the  company  turn  out  a 
large  quantity  of  gray  castings  for  wagon,  pump, 
scales  and  school-furniture  manufacturers. 

MOLINE  PUMP  WORKS. 

The  Moline  Pump  Works,  Huntoon  Bros.,  pro- 
prietors,— Edgar  N,  Geo.  H*  and  Joseph  C* — was 
established  in  June,  1875.  They  manufacture  one 
of  the  best  porcelain-lined  pumps  in  the  market,  as 
well  as  chain  pumps.  They  employ  ten  men  and 
have  a  capacity  for  the  manufacture  of  100  pumps 
per  day.  The  shops  are  located  at  the  foot  of  17th 
Street. 

Luther  H.  Barker  is  the  manufacturer  of  Bean's 
celebrated  double-acting  stone-face  pump.  He  be- 
gan business  in  1874.  The  pump  is  a  non-freezing 
force  pump.  The  factory  is  located  at  387,  nth 
Street. 


*  See  persona]  sketch. 


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DEERE  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. 

The  Deere  &  Mansur  Company  was  incorporated 
in  1877,  and  commenced  in  a  two-story  brick  build- 
ing, since  used  by  the  Union  Malleable  Iron  Com- 
pany, and  which  was  supposed  would  be  large 
enough  to  answer  their  purposes  for  many  years. 
After  the  first  year's  introduction  of  their  implements, 
orders  came  in  so  fast  that  they  were  compelled  to 
seek  more  commodious  quarters,  which  they  did  in 
the  purchase  of  their  present  extensive  buildings, 
formerly  used  by  the  Rock  Island  and  Moline  Man- 
ufacturing Company.  Since  the  purchase,  the  main 
building  has  been  improved  and  additional  buildings 
erected.  Most  noticeable  of  the  new,  is  the  ware- 
house, 50  x*i  12,  the  foundry,  40  x  100,  and  black- 
smith shop,  38  x  80  feet.  These,  with  the  main 
building  60  x  180,  three  stories,  give  them  consider- 
able room.  The  company  was  organized  with  Chas. 
H.  Deere,  President,  and  James  W.  Atkinson,  Secre- 
tary. They  still  retain  these  offices,  and  under  their 
management  the  works  have  secured  a  trade  second 
to  none  in  their  line.  Among  the  implements  made 
are  the  Deere  &  Mansur  Rotary  Drop  Corn-Planter, 
Deere 's  Wire  Check  Rower,  Single  and  Double  Row 
Cornstalk-cutter,  One  and  Two  Horse  Drills,  Broad- 
cast Seeders,  and  Deere  Hay-Rake,  all  of  which 
have  an  enviable  reputation.  The  company  employ 
an  average  of  220  men,  requiring  over$S,ooo  monthly 
to  meet  the  pay  roll,  the  annual  product  being  be- 
tween $300,000  and  $400,000. 

THE    MOLINE    CABINET    ORGAN    COMPANY 

Was  incorporated  Dec.  19,  1S81.  Peter  Colseth* 
was  elected  president  and  treasurer ;  Wm.  Joseph- 
son*  secretary.  President  Colseth  was  chosen  su- 
perintendent and  general  manager.  The  company's 
works  consist  of  the  following  described  buildings, 
which  are  fitted  with  necessary  machinery  and  stock  : 
Main  building,  30  x  60  feet,  three  stories  high,  which 
constitutes  the  principal  workshops  and  finishing 
rooms.  A  second  building,  24x50  feet,  two  stories 
high,  contains  the  store  room,  packing  room  and  of- 
fice. A  suitable  engine  room,  of  one  story,  is  in  the 
rear.  The  company  employ  an  average  of  20  men, 
and  have  an  invested  capital  of  between  $45,000  and 
$50,000.  This  company  was  founded  by  Peter 
Colseth  and  Charles  C.  Leaberg,  in  1S77.  These 
gentlemen  were  both  practical  mechanics,  thoroughly 


*See  personal  sketch. 


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skilled  in  their  business  under  the  rigid  rules  of  the 
trade  in  their  native  country  (Sweden),  which  was 
supplemented  by  several  years'  experience  in  some 
of  the  most  extensive  organ  works  in  America.  They 
began  with  the  limited  capital  of  $1,000,  their  work- 
shops being  in  the  upper  story  of  an  old  building  on 
Railroad  Avenue.  The  first  three  years  were  spent 
in  the  old  shop,  working  to  great  disadvantage  and 
against  many  obstacles.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  they  had  demonstrated  their  ability  to  carry  on 
the  business  successfully.  They  then  purchased 
suitable  grounds,  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  Street 
and  Fourth  Avenue,  and  erected  their  present  com- 
modious buildings.  On  December  19,  iS8i,as  be- 
fore stated,  the  company  was  incorporated  as  a  stock 
company.  Wm.  Josephson,  Lewis  P.  Youngren,  C. 
G.  Timlin  and  John  Peterson  became  stockholders. 
The  present  officers  are  Peter  Colseth,*  President ; 
C- G.  Thuliri*  Treasurer  ;  John  Peterson,  Secretary. 
This  company  is  doing  a  safe  and  profitable  busi- 
ness. The  principal  managers  are  practical  mechanics 
and  give  their  shops  a  personal  supervision  that  in-  : 
sures  perfection  in  their  work.  Their  organs  are 
elegantly  and  substantially  finished  and  perfect  in 
every  detail.  The  rapid  growth  of  their  trade  and 
very   general    satisfaction    of   their  customers   speak    *t/ 


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volumes  for  the  merit  of  their  instruments. 

THE    MOLINE    CARRIAGE    WORKS 

Are  located  at  Nos.  316  to  320  18th  Street.  Robert 
H.*  and  John  Munro*  are  the  proprietors.  The  firm 
manufacture  carriages  and  spring  wagons  and  do 
general  repairing,  blacksmithing,  horseshoeing  and 
jobbing.  The  business  was  commenced  in  February, 
1 88 1.     From  six  to  eight  men  are  employed. 

THE  MOLINE  ROAD  CART  COMPANY 

Was  started  in  T8S2,  with  a  paid  up  capital  of 
$15,000.  It  was  subsequently  enlarged,  with  capital 
stock  of  $50,000  and  name  changed  to  Moline  Buggy 
Company.  In  1884  the  com  pan)  sold  their  manu- 
factures to  the  amount  of  $100,000.  Beginning  in  a 
small  way,  their  works  were  increased  until  they 
gave  employment  1052  men.  In  1885  J.  H.  Wilson* 
succeeded  to  the  business,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  wagons,  carts  and  buggies.  About 
40  men  are  employed,  but  the  works  will  permit  the 
employment  of  70  men. 

*See  personal  sketch. 


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THE    M0L1NE    MALLEABLE   IRON    COMPANY 

Was  incorporated  June  1,  1884,  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $75,000;  A.  L.  Carson,  President;  C.  F.  Hemen- 
way,*  Vice-President;  Wm.  B.  Ullman,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer.  The  works,  which  are  of  brick  and 
cover  an  acre  of  land,  are  located  on  the  corner  of 
Railroad  Avenue  and  Eighth  Street.  The  company 
employ  an  average  force  of  125  men,  turning  out  all 
sorts  of  malleable  castings,  making  a  specialty  of 
the  detachable  chain,  and  do  a  business  of  $200,000 
annually.  This  company  succeeded,  by  purchase, 
the  Moline  Malleable  Iron  Works,  which  were  es- 
tablished in  1869  by  Jonathan  Huntoon,  C.  W. 
Heald  and  others.  In  the  spring  of  1884  the  works 
were  purchased  by  the  present  company  and  are 
being  successfully  managed  by  the  well  known  gen- 
tlemen who  constitute  its  proprietors  and  officers. 

THE    MOLINE    SCREW    COMPANY 

Was  incorporated  in  the  fall  of  1 884,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $20,000.  C.  H.  Deere*  was  elected  Presi- 
dent; T.  B.  Carson*  Vice-President;  H.  L.  Bullen* 
Secretary.  The  works  were  erected  during  that  fall, 
the  company  commencing  business  on  Jan.  1,  1885. 
The  main  building  is  64  feet  square,  three  stories 
high,  of  brick,  thoroughly  and  substantially  built, 
with  a  boiler  house  and  engine  room,  16x32  feet. 
The  company  employ  15  men  and  manufacture  iron 
wood  screws  of  various  patterns  and  sizes.  While  in 
operation  but  a  few  months,  and  that  during  a  period 
of  depression  in  manufacturing  industries,  the  com- 
pany have  developed  a  fair  business  and  have  made 
a  good  showing  as  to  product  and  quality  of  work. 
This  is  the  only  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  north  of  St.  Louis.  Its  founders 
are  men  of  well  known  enterprise  and  responsibility, 
and  it  is  only  a  question  of  time  when  it  will  rank  as 
one  of  the  important  industries  of  Moline. 

THE    PRINTING    HOUSE 

Of  John  H.  Porter ,*  located  opposite  the  Keator 
House  on  Third  Avenue,  is  one  to  be  eminently 
proud  of.  It  contains  three  cylinder  and  two  job 
presses,  and  a  very  fine  assortment  of  book,  pamphlet, 
commercial  and  job  type.  Not  only  this,  its  system- 
atic arrangement  and  general  management  is  also 
of  a  superior  order,  insomuch  that  but  few  offices  in 
cities  the  size  of  Moline  can  compare  with  it.     The 


I 

*See  personal  sketch, 


proprietor  is  a  practical  and  master  printer  and 
believes  and  succeeds  in  turning  out  some  of  the 
best  specimens  of  the  art  we  have  ever  seen.  This 
printing  house  is  a  credit  to  Moline  and  to  its  popu- 
lar and  reliable  proprietor.  Mr.  Porter  became 
proprietor  of  the  office  in  r88i. 

THE    AUGUSTANA    BOOK    CONCERN 

Was  incorporated  as  a  stock  company  under  the 
above  title  in  July/1884,  S.  P.  A.  Lindahl,  Pies.; 
James  Moody,  Sec. ;  C.  P.  Rydholm,  Treas.,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $15,000,  Jonas  Westling,  Manager. 
Does  a  general  book  publishing  and  importing 
business;  sales  amually  amount  to  about  $25,000. 
This  company  publishes  principally  religious  books, 
papers,  tracts  and  periodicals.  They  publish  a  weekly 
paper  called  the  Augustana  och  Missionaren,  which 
has  a  circulation  of  8,000  ;  a  monthly  Sunday-school 
paper  called  the  Olive  Leaf,  circulation  9,000 ;  and  a 
semi-monthly  Swedish  magazine  called  the  Ung- 
domsvanncn,  or  Youth's  Friend.  These  papers  are 
edited  by  the  faculty  of  the  college. 

ASSESSMENTS. 

In  1885  the  Assessor  reported  the  following  items  : 
Improved  land,  132  acres;  unimproved  land,  563 
acres;  total  value,  $i  17,765.  Improved  lots,  1,150; 
unimproved,  281  ;  total  value,  $g3L>37°-  0f  horses 
there  were  426;  cattle,  197;  mules  and  asses,  11; 
hogs,  5  ;  steam  engines,  28  ;  fire  and  burglar  proof 
safes,  54;  billiard  tables,  31  ;  carriages  and  wagons, 
419;  watches  and  clocks,  321;  sewing  and  knitting 
machines,  748;  pianos,  117  ;  melodeons  and  organs, 
136;  total  value  of  personal  property,  $469,130. 

BOARD    OF    SUPERVISORS. 

The  following  named  have  been  members  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  from  1857  to  1885  : 
1857-8 — J.  Chamberlin. 
1859-60 — H.  F.  Sickles. 
1 86 1-3— S.  W.  Wheelock. 
1864-6— Chas.  Atkinson. 
1867— John  M.  Gould. 
1868— H.F.  Sickles. 
1869-70 — Wm.  A.  Harrold. 
l87I_D.  W.  Dimock,  Geo.  W.  Flickinger. 
l872_j.  M.  Christy,  Geo.  W.  Flickinger. 
1873— Chas.  W.  Lobdell,  A.  S.  Wright. 
1874— Jonathan  Huntoon,  Mr.  Morey. 
1875— Ezra  Smith,  Henry  Klahn, 


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1876 — D.  O.  Reid,  Angus  Timm. 

1877 — D.  O.  Reid,  Simon  Hirsch. 

1878 — -James  D.  Long,  Wm.  Breitbach. 

1879 — I).  O.  Reid,  Henry  Coffen. 

1880 — D.  O.  Reid,  Simon  Hirsch. 

1881— D.  O.  Reid,  Simon  Hirsch,  H.   P.   Oakley. 


1882 — Josiah  Grant,  Henry  Vierich,  Peter  Colseth. 
1883— Dr.  P.  L.  McKinnie,  Henry  Vierich,  John 
A.  Shallene.  tfij, 

1884 — Henry  Vierich,  Thomas  Trumbull,    N.    H. 
Cedarburg. 

1885 — Henry  Vierich,    Frank  Harwood,   Thomas 
Trumbull. 


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ANDALUSIA  TOWNSHIP. 

NDALUSIA  is  a  fractional  township,  com- 
prising all  of  township  17  north,  range  3 
in^eff*  west,  lying  south  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
which  is  its  northern  boundary  line.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Black  Hawk,  on 
the  west  by  Buffalo  Prairie,  and  on  the  south 
by  Edgington  Township.  On  the  adoption  of  the 
township  organization  law  in  1857,  Andalusia  formed 
a  part  of  Edgington  Township,  but  was  set  off  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  in  1859. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  1833.  Capt.  B. 
W.  Clark,  who  commanded  a  company  of  rangers  in 
the  Black  Hawk  War,  came  here  from  White  Oak 
Springs,  near  Galena,  with  a  flat-boat  and  established 
a  ferry,  and  on  his  claim  of  1  60  acres  built  a  hewed- 
log  residence  near  the  mouth  of  the  creek.  This  was 
the  first  house  built  not  only  in  Andalusia,  but  in  Rock 
Island  County,  south  of  Rock  River.  Capt.  Clarke 
was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  indomitable  will,  and 
his  ferry  became  one  of  the  most  important  ones 
above  St.  Louis. 

The  second  cabin  was  built  by  H.  Sams  at  Sul- 


phur Springs,  and  the  third  by  John  Vannatta,  on 
section  26.  The  farms  of  these  gentlemen  were  the 
first  under  cultivation  in  this  county  below  Rock 
River.  Fro  11  that  time  the  township  gradually  set- 
tled up. 

Capt.  Clark  sold  his  claim  in  a  few  years  to  S. 
Whiteside  and  others,  who  had  surveyed  and  platted 
a  magnificent  city,  to  which  was  given  the  name 
Rockport.  This  was  wholly  a  paper  city,  represent- 
ing a  tract  of  land  with  a  mile  and  a  half  river  front 
and  a  width  of  one  mile  It  was  a  great  speculative 
enterprise,  in  which  United  States  Senators  as  well 
as  others  were  involved.  Being  all  sold  to  various 
parties,  and  remaining  unimproved  after  the  specu- 
lative fever  had  subsided,  owners  allowed  their  lots 
to  be  sold  for  taxes,  and  Rockport  became  a  thing  of 
the  past. 

The  first  school-house  was  erected  in  1843  and 
built  by  volunteer  work  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
township.  In  this  house  the  first  school  was  taught 
the  following  summer  by  Miss  Hannah  Buffum. 
The  first  school-house  built  at  public  expense  was 
in  the  fall  of  1854  on  the  farm  of  Lorenzo  Parmenter, 


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A  local  writer  thus  speaks  of  Andalusia:  "In  1827 
this   was    a  favorite    hunting-ground   of  the    Black 
Hawk  Indians.     From  the  village  of  Andalusia  and 
the    Sulphur    Springs,   down    the  valley  to   Sunfish 
Lake  (a  fishing  resort  to  this  day),  seemed  to  have 
been  a  preferred  fishing  and  camping  ground,  while 
that  east  of  the^  village  they  seem  to  have  associated 
with  the  whisperings  of  the  Great  Spirit  and  futurity, 
by  interring  their  dead  in  that  locality,  where  a  great 
number  of  the  remains  have  since  been  exhumed.   In 
1867  a  tomb  was  unearthed   on   the  farm   of  John 
Buffum  containing  15  remains.     It  was   made  with 
five  large  slabs  of  stone  placed  in  box  form,  barely  of 
sufficient  dimensions  to  answer  the  purpose.     Why 
these   were  thus  honored  in  death   is  probably  ex- 
plained  by    that  principle  of  human   nature    upon 
which  monuments  are  built  for  the  illustrious  of  our 
own  race — they  were  probably   once    distinguished 
chieftains."     In    speaking  of  the   topography  of  the 
country,  the  same  writer  says  :  "Andalusia  is  a  frac- 
tional township  on  the  Mississippi  River,  containing 
about  one-third  part  of  a  full  township.     The  prin- 
cipal part  of  it  lies  in  the  river  bluffs,  which   abound 
in  coal,  building  stone  and  potter's  clay.     There  is  a 
remarkably  pure  bed  of  magnesian  limestone  at  the 
mouth   of  Coal   Creek,  which   might  be    easily  and 
profitably    developed.     Limestone    of  the    Silurian 
and  Hamilton  formation  abounds  in  the  middle  and 
produces  a  most  excellent  body  of  strong  lime.     In 
the  upper  end  there  is  exposed  a  fine  ledge  of  sand- 
stone,   which,  in    geologic   order,   seems    almost    to 
belong  to  the  drift  period,  furnishing  excellent  build- 
ing stone.     In  the  southwest  is  found  excellent  sand 
for  the  manufacture  of  glass.     The   creeks,    which 
cut  through  the  bluffs,  abound  in   fossils  and  furnish 
an  instructive  field  for  the  amateur  and  scientific  geol- 
ogist.    Its  surface  resembles  that  of  the  north  part  of 
Edgington  Township,  being  divided  by  ravines  which 
drain    the    surplus    water   to    the    Mississippi,    be- 
tween which  on  the  ridges  there  is  considerable  level 
land  and    some    well-improved    farms.     In  the  east 
part,  in  which  there  is  a  greater  proportion  of  level 
land,  the  soil  is  mostly  of  black  alluvium  in  various 
proportions,  excepting  a  tract  of  land   of  about  one- 
half  mile  wide  at    Andalusia,  to  a  less  width  below, 
lying  between    the  bluff  lands    and   the  river,  which 
has  a  greater  mixture  of  sand  in  the  black  alluvium. 
During  early  times  the  land  was  mostly  covered  with 
groves  of  large  oak  trees,  free  from  underbrush;  but 


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now  about  half  the  area  is  covered  with  thickets  of 
underbrush  and  young  timber.  This  growth  is  one 
of  the  legitimate  results  since  fires  ceased  to  run 
through  the  woods  and  destroy  all  the  tender  tree 
plants.  Among  the  hills  are  numerous  never-failing 
springs  of  good  water.  '  Among  the  strata  which 
compose  the  coal  measures,  overlying  the  Devonian 
limestones,  which  extend  under  the  formation  from 
out-croppings  to  a  d-epth  not  exceeding  300  feet, 
there  is  a  valuable  one  of  fire  clay  from  two  to  four 
feet  in  thickness.  The  less  pure  clays,  which  are  in 
abundance,  burn  into  a  good  common  brick.  The 
Mississippi  River  at  this  place  (Andalusia  village) 
runs  over  a  solid  rock  bed  of  Hamilton  limestone  (a 
group  of  the  Devonian  series)-  the  upper  stratum  of 
which  is  a  superior  quality  of  magnesian  limestone, 
and  is  quarried  out  near  the  hills.  It  crops  out  at 
Coal  Creek,  20  feet  in  thickness.  This  stone,  by 
Government  test  at  Rock  Island,  compares  favorably 
with  other  superior  building  stone  throughout  the 
State." 

In  1 84 1,  Jonathan  Buffum  built  a  log  grist-mill 
16  x  20  feet,  on  Fancy  Creek;  it  stood  about  40 
rods  north  of  the  Andalusia  road,  leading  from  the 
east  to  that  village.  This  was  the  first  mill  built  in 
this  neighborhood,  and  had  the  buhrs  used  by  Jo- 
seph Dunlap  in  Edgington  Township. 

As  stated,  Andalusia  was  set  off  from  Edgington 
Township  in  1859.  Its  first  election  was  held  April 
5  of  that  year,  the  following  named  being  elected  . 
John  Buffum,  Supervisor;  James  S.  Ferguson,  Town 
Clerk;  B.  F.  Eby,  Collector;  Samuel  Kenworthy, 
Assessor;  Isaac  Richards,  Jonathan  Mosher,  A.  H. 
Mosher,  Commissioners  of  Highways;  James  W. 
Ballard,  James  Roberts,  Justices  of  the  Peace  ;  James 
Hill,  Joseph  C.  Buffum,  Constables  ;  Lorenzo  Par- 
menter,  Overseer  of  the  Poor. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  Superintendent  of 
Public  Schools  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885, 
there  were  three  school  districts  in  the  township, 
each  having  a  good  frame  house,  the  total  value  of 
which  was  $4,960.  There  were  173  persons  of 
school  age,  of  whom  134  were  enrolled  in  the  public 
schools.  Eight  teachers  were  employed,  receiving 
from  $18  to  $55  each  per  month. 

In  1885  the  assessor  reported  the  following  items: 
Improved  land,  5,945  acres;  unimproved  land,  1864 
acres;  total,  $58,335.     Town  lots, 


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140  unimproved,  valued  at  $16,914.  Of  horses  there 
were  155  ;  cattle,  325  ;  mules  and  asses,  4  ;  sheep,  60; 
hogs,  492;  steam  engines,  1  ;  fire  and  burglar  proof 
safes,  3  ;  billiard  tables,  1 ;  carriages  and  wagons,  5  2  ; 
watches  and  clocks,  15  ;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 58;  melodeons  and  organs.  10.  Total  value 
of  personal  property,  $17,265. 

The  following  named  have  served  the  township  as 
members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  : 


John  Buffum 1859-62 

Samuel  Kenworthy 1863 

Lorenzo  Parmenter   1864 

John  tJuffum 186s 

Rinnah   Wells 1866-7 

S.  R.  Buffum 1868 

James  W.  Ballard 1869-70 

John    Buffum 1871 


John  T.  Kenworthy 1872-3 

Wm.  Smith 1875 

John  Buffum 1876-7 

}.  W.  Ballard '...1879-82 

James  Cozad 1882 

James  S.  Robertson 1883 

E.  H.  Bowman 1884-5 


Village  of  Andalusia. 

HE  village  of  Andalusia  is  situated  on  the 
:  northwest  quarter  of  section  27  of  Anda- 
1  lusia  Township.  Capt.  B.  VV.  Clark  was  the 
original  owner  of  the  village  plat,  which  was 
a  portion  of  the  site  of  the  paper  city  of  Rock- 
ford.  In  1843,  Samuel  Kenworthy  opened  a 
store  in  his  cabin,  which  stood  near  the  river,  a  little 
east  of  the  ferry  landing.  Soon  after,  Col.  N.  B.  Bu- 
ford  bough  tat  a  tax  sale  the  lots  of  Rockport  and 
built  a  store  and  warehouse,  and  in  1845  named  the 
village  Andalusia.  In  1866,  S.  M.  Boney  had  the 
place  re-surveyed  into  50  blocks,  having  a  total  of  47  1 
lots.  The  streets  running  east  and  west  were  named 
Water,  Main,  Washington,  Jefferson,  Madison,  Adams 
and  Jackson.  Those  running  north  and  south  were 
Aspen,  Apple,  Perry,  Magnolia,  Walnut,  Park  and 
Maple.  The  village  is  finely  lo:ated  amidst  beau- 
tiful and  picturesque  scenery. 

While  the  river  trade  was  large  a  bright  future  for 
Andalusia  seemed  assured;  but  when  railroads  were 
built,  which  monopolized  passenger  and  freight  traffic, 
its  trade  began  to  decline.  The  village  is  pleasantly 
situated,  easy  of  access,  and  with  the  aid  of  manu- 
factories, might  yet  realize  the  bright  anticipations 
of  its  founders. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Andalusia 
dates  its  existence  from  1858.  The  earliest  meetings 
were  held  in  1849,  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Sarah 
Buffum,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  village,  at  which 
time  it  is  said  that  there  were  but  seven  members 


of  all  denominations  in  the  township.  Subsequently 
their  meetings  were  held  at  various  places,  until  the 
organization  of  the  class  at  the  residence  of  Joseph 
Garnett,  at  the  Sulphur  Springs,  in  the  fall  of  1858. 
Those  composing  that  class  were  Mrs.  Sarah  Buffum, 
Elizabeth  Eby,  F.  A.  Cobb,  Joseph  Garnett,  Mrs. 
Clara  W.  Ferguson  and  Mrs.  Susan  Garnett. 

In  1859  meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house, 
located  east  of  the  village,  and  continued  to  be  held 
there  until  1867,  when  their  house  of  worship  was 
erected  in  the  village,  and  duly  dedicated  in  March 
of  that  year.  On  the  day  of  dedication  $900  was 
subscribed  toward  the  building  expenses.  The 
Church  is  not  strong  at  the  present  time. 

The  first  class  of  United  Brethren  in  Christ  was 
organized  in  1864.  Meetings  had  occasionally  been 
held  for  about  one  year  previously,  the  first  sermon 
being  preached  by  Rev.  John  Wenger.  There  were 
only  four  members  of  the  first  class — H.  S.  Thomp- 
son and  wife,  M.  M.  Thompson  and  Cynthia  Smith. 
Meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house  until  1869, 
when  a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,900.  It  was  dedicated  Jan.  15,  1869.  The 
Sabbath-school  maintained  by  this  Church  had  its 
origin  in  a  Union  Sabbath-school,  organized  May  r, 
1859.  As  the  various  churches  grew  strong  enough, 
denominational  Sabbath-schools  were  organized,  and 
the  Union  School  closed  in  the  Baptist  Church,  Jan. 
19,  1868,  and  opened  Feb.  14,  1869,  in  the  Union 
Baptist  church. 

The  first  Baptist  Church  of  Andalusia  dates  its 
existence  from  1867.  Previous  to  this  time  meetings 
were  held  in  the  village  in  the  school-house,  which 
was  subsequently  purchased  and  fitted  for  the  use  of 
the  Church.  This  Church  is  an  outgrowth  of  the 
Edgington  Baptist  Church,  25  members  being  dis- 
missed from  that  body  to  organize  this  one. 


BLACK  HAWK   TOWNSHIP. 

^EW  townships  present  a  more  romantic  in- 
terest than  that  of  Black  Hawk,  named  in 


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honor  of  the  famous  Sac  chief,  who  here 
made  his  home  for  so  many  years,  and  was  so 
JMl  loth  to  leave  it.     In  a  state  of  nature  the  coun- 
try round  about  was  wondrously  beautiful.     It 
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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


at  an  early  day  were  attracted  by  its  lovel.ness,  and 
dreamed  of  future  great  possibilities  in  its  develop- 
ment and  settlement  by  the  "superior  race."  It  is 
no  wonder,  either,  that  the  red  men,  who  have  an 
eye  for  the  beautiful,  and  who  believe  that  all  things 
were  made  by  the  Great  Spirit  for  their  good,  did  not 
care  to  go  away  to  some  unkno.n  country  when  all 
around  them  was  everything  needful  to  supply  their 
daily  wants.  But  one  day,  while  the  Indians  were 
away  upon  their  annual  hunt,  the  white  man  came. 
The  winds  must  have  carried  the  news  to  Black 
Hawk,  for  in  a  few  days  afterward,  with  one  or  two 
of  his  trusted  followers,  he  made  his  appearance  at 
his  ancient  village,  and  found  the  news  too  true: 
the  white  man  was  there,  his  own  wigwam  being 
occupied  by  Judge  Pence.  He  began  talking  in  a 
loud  voice,  but  in  the  Indian  language.  Pointing  to 
his  wigwam,  he  ?aid:  "  Saukie  wigeop  ;"  and  then, 
pointing  his  finger  to  the  ground,  he  raid,  "  Saukie 
aukie,"  repeating  this  many  times.  The  Judge  soon 
understood  that  he  meant  that  the  wigwam  and  land 
belonged  to  the  Indians. 

But  the  time  had  come  for  the  Indians  to 
move  on  toward  the  setting  sun.  In  the  preceding 
pages  an  account  is  given  of  the  settlement  by  the 
whites,  and  what  followed. 

Joshua  Vandruff,  for  whom  the  large  island  is 
named,  was  doubtless  the  first  to  make  a  permanent 
location  in  what  is  now  Black  Hawk  Township, 
though  Rinnah  Wells  and  his  four  sons  settled  here 
about  the  same  time.  It  is  possible  they  may  have 
preceded  Vandruff  a  few  days.  Suffice  it  to  say  that 
when  John  W.  Spencer,  who  was  afterward  County 
Judge  of  Rock  Island  County,  arrived,  in  March, 
1829,  both  families  were  here. 

Joshua  Vandruff  became  well  known  to  all  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  For  many  years  he  ran 
a  ferry  across  Rock  River,  near  his  residence.  He 
died  many  years  ago. 

Rinnah  Wells  was  a  typical  backwoodsman,  one 
who  feared  neither  man  nor  the  Evil  One.  If  neces- 
sary he  would  have  unflinchingly  faced  a  whole 
tribe  of  Indians.  Many  incidents  are  related  of  him 
in  this  particular.  There  was  no  love  lost  between 
him  and  the  red  men,  at  any  time  ;  and  it  often 
seemed  as  if  his  life  was  endangered  by  his  conduct 
toward  the  savages.  Rinnah  Wells  has  long  been 
"gathered  to  his  fathers,"  but  his  descendants  in  the 


Rock  River  country,  even  at  the  present  time,  are 
very  numerous. 

It  was  not  until  after  the  Black  Hawk  War  of  1832 
that  the  country  began  to  be  settled  to  any  great 
extent.  Among  those  who  settled  here  after  that 
event,  none  are  better  known  than  William  Dickson, 
who  made  his  first  visit  to  this  section  in  1834,  re- 
turning in  1836  for  a  permanent  settlement.  Mr. 
Dickson  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  reared  in 
Pennsylvania.  In  the  State  of  his  adoption  he  be- 
came quite  an  influential  man,  being  at  one  time  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Canal  Commissioners — a 
very  responsible  position  in  that  day.  He  resided 
on  the  site  of  the  old  Sac  village  till  1807,  when  he 
moved  to  Milan,  where  he  died,  Nov.  25,  1869. 

Among  other  early  settlers  were  John  Dickson, 
James  Johnston,  James  Dickson,  William  Heflin,  Ira 
L.  Whitehead.  N.  D.  Bradley,  William  Young,  F.  M. 
Young  and  Daniel  Pinkley. 

Black  Hawk  Township  was  organized  at  the  time 
the  township  organization  law  was  adopted.  Its 
dimensions  were  enlarged  some  years  ago  by  the 
addition  of  several  sections  of  land  from  Coal  Valley. 

From  the  report  of  the  County  Superintendent  of 
Public  Schools,  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  it 
is  learned  that  in  connection  with  South  Rock  Isl- 
land  it  has  1,007  persons  under  21,  of  whom  698  are 
of  school  age.  The  enrollment  for  the  year  was  439. 
The  highest  wages  paid  any  teacher  was  $80  per 
month,  while  the  lowest  received  $25.  The  school 
property  was  valued  at  $12,575. 

In  1885,  according  to  report  of  assessors,  there  were 
of  improved  land,  13,594  acres;  unimproved,  4,128 
acres;  total  value,  $214,685.  Of  town  lots  there  were 
201  improved  and  no  unimproved,  valued  at  $50,- 
110.  Of  horses  there  were  395;  cattle,  1,277; 
mules  and  asses,  14;  sheep,  21;  hogs,  1,028;  fire  and 
burglar  proof  safes,  8;  billiard  table,  1;  carriages  and 
wagons,  192;  watches  and  clocks,  55;  sewing  and 
knitting  machines,  10  r  ;  pianos,  8;  melodeons  and 
organs,  24.  Total  value  of  personal  property,  $.58,- 
031. 

SUPERVISORS. 


0) 


H.  J.  Burnett 1857-8 

Joseph    Huyett 1859 

John    A.  Boyer 1860-3 

Hibbart  Moore    1863-4 

G.  W.  Heflin 1865 

Samuel  T.   Kerr 1866 

Alexander    Owens 1867-8 

H.  M.    Coon 1869 


James  Dickson 1870 

A.   Dun  lap     ..1871 

LotJ.  Anderson 1872 

James  Dickson 1873 

Thomas    Kerr 1S74-8 

John  H.  Gil  more 1S79-80 

Win.  L.   Heath 1881-5 


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Village  of  Milan. 

|5  ILLIAM   DICKSON,  who  has  been  men- 
9  tioned   among  the  pioneers  of  the  town- 


1843,  laid  out  a  village  on  the 


f^p       ship,   in 

south  branch  of  Rock  River,  to  which  was 
given  the  name  of  Camden.  There  being  a 
postoffice  in  Schuyler  County,  in  this  State,  bear 
ing  the  name,  and  not  caring  to  have  the  village  and 
postoffice  bearing  different  names,  it  was  changed  to 
Camden  Mills.  In  1870  it  was  again  changed,  tak- 
ing the  name  of  Milan.  The  name  was  adopted  by 
a  vote  of  the  people. 

The  first  business  enterprise  was  that  of  a  mill 
erected  by  Messrs.  James  Dickson  and  Felix  Brunot 
the  year  in  which  the  village  was  laid  out.  A 
dam  was  thrown  across  Rock  River  and  a  mill 
built,  having  four  run  of  buhrs.  This  was  a  very 
popular  institution  and  attracted  custom  for  many 
miles  around,  the  farmers  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Monmouth,  in  Warren  County,  making  frequent  trips 
to  this  mill.  Dickson  &  Brunot  continued  as  pro- 
prietors until  1852,  when  they  sold  out  to  Thomas 
and  James  Johnston.  In  1853  Dickson  &  Bradley 
erected  another  mill,  having  three  run  of  buhrs.  This 
also  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Johnstons  in  1854 
Both  mills  continue  to  be  owned  in  the  family,  the 
sons  of  James  Johnston  being  proprietors. 

Dichson  &  Brunot,  while  erecting  their  mill, 
opened  a  general  store,  being  the  first  in  the  village. 
Philleo  &  Parker  soon  afterwards  opened  a  store,  and 
other  lines  of  business  rapidly  followed  until  very 
soon  a  thriving  town  had  sprung  up,  and  a  bright 
future  was  anticipated  by  the  proprietor  and  the 
citizens  who  had  already  established,  themselves  in 
the  place. 

As  soon  as  the  village  had  been  determined  on,  a 
petition  was  sent  in  to  the  Postoffice  Department, 
praying  for  the  establishment  here  of  a  postoffice.  The 
prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  granted  and  James 
Dickson  was  appointed  the  first  postmaster.  After 
serving  a  few  years,  he  was  succeeded  by  A.  K. 
Philleo,  who,  in  turn,  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Joseph 
Hayett,  Thomas   Kerr,  Wm.   Clarke,  Lot  Anderson, 


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4) 


G.  H.  Honens,  Warren  Sterns,  G.  H.  Hon  ens  the 
second  time,  and  R.  B.  Olmstead,  the  incumbent.  A 
money  order  department  was  instituted  in  1874. 

As  soon  as  it  was  apparent  that  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  children  were  in  their  midst,  steps  were  taken 
for  opening  a  school.  In  1844  a  small  frame  school- 
house  was  erected  and  occupied.  This  house  was 
used  until  1867,  when  it  became  too  small  to  accom- 
modate the  large  number  of  pupils  desiring  admis- 
sion, so,  in  that  year  a  larger  and  more  commodious, 
as  well  as  convenient,  building  was  erected,  at  a  cost 
of  $6,000.  Additions  have  since  been  made  to  this 
building    Four  teachers  are  now  regularly  employed. 

The  first  settlers  in  Milan  were  a  God-fearing  peo- 
ple, and  at  once  made  arrangements  to  hold  divine 
services.  The  first  services  were  held  in  the  mill 
soon  after  its  erection.  There  are  now  three  Church 
organizations,  each  having  houses  of  worship. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  is  an  outgrowth  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Rock  Island.  It  was 
organized  in  1845,  with  27  members,  by  Rev.  Ithmar 
Pillsbury,  though  previous  to  this  time  services  were 
occasionally  held,  Rev.  Cyrus  Dickson,  D.  D.,  ^ 
preaching  the  first  sermon.  Among  those  who  formed  & 
the  original  organization  were  Wm.  Dickson,  Marian  ^ 
C.  Dickson,  James  Dickson,  Ruth  Ann  Dickson,  Ed-  ^ 
ward  Hollister,  Emma  Hollister,  Eliza  Ann  Dickson,  «: 
Elizabeth  Dickson,  Wm.  Clarke,  Amelia  Clarke,  John  , 
Gilmore  and  David  M.  Dickson.  The  first  Elders 
were  Wm.  Dickson,  Edward  Hollister  and  John  Gil- 
more.  In  1846  Wm.  Dickson  erected  at  his  own  ex- 
pense a  house  of  worship,  deeding  the  same  to  the 
Church.  This  house  was  used  until  1868,  when  an- 
other building  was  erected  by  the  congregation,  at  a  , 
cost  of  $3,400,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  300.  Rev.  -. 
Ithmar  Pillsbury  preached  for  the  Church  for  several  '. 
years.  The  present  Pastor  is  Rev.  G.  C.  Carson. 
The  Church  has  had  in  the  main  a  prosperous  career, 
but  has  been  decimated  materially  by  removals.  It 
now  numbers  85,  with  James  Dickson,  G.  H.  Honens 
and  Wm.  McConnell  as  Elders. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
1848.  Among  the  original  members  were  David 
Kelso,  Thomas  Shires,  John  Thompson,  James 
Thompson,  Susan  Brown,  George  W.  Chaney,  Mary 
Thompson,  C.  Routzong  and  M.  Shinstrum.  Ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  school-house  until  the  erection 
of  the  church  in  1854.     Rev.  F.  Haney  was  the  first 


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ROCK  ISLAND   COUNTY. 


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to  preach  here  as  one  of  the  stations  on  the  Camden 
circuit. 

The  German  Reformed  Church  was  organized  in 
1872.  During  the  same  year  a  house  of  worship  was 
erected  by  the  congregation. 

The  following  named  secret  and  benevolent  soci- 
eties are  represented  in  the  village:  Masons, 
United  Workmen,  Modern  Woodmen  and  the  G. 
A.  R. 

Eureka  Lodge,  No.  69,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,was  organ- 
ized in  1849,  its  charter  members  being  numbered 
among  the  best  men  in  the  village.  The  lodge  has 
had  a  prosperous  career,  with  a  present  membership 
of  51.  Meetings  are  held  on  Friday  evening  on  or 
before  full  moon,  in  Masonic  Hall,  over  Young's 
store.  The  officers  for  1885  are:  C.  E.  Smith,  W. 
M. ;  T.  J.  Medill.S.  W.  ;  I.  R.  Palmer,  J.  W. ;  Wm. 
Francis,  S.  D. ,  C.  H.  Brandenburg,  J.  D. ;  Howard 
McCulloth,  Treas.  ;  H.  L.  Franing,  Sec. 

Milan  Camp,  No.  67,  M.  W.  A.,  was  instituted 
Dec.  6,  1884,  with  12  charter  members.  Its  growth 
has  been  quite  rapid,  numbering  at  present  54. 
Meetings  are  held  second  and  fourth  Tuesday  eve- 
ning in  each  month.  The  present  officers  are:  R.  B. 
Olmstead,  Consul;  F.  H.  Harris,  Adviser;  C.  E. 
Smith,  Clerk;  Thomas  Johnston,  Banker. 

Rock  River  Lodge,  No.  105,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  in- 
stituted in  1879,  with  30  charter  members.  The 
first  meetings  were  held  in  Young's  Hall.  On  the 
completion  of  the  Town  Hall  a  change  was  made  to 
that  place,  where  meetings  are  yet  held.  It  has  had 
a  prosperous  career,  numbering  now  70  members. 
It  has  lost  one  by  death — George  Lewis.  The  officers 
in  July,  1885,  were:  F.  H.  Hairis,  M.  W.;  Frank 
Corson,  G.  F.  ;  J.  C.  Johnston,  Recorder  and  Finan- 

Icier. 
J.  W.  Muse  Post,  No.  369,  G.  A.  R.,  was  mustered 
in  1883,  with  20  charter  members.  Geo.  E.  Brown 
was  the  first  Commander  ;  W.  A.  F.  Ruge,  S.  V.  C. ; 
G.  A.  Cooper,  Adj.  The  Post  has  been  very  success- 
ful from  its  start,  and  now  numbers  36  members. 
Meetings  are  held  monthly.  The  present  officers 
are:  George  E.  Brown,  Com. ;  George  Whitehead, 
S.  V.  C. ;  J.  D.  Lafferty,  Adj.  J.  W.  Muse,  in  whose 
honor  the  Post  was  named,  was  a  Sergeant  in  the  93d 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  enlisted  at  this  point.  At  the 
battle  of  Champion  Hills  he  was  wounded,  and  died 
^     from  the  effects. 


% 


9 


Milan,  or  Camden  Mills,  as  it  was  then  called,  was 
incorporated  as  a  town  in  1865.  It  has  a  population 
of  about  1,000. 


& 


F* 


BUFFALO  PRAIRIE  TOWNSHIP. 

UFFALO  PRAIRIE  Township  lies  in 
•  the  western  portion  of  the  county,  and 
comprises  all  of  town  16  north,  range  4 
west,  and  a  few  sections  lying  south  of  the 
Mississippi  River  in  township  17  north,  range 
4  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
Mississippi  River,  on  the  south  by  Mercer  County, 
and  on  the  east  by  Edgington  and  Andalusia  Town- 
ships, and  on  the  west  by  Drury.  The  first  settle- 
ment was  made  in  1834,  by  John  Edgington,  who 
located  on  section  n,  where  he  yet  remains.  Mr. 
Edgington  is  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  Ohio, 
born  July  4,  1809.  In  February,  1834,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Susan  Crabs,  born  in  the 
same  county.  Together  they  came  West,  a'nd  in 
July  located  in  this  township,  where  they  have  spent 
5  1  years. 

John  Kistler  was  the  next  to  locate  in  the  town- 
ship. He  became  quite  prominent  in  local  affairs, 
serving  some  two  or  three  terms  as  County  Commis- 
sioner, and  also  as  Associate  Justice,  when  the  coun- 
ty was  governed  by  a  County  Judge  and  two 
Associate  Justices.     He  died  some  years  ago. 

Samuel  Sloan  was  the  next  to  locate  here.  He 
came  in  1839  from  Pennsylvania,  and  yet  resides  on 
the  old  homestead. 

Others  came  in  shortly  after,  but  the  township  did 
not  have  a  rapid  settlement. 

Jarne-5,  son  of  John  and  Susan  Edgington,  was 
born  March  20,  1835,  being  the  firstborn  in  the  town- 
ship. He  was  raised  on  his  father's  farm,  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Lucy  A.  Schriver,  of  Coe  Township, 
and  now  resides  on  a  farm  in  Edgington  Town- 
ship. 

Among  the  first  deaths  was  that  of  Martin  Fuhr, 
who  died  during  the  first  decade. 

The  first  school  was  taught  near  the  residence  of 
John  Edgington,  about  1840.  The  teacher  was  a 
Scotchman  about  70  years  of  age,  and  a  gentleman 
of  the  olden  time. 


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The  Presbyterians  were  the  pioneers  in  this  town- 
ship. Rev.  John  Montgomery  was  probably  the 
first,  and  Rev.  Ithamar  Pillsbury  the  second  to  pro- 
claim "Christ  and  Him  crucified."  Services  were 
held  at  private  houses,, that  of  John  Edgington  being 
more  generally  used. 

There  are  three  church  edifices  in  the  township. 
One,  erected  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  brethren 
and  used  in  common,  is  situated  on  the  prairie.  The 
other  two  are  German  churches. 

The  Germans  are  very  numerous  in  the  township, 
effecting  their  settlement  at  a  very  early  day.  They 
are  a  thrifty  class. 

The  township  is  about  equally  divided  between 
timber  and  prairie.  The  first  growth  of  timber  has 
mostly  been  cut  off,  the  second  growth  now  being 
very  heavy.  On  the  prairie  are  some  fine  and  well- 
improved  farms. 

Buffalo  Prairie  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that 
in  the  early  settlement  of  the  township  a  portion  of 
the  prairie  had  been  well  trodden  by  some  animals, 
supposed  to  be  buffaloes  :   hence  the  name.     It  was 
3  organized  in  1857. 

There  is  one  village  lying  partly  in  this  and  partly 
1  in  Drury  Township, — -Illinois  City, — which  was  laid 
•  out  at  a  very  early  day,  and  in  grand  style,  its  owner 
fondly  dreaming  that  at  no  distant  day  it  would  be 
the  metropolis  of  the  West.  For  some  years  a  good 
trade  was  had  by  the  merchants,  but  the  completion 
of  the  railroad,  and  the  trade  being  diverted  from  the 
river,  ruined  the  prospects  of  Illinois  City.  At  present 
there  are  two  general  stores,  one  pottery  and  one 
blacksmith  shop  to  represent  the  business  of  the 
place.     C.  R.  Ellsworth  is  the  Postmaster. 

The  United  Brethren  and  Methodist  Episcopal 
Churches  have  each  houses  of  worship  in  this  place. 
There  is  also  a  fine  two-story  frame  school-house, 
which  is  an  honor  to  Illinois,  City,  and  which  would 
be  creditable  in  a  much  larger  and  more  pretentious 
town. 

From  the  report  of  the  Superintendent  of  Public 
Schools  of  the  county  the  following  interesting  items 
are  obtained:  There  were  501  persons  under  21 
years  of  age,  of  whom  320  were  of  school  age.  There 
■  were  nine  school  districts,  each  having  a  good  frame 
school-house,  the  total  value  being  $9,000.  The 
highest  wages  paid  were  $50  and  the  lowest  $20  per 
/@)    month. 

In  1885  the  assessor  reported  the  following  items  : 


o 


Improved  land,  14,483  acres;  unimproved  land, 
15,059  acres;  total  value,  $223,762.  Town  lots,  176, 
valued  at  $1,088.  Of  horses  there  were  560  ;  cattle, 
1,576;  mules  and  asses,  26;  sheep,  192  ;  hogs,  3,400 ; 
carriages  and  wagons,  146;  watches  and  clocks,  40; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  67  ;  pianos,  2;  melo- 
deons  and  organs,  18.  The  total  value  of  personal 
property  was  reported  at  $49,135. 

Buffalo  Prairie  was  organized  as  a  township  in 
1857.  The  following-named  have  served  it  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  : 

SUPERVISORS. 

F 


O.  H.   P.    Moore 1857-59 

Lorenzo  C  .  Elliott 1860-64 

John   H    Ely 1865-66 

Lorenzo  C  .  Elliott 1867-68 

0.    H.  P.  Moore .    .1869 

John   Edgington 1870-71 

A.J.  Little "S72-73 

G.A.  Marston 1874-75 


■vuxtff&r 


J  .  Whitney 1876 

Kistler 1877 

Wm.  Drury 1878-80 

J.  E.    Little   1881 

Wm.   Drury 1882 

Wm.    H.    Kistler 1883 

Chas.  Titteringlon,  Jr. . .  1884 
L.  C.  Elliott 1885 


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CANOE    CRIJEK  TOWNSHIP. 
Jjl^ANOE  CREEK  is   a   factional  township, 


Si 

KEJk    comprising  about  12  sections  in  township 


ft) 


I 


19,  range  3  east,  and  a  little  less  than 
$fe  three  sections  in  township  18,  range  3  east. 
/^  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  and  north  by  White- 
side County  and  on  the  west  by  Coe  and 
Zuma  Townships.  On  the  southwest  it  narrows  to 
a  point  on  section  18,  township  iS,  rang-;  3  east,  the 
Rock  River  separating  it  from  Whiteside  County. 

John  Walker  came  in  1835  and  made  claim  to  a 
large  tract  of  land  on  section  31,  but  built  his  house 
just  over  the  line  on  section  36,  Coe  Township. 

Jonah  Carter  came  about  the  same  time,  locating 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Walker,  but  in  this  township. 
Mr.  Carter  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  but  came 
here  from  Tennessee.  Many  years  ago  he  moved 
to  Jo  Daviess  County,  where  he  has  since  died. 

Joseph  Martin  came  in  1837  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 18,  where  he  remained  till  death.  David  M. 
Martin,  his  son,  yet  resides  on  the  old  homstead. 

Thomas  Spencer  made  a  claim  on  the  Meredosia 
in  1S35,  lived  there  one  winter,  sold  out  and  re- 
moved to  Rock  Island,  where  he  died  some  years 
ago. 

Wm.  and  Daniel  Leek,  from  New  York,  came  in 
1837,  and  located  near  Rock  River.     They  remained 


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here  some  years,  then  moved  to  Jo  Daviess  County, 
where  they  have  since  died. 

'"Squire"  Sargent,  from  Ohio,  was  probably  the 
next  to  locate  in  the  township.  He  made  his  claim 
near  Rock  River,  and  tried  farming.  Not  being  a 
practical  farmer,  he  found  that  he  could  not  make  a 
living  at  the  business ;  so  he  sold  his  farm  and  re- 
turned to  his  native  State. 

William  and  Beverly  Beardsley  came  from  New 
York  about  the  same  time.  William  remained  a  few 
years  and  then  moved  to  Rock  Island.  Beverly  died 
here  some  years  ago. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Britton  about 
1837,  in  a  log  house,  near  Canoe  Creek,  erected  for 
the  purpose  by  the  few  persons  then  living  in  the 
neighborhood.  A  sufficient  number  of  comfortable 
school-houses  are  now  in  the  township  to  meet  the 
demands  and  accommodate  all  who  wish  to  attend 
school. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  about  1837 
at  the  cabins  of  the  pioneers,  the  house  of  John 
Walker,  across  the  line  in  Coe  Township,  being  more 
generally  used.  Among  the  pioneer  preachers  may 
be  named  Revs.  Kiikpatrick,  Hanna,  McMurtry  and 
Worthington.  The  first  religious  society  that  was 
formed  in  the  township  was  in  1848,  by  Rev.  Scott, 
a  minister  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  who  or- 
ganized a  class,  composed  principally  of  citizens  of 
Canoe  Creek,  in  a  school-house  on  Walker's  farm. 
The  school-house  was  used  until  1852,  when  a  small 
frame  church  was  erected  and  used  until  1868,  when 
the  present  church  edifice  was  built.  This  is  a  good, 
comfortable  building  and  cost,  including  labor,  about 
$2,500.     Services  are  regularly  held  in  this  church. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized  about 
1849,  and  a  house  of  worship  for  the  use  of  the  so- 
ciety was  erected  in  i860.     It  is  situated  on  section 

3°- 

The  first  birth  now  remembered  was  that  of 
Louisa,  daughter  of  Joseph  Carter,  born  in  1836. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  child  of  Samuel  Sar- 
gent in  1838.  There  are  two  cemeteries  located  in 
the  township. 

The  first  marriage  was  doubtless  that  of  Absalom 
Ennis  and  Mary  Jane  Walker,  who  were  united  in 
1841. 

The  first  postoffice  in  the  township  was  established 
in  1842  or  1843,  with  Moses  Hubbard  as  Postmaster. 


The  office  was  kept  at  his  house.  It  was  discon- 
tinued in  a  short  time. 

The  second  postoffice  was  that  of  Hill's  Crossing, 
with  James  Hiss  as  Postmaster.  At  this  crossing  a 
station  was  established  by  the  Sterling  &  Rock  Isl- 
and, now  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  Rail- 
road Company,  and  around  this  James  Hill  laid  out 
a  village  in  1868,  known  as  Hillsdale.  It  is  the 
shipping  point  for  a  portion  of  Canoe  Creek  and 
Zuma  Townships,  as  well  as  some  of  the  citizens  of 
Whiteside  and  Henry  Counties.  The  village  is 
small  and  unincorporated,  but  has  at  present  two 
general  stores,  one  grocery  store,  one  blacksmith 
shop,  one  grain  house  and  two  hotels.  Henry  Wig- 
gins is  the  present  Postmaster  of  Hillsdale,  the  name 
of  the  office  being  changed  to  that  of  the  village. 

From  the  report  of  the  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  it  is 
learned  that  in  this  township  there  are  three  school 
districts,  with  four  frame  school-houses,  valued  at 
$3,700.  There  were  181  persons  under  21,  of  whom 
118  were  of  school  age,  with  an  enrollment  of  104. 
The  highest  wages  paid  teachers  were  $40  and  the 
lowest  $25  a  month. 

The  assessor  in  1885  reported  the  following  items: 
Impioved  land,  7,651  acres;  unimproved  land,  1,383 
acres:  total  value,  $81,002.  Town  lots,  27  ;  total 
value,  $3,495.  Of  horses  there  were  183;  cattle, 
671  ;  mules  and  asses,  6;  sheep,  137  ;  hogs,  686; 
carriages  and  wagons,  49  ;  watches  and  clocks,  17  ; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  25  ;  pianos,  1  ;  melo- 
deons  and  organs,  1 1.  Tot.il  value  of  personal  prop- 
erty, $15,650.     Canoe  Creek  was  organized  in    1857. 

SUPERVISORS. 


I.  H.  Marshall 1857 

Geo.    Kendall 1858-9 

H.  H.    Hill 1860-62 

Chas.    B.Marshall 1863 

James  Hill 1864-66 

Stephen  Odell 1867 

James  Hill 1868 

Daniel  Nicewanger 1869 


COAL   VALLEY  TOWNSHIP. 


OAL    VALLEY  Township  is  bounded  on 

7  the  north   by  South  Moline  Township,  on 

W?^    the  south  by  Rural,  on  the  west  by  Black 


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Wm.  A.   Marshall 1870 

James  Hill.... 1871-72 

E.  P.  Yeaster 1873-75 

Geo.  W.  McMurphy 1876-77 

D.   M.    Martin    187S-79 

John  A.  Liphardt 1880-81 

David  M.   Martin 1882-S5 


Hawk,  and  on  the  east  by  Henry  County.     It 
comprises   a   little   less  than   12    sections  of 
land,    though    when  organized    it  comprised 
one  and  one-half  townships.     Rural  Township  was 


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setoff  in  187  1,  and  subsequently  nearly  six  sections 
were  set  off  to  Black  Hawk.  The  land  is  very  rough 
and  broken,  though  there  are  some  good  farms  here. 
The  coal-fields  have  been  the  great  attraction  here 
and  have  been  the  chief  source  of  revenue  to  the 
inhabitants. 

William  and  Charles  Bailey  are  said  to  have  been 
the  first  settlers  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
township,  while  George  E.  Washburn  is  thought  to 
be  the  next  to  have  made  a  permanent  settlement. 
The  latter  was  the  first  to  take  to  himself  a  wife, 
which  he  did  shortly  after  his  settlement. 

The  first  birth  was  the  son  of  Charles  Bailey. 

The  first  school  was  in  1854,  and  was  held  in  a 
small  house  owned  by  Thos.  Lees.  Mr.  Doyle  was 
the  teacher.  The  patrons  of  this  school  were  Thos. 
Lees,  Wm.  Bailey,  Chas.  Bailey,  Geo.  E.  Washburn, 
Frederick  Fittell  and  A.  Edwards.  The  first  district 
school  was  taught  by  A.  M.  Nichols.  This  township, 
with  South  Moline,  are  in  one  Congressional  town- 
ship.    For  report,  see  history  of  South  Moline. 

In  1 885  the  assessor  reported  the  following  items  : 
Improved  land,  6,551  acres;  unimproved  land,  774 
acres;  total  value,  $73,816.  Town  lots,  232  improved 
and  61  unimproved;  valued  at  $7,673.  Of  horses, 
there  were  227  ;  cattle,  726;  mules  and  asses,  17; 
sheep,  104;  hogs,  613;  steam  engines,  2 ;  billiard 
tables,  3 ;  carriages  and  wagons,  70;  watches  and 
clocks,  2;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  64;  pianos, 
2  ;  melodeons  and  organs,  16.  Total  value  of  per- 
sonal property,  $22,302. 

Coal  Valley  was  organized  as  a  township  in  1857. 

SUPERVISORS. 


Lewis  Wilson 1857-S 

John    M.Wilson 1859-61 

Andrew    Donaldson 1862-3 

A  .  L.  Sayre 1864 

John  McCandless 1865-7 

A.   I.      Sayre 1868 

Lewis   Wilson 1869-71 

Thomas    Lees 1872 


Thomas  Martin 1873-4 

Theodore  Jacobs 1875 

Thomas   Phillips 1876 

George  Hillier,  Jr 1877 

Wm.  J.    Rawson 1878-80 

Thomas   Lees 1881 

John  Barton 1882-5 


Village  of  Coal  Valley. 


N   1856    the  Coal  Valley  Mining  Company 

which  had    commenced   operations  in  this 

vicinity,   laid    out   a  village   to   which    was 

given  the  name  of  Coal   Valley.     During  that 

same  year  Wm.  Bailey  and  Wm.  Boyle  opened 

the    first    store   in    the  place.     M.  F.   Herrick 

shortly   after  opened    another    store.     The    village 


rapidly  grew  in  numbers,  and  by  1859  almost  all 
lines  of  trade  were  represented  here,  and  it  was  en- 
joying a  veritable  boom. 

In  1S57  the  postoffice  was  established,  with  Thos. 
T.  Jones  as  Postmaster.  Mr.  Jones  held  the  office 
but  a  short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  George  E. 
Washburne,  who,  in  due  time,  gave  way  to  Fred 
Wayerhauser.  In  1866  Dr.  Thomas  Martin  was  ap- 
pointed and  has  served  continuously  to  the  present 
time.  In  1875  a  money  order  department  was  at- 
tached to  the  office.  Orders  to  the  amount  of 
$10,000  are  annually  issued.  About  one-half  that 
amount  is  annually  paid  on  orders  on  this  office. 

In  1857  the  first  school-house  was  erected  in  the 
village.  It  was  a  frame  building.  Additions  have 
since  been  made  as  the  population  of  the  village  has 
increased.  Three  teachers  are  constantly  employed, 
and  at  times  four.  The  school  is  thoroughly  graded 
and  is  doing  a  good  work.  Dr.  Williams  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  teacher.  Wm.  A.  Kramer  was 
employed  as  principal  for  many  years. 

When  the  village  was  first  laid  out  it  was  quickly 
settled  by  Welsh  people,  who  came  here  to  work  in 
the  coal  mines.  At  one  time  fully  four-fifths  of  the 
population  were  of  that  nationality.  At  present  there 
are  but  few  here. 

Dr.  Williams  was  probably  the  first  physician 
in  the  place.  He  located  here  in  1857,  and,  as 
already  stated,  taught  a  term  of  school,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  eking  out  a  subsistence.  Dr.  Williams 
remained  but  three  years. 

Dr.  Thomas  Martin  came  next.  Dr.  Martin  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  is  at  present  one  of  the  Elders  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  serving  his  fifth 
term  as  Postmaster.  He  came  here  from  Milan,  and 
has  resided  here  continuously  since  1858.  He  is 
now  the  sole  representative  of  the  medical  fraternity 
in  the  place.  Among  those  who  have  engaged  in 
practice  here  have  been  Drs.  Crawford,  Bonax,  Gib- 
son, Roseberry,  Jacobs,  DeWitt  and  Wallace.  There 
have  generally  been  two,  and  at  times  four  in  practice 
here  at  one  time. 

The  religious  element  has  generally  been  well 
represented.  At  present  there  are  six  denominations 
represented,  though  none  are  in  as  flourishing  a  con- 
dition as  they  should  be. 

The  Welsh  Congregational  Church  was  the  first 
organized.     It  came  into   being  in    1857,  Rev.  John 


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ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY. 


L.  Richards  officiating  in  its  organization.  There 
were  15  persons  to  sign  the  covenant.  Meetings 
were  first  held  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Williams. 
In  1862  a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,000.  On  account  of  removals  especially,  the 
membership  of  this  Church  has  decreased  until  at 
present  its  membership  is  small  indeed. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  the  next  organized,  its 
organization  dating  Jan.  11,  1866.  Rev.  T.  M. 
Matthews  officiated.  Among  its  first  members  were 
R.  Benjamin  and  wife,  D.  Prosser  and.wife,  H.  Hill, 
D.  Powell  and  wife,  and  Mary  Davis.  Rev.  T.  M. 
Matthews  received  an  unanimous  call  to  the  pastor- 
ate and  served  the  Church  about  four  years.  While 
he  was  laboring  for  the  Church  a  small  house  of 
worship  was  erected.  Like  the  Congregational 
Church,  its  membership  has  been  lessened  by  re- 
movals, until  to-day  regular  services  cannot  be 
maintained. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  May, 
1867,  with  29  members.  John  Barton,  Albert  Owens, 
F.  Freeburg,  Hugh  Caughy  and  Robert  Lee  were 
elected  Trustees,  and  Dr.  Thos.  Martin  and  L.  Ev- 
ans, Elders.  In  the  following  year,  Wm.  A.  Kramer 
was  added  to  the'Eldership.  A  church  edifice  was 
erected  at  this  time,  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  Rev.  J.  S. 
McClung  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Church, 
and  was  the  first  stated  supply.  For  a  time  the 
Church  prospered,  but  latterly  has  not  been  doing  so 
well ;  though,  as  this  work  is  being  prepared,  there  is 
reason  to  believe  it  will  revive,  as  several  additions  to 
the  membership  have  been  made.  No  regular  services 
are  held  at  the  present  time.  Dr.  Thos.  Martin  and 
John  Barton  are  the  Ruling  Elders.  The  membership 
of  the  Church  is  about  25. 

The  Primitive  Methodists  were  organized  in  186S. 
Giles  Hudson,  Joseph  Warmouth,  Robert  Wilson, 
George  Wilsun  and  John  Ranson,  Sr.,  were  among 
its  first  members.  A  church  was  erected  in  1869,  at 
a  cost  of  $2,000.  The  first  preacher  was  Rev. 
Charles  Dawson,  who  came  from  Kewanee  once  a 
month.  For  several  years  the  Church  prospered.  Its 
membership  is  very  small  at  present.  Rev.  \V.  Todd, 
of  this  Church,  is  the  only  resident  preacher  in  Coal 
Valley.     He  preaches  on  each  Sunday  evening. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  erected  in 
1869.  The  society  was  organized  shortly  after  the 
viliage  was  laid  out,  and  for  a   number  of  years  was 


very  prosperous.  There  has  been  no  regular  preach- 
ing for  several  years,  and  it  may  be  said  of  it,  like 
the  Church  in  Sardis,  it  has  a  name  to  live,  but  is 
dead. 

The  Roman  Catholic  residents  of  Coal  Valley 
previous  to  1875  were  connected  with  the  Rock  Isl- 
and Mission.  In  1870  they  had  completed  a  church 
at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  which  was  formally  opened  for 
worship  by  Rev.  Father  Roles,  under  whose  super- 
vision the  church  was  erected.  The  congregation  is 
now  served  by  the  priest  residing  at  Moline. 

The  Swedes  residing  here  have  regular  services  in 
the  Presbyterian  church,  the  Swedish  language  being 
used. 

The  secret  and  benevolent  societies  of  the  place 
are  represented  by  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  United 
Workmen  and  the  G.  A.  R. 

Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  47,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  insti- 
tuted Feb.  21,  1877,  with  22  charter  members  It 
has  prospered  fairly  well  since  its  organization,  though 
numbering  now  but  19  members.  Two  of  its  number 
have  died, — John  Degore  and  Wm.  D.  Crawford. 
The  present  officers  are  Hugh  Martin,  P.  M.  W.; 
James  Clegg,  M.  W. ;  John  J.  Ryce,  G.  F. ;  Charles 
Clappenbach,  O.;  Wm.  Myers,  Recorder;  John  T. 
Hass,  Receiver;  Frederick  Freeberg,  Fin. ;  Gustave 
Kropp,  Guide;  Louis  Stafford,  I.  W. ;  John  J.  Jur- 
gens,  O.  W. 

William  L.  Walker  Post,  No.  385,  G  A.  R.,  was 
mustered  Dec.  n,  1883,  with  20  charter  members. 
J.  \V.  Gordon  was  the  first  Commander;  Geo.  Wil- 
son, S.  V.  C. ;  and  T.  J.  Murphy,  Acting  Adjutant. 
The  Post  has  been  fairly  prosperous,  with  22  mem- 
bers at  present, comprising  the  greater  number  of  old 
soldiers  living  in  the  vicinity.  Wm.  L.  Walker,  in 
whose  honor  the  Post  was  named,  was  a  sergeant  in 
Co.  H,  126th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  who  died  in  the  service. 
He  was  a  true  man,  a  good  soldier  and  held  in  'es- 
teem by  all  who  knew  him.  A  number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Post  were  in  the  same  regiment  with 
Sergeant  Walker.  The  Post  meets  on  the  first  and 
third  Thursday  evening  in  each  month  in  the  Knights 
of  Labor  Hall. 

Union  Assembly,  No.  3,120,  K.  of  L.,  was  insti- 
tuted March  20,  1884,  with  20  charter  members.  It 
has  prospered  well  and  now  numbers  52  members, 
meeting  weekly  in  their  hall.  The  present  officers 
are  T.  J.  Murphy,  M.  W. ;  Joseph  Bardslv,  W.  F. ; 
W.  B.  Martin,  R.  S. 


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The  village  can  hardly  be  said  to  be  as  prosperous 
as  in  former  years,  though  considerable  trade  is  done 
here.  At  present  there  are  three  general  stores,  one 
grocery  store,  one  drug  store,  one  harness  shop,  one 
shoe  shop,  two  wagon  shops,  two  blacksmith  shops, 
one  hardware  store,  one  tin  shop,  one  lumber  yard, 
one  flouring  mill,  one  agricultural  implement  dealer, 
four  saloons  and  one  physician. 


■H) 


COE  TOWNSHIP. 


C. 


A, 


Y 


h,OE  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  agricul- 
JMljEpljr  tural  townships  in  the   county.     It  com- 
prises all  of  township  19,  range  2  east,  and 
is  one  of  the  few  full  townships  in  the  county. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Canoe  Creek 
Township,  on  the  west  by  Port  Byron,  on  the 
south  by  Zuma,  and  on  the  north  by  Cordova  Town- 
ship and  Whiteside  County. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  1835,  John 
Walker  locating  on  section  36,  where  he  lived  and 
died. 

John  Butcher  also  came  in  1835,  shortly  after 
Walker,  locating  on  section  5.  Mr.  Butcher  was 
from  Virginia  and  unmarried.  He  lived  on  his 
homestead  until  1851,  when  he  started  overland  for 
California,  but  died  while  on  the  way. 

Burrall  Butcher,  a  brother  of  John,  came  in  1836 
and  located  on  the  same  section.  He  had  a  family. 
Mr.  Butcher  died  on  his  homestead  about  I  en  years 
after  his  settlement. 

Samuel  Allen,  who  had  been  residing  on  the  place 
where  the  village  of  Port  Byron  was  laid  out,  sold 
that  place  and  moved  to  a  farm  near  the  center  of 
the  township  in  February,  1837.  He  lived  but  a  few 
months  after  making  the  settlement.  His  death  was 
doubtless  the  first  in  the  township. 

Samuel  Ennison  came  to  the  township  about  six 
weeks  after  Allen  and  located  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood. He  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  came  here  from 
Indiana.      He  died  on  his  farm  about  i860. 

Henry  Smith  located  about  two  and   a  half  miles 
^    east  of  Port  Byron  in  1837.      He  died  on  the  home- 
stead many  years  ago. 

Henry  M.  Stockton  was  also  a  settler   of  1837,  lo- 


He    subsequently  moved    to 


eating  on  section   9 

Iowa,  where  he  died. 

Isaac  Hollister  was  another  settler  of  1837,  com- 
ing from  Indiana  and  locating  on  section  20.  He 
is  still  living,  about  a  mile  from  Port  Byron. 

Addison  Philleo  located  on  section  18  in  1838. 
He  died  on  the  homestead. 

Mrs.  Charity  Marshall,  a  widow,  with  a  family  of 
nine,  came  from  New  Jersey  in  1838,  and  located  on 
section  3.  She  died  on  the  homestead  some  years 
after.  The  children  all  located  in  the  neighborhood 
and  all  became  quite  wealthy.  One  died  in  the 
army.     Seven  of  the  number  are  yet  living. 

The  first  birth  was  probably  that  of  a  child  of 
Burrall  Butcher. 

Among  the  first  to  wed  in  the  township  were  Hiram 
Walker  and  Mary  Ennis,  and  David  Allen  and  Miss 
Remson. 

The  first  religious  services  "are  unknown.  While 
many  in  the  township  worship  in  villages  near  |by, 
there  are  yet  two  flourishing  societies  in  the  town- 
ship—the Baptists  and  United  Presbyterians.  The 
Christians  had  a' congregation  and  a  good  house  of 
worship,  but  no  services  are  now  held  by  them. 

It  is  not  remembered  who  held  the  first  school. 
There  are  now  eight  school  districts  in  the  township, 
each  having  a  good  frame  school-house.  There  are 
349  persons  under  21,  of  whom  321  are  of  school 
age.  For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there  were 
enrolled  in  the  schools  227.  Fourteen  teachers  were 
employed  during  the  year,  the  highest  wages  received 
by  any  being  $60  per  month,  while  the  lowest  re- 
ceived is  $23.  The  school  property  is  valued  at 
$3-55°- 

There  were  reported  to  the  assessor  in  1885  the 
following  items:  Improved  land,  19,065  acres;  un- 
improved land,  3,807  acres;  with  a  total  value  of 
$263,884.  There  were  also  39  town  lots,  valued  at 
$985.  Of  horses  there  were  639;  neat  cattle,  2,081 ; 
mules  and  asses,  14;  sheep,  163;  hogs,  2,172;  steam 
engines,  2  ;  carriages  and  wagons,  166;  watches  and 
clocks,  3  ;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  64  ;  melo- 
deons  and  organs,  34.  The  total  value  of  personal 
property  was  $60,290. 

Coe  Township  was  organized  in  1857.  It  was  first 
named  Fremont,  but  in  1858  was  changed  to  Coe,  in 
honor  of  one  of  its  leading  citizens,  an  early  settler, 
though  not  a  pioneer.     The  following  named  have 


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served  the  township  on  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors : 

SUPERVISORS. 

A.  S.  Coe 1857-60 

Henry  Saddoris 1861 

Thomas  Simpson 1862 

losiah  Wilcher 1863 

Wrn.  C.  Pearsall.. 1S64-65 

Jacob  H.  Marshall 1666-67 


George    Allen 1S68-70 

A.   F.    Hollisler 1871 

George   Allen 1872 

Jesse  S.  Dailev 1873-78 

A.  F.  Hollister 1879-81 

L.  S.  Pearsall 1882-85 


-t^ ^ 


CORDOVA  TOWNSHIP. 

:|,ORDOVA  lies  in  the  extreme  northeast  of 
of  the  county.  It  is  a  fractional  township. 
The  first  settlement  was  made  in  1836  by 
Herdman  East,  who  located  on  the  site  of  the 
present  village.  Among  those  living  here  in 
1838,  as  remembered  by  J.  S.  Phillips,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  that  year,  are  the  following  named : 
Nelson  Tripp,  Chauncy  M.  Tripp,  ffm  Kelley,  Du- 
dy  Buck,  Peter  Beardsley,  Albram  G.  Adams,  Wm. 
Armstrong,  Jeremiah  Rice,  Robert  Jenks,  Wm. 
Jenks,  John  Marshall,  Dr.  Thomas  Baker,  Benoni 
Haskins,  A.  Whiting,  Amazi  Rathburn,  Guy  W. 
Rathburn.  Each  of  these  had  families.  The  Tripps 
were  from  New  York.  After  remaining  here  some 
15  years  they  moved  to  Iowa.  Wm.  Kelley  moved 
to  Rock  Island  and  there  died.  Dudy  Buck  moved 
to  Albany  and  was  among  the  killed  in  the  tornado 
of  June,  i860.  The  whereabouts  of  Peter  Beardsley 
is  not  known.  A.  G.  Adams  died  here  a  few  years 
ago.  Wm.  Armstrong  moved  south  of  the  village  of 
Port  Byron,  and  has  since  died.  Jeremiah  Rice 
died  during  the  first  decade. 

In  183S  Wm.  Marshall,  Sr.,and  family,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Cool  and  family,  Jerry  L.  Cool  and  family,  Jo- 
seph R.  Sexton  and  family,  and  J.  S.  Phillips — in  all, 
20  persons — moved  into  the  township,  and  located 
near  the  village  of  Cordova.  Of  the  20  persons 
12  are  still  living. 

A  child  of  Benoni  Haskins  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  first  death,  dying  in  1838.  It  was  buried 
on  the  hill  back  of  the  village.  Hugh  Daily,  who 
died  about  1839,  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  sec- 
ond. 

Nathaniel  Belcher  and  Miss  Jenks  and  Joseph 
Mills  and  Miss  Jenks  were  among  the  first  married. 

The  first  school  was  probably  taught  by  D.  Baker 
in  his  own  house.  Fidelia  Rathburn  was  also 
among  the  early  teachers. 


The  township  is  quite  rough  and  broken,  though 
there  are  some  fine  farms.  One  on  the  principal  in- 
dustries is  that  of  the  manufacture  of  lime,  which  is 
carried  on  quite  extensively,  there  being  several  large 
kilns  owned  by  the  Pon  Byron  Lime  Company. 

For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  the  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools  reported  342  persons  un- 
der 2i,  of  whom  284  were  of  school  age,  250  being 
enrolled  in  the  public  schools.  There  were  five 
school  districts,  with  one  brick  and  four  frame  school- 
houses,  valued  at  $1,050.  The  highest  wages  paid 
were  §So  per  month,  while  the  lowest  were  $20. 

From  the  abstract  of  assessments  for  1885,  the 
following  facts  are  obtained:  There  were  9,616 
acres  of  improved  and  5,481  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  with  a  total  valuation  of  $119,177  ;  town  lots, 
$31,219.  Of  houses  there  are  362;  neat  cattle, 
877;  mules  and  asses,  to;  sheep,  60;  hogs,  589; 
steam  engines,  2;  billiard  tables,  1;  carriages  and 
wagons,  157  ;  watches  and  clocks,  150;  sewing  and 
knitting  machines,  112;  pianos,  14;  melodeons  and 
organs,  29.  Total  value  of  all  personal  property, 
$45,812. 

The  township  was  organized  in  1857,  since  which 
the  following  named  have  served  as  members  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  : 

SUPERVISORS. 

George  Marshall 1857 

Jacob  Hoke   1858-9 

James  M .  Cowles i860 

Jacob  Hoke 1861 

I     Q.  Wvnkoop 1862-4 

Jacob  Hoke i^s 

I.  L.  Perkins 1806-9 


James  E  Abbott 1869 

R.  M.  Grinnell 1870-6 

Jonathan  Cool,  Jr 1877 

Daniel    Zimmerman 1878-81 

J.  Hoke- 1882 

Simon    Trent 1883 

Chas.    B.   Fisk 1884 


Village  of  Cordova. 

HE  village  of  Cordova  was  laid  out  in   1837 
by  John  Marshall  and  Dr.   Thomas  Baker. 
These  gentlemen  each  erected  a  house,  be- 
ing  the    first  on  the  village  plat.     Dr.  Baker 
suggested    the    name   given    the  vilage.     The 
postoffice  was  not  established  here  until  1839, 
Marshall    receiving   the  appointment.     S.    J. 
Whitford  is  the  present  Postmaster. 

Wm.  Marshall  was  probably  the  first  merchant 
here,  commencing  business  shortly  after  the  laying 
out  of  the  village. 

John  Marshall  kept  the  first  hotel  in  the  first 
house  erected  by  himself. 

The  first  ferry  was  run  by  Israel  Atherton.  The 
first  steam  ferry  was  run  by  John  Walker. 


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In  1853  Brigham  &  Marshall  erected  the  first 
grist-mill  in  the  place. 

Cordova  was  most  prosperous  the  five  years  pre- 
ceding the  war,  at  which  time  quite  an  extensive 
besiness  was  done  here.  Like  all  river  towns  that 
have  not  become  manufacturing  points,  the  railroad 
has  been  no  advantage  to  it.  At  the  present  time  its 
business  is  limited,  though  almost  all  branches  are 
well  represented.  There  are  four  general  stores, 
one  grocery  store,  two  drug  stores,  one  restaurant, 
two  blacksmith  shops,  two  shoe  shops,  two  wagon 
shops,  one  meat  market,  two  grain-buyers,  two  stock 
buyers,  with  occasionally  others,  two  physicians  and 
one  lawyer. 

The  first  school  in  the  village  is  said  to  have  been 
taught  by  Dr.  Thomas  Baker  in  his  own  house.  At 
present  there  is  a  good  school-house,  a  thoroughly 
graded  school  with  three  departments.  Prof.  Van- 
dusen  is  Principal,  with  Miss  Phillips  in  the  inter- 
mediate and  Miss  Grinnell  in  the  primary  depart- 
ment. 

The  school-house  was  built  in  1S63,  at  which  time 
the  schools  were  conducted  under  the  common- 
school  laws  of  the  State.  They  were  so  conducted 
until  Feb.  16,  1865,  when  a  special  charter  was  ob- 
tained, placing  the  control  of  the  schools  in  the 
hands  of  a  board  of  education,  composed  of  six 
members,  two  of  whom  were  elected  each  year  to 
serve  three  years.  The  school  has  been  conducted 
under  this  charter  till  the  present  time. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Cordova  was  organized 
Dec.  28,  1843,  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  J.  N. 
Seeley,  with  a  membership  of  r6,  among  whom  were 
J.  R.  Sexton,  Mahala  Sexton,  J.  L  and  Margaret 
Cool,  A.  S.  and  Mary  A.  Ege.  A  small  church 
building  was  erected  in  1844,  which  served  its  pur- 
pose until  1858,  when  a  more  pretentious  building 
was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  The  Church  has 
been  quite  prosperous,  is  the  parent  of  two  other  or- 
ganizations, and  has  given  several  persons  to  the 
ministry. 

Cordova  Lodge,  No.  543,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  char- 
tered Oct.  1,  1867,  with  17  members — D.  H.  Mattice, 
W.  M. ;  John  K.  Glasscock,  S.  W. ;  Orville  N.  Whit- 
ford,  J.  W.  The  lodge  has  been  fairly  prosperous, 
and  is  in  good  working  condition.  The  present 
membership  is  30,  with  the  following-named  officers  : 
W.  R.  Freek,  W.  M.  ;  W.  D.  Webster,  S.  W. ;  J.  M. 
Heany,  J.  \V. ;  R.  C.  Cool,  Treasurer  ;  William  Cool, 


Secretary;  C.  B.  Marshall,  S.  D.  ;  W.  E.  Heany,  J. 
D. ;  C.  A.  Phillips,  Tyler.  There  has  been  but  one 
death  among  its  membership. 

Cordova  Lodge,  No.  79,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  organ- 
ized May  n,  1877,  with  28  charter  members:  Jere 
Bryan,  P.  M.  W. ;  Robert  Johnson,  M.  W. ;  F.  A. 
Hall,  G.  F. ;  Henry  W.  Rathbun,  O.;  William  D. 
Webster,  Recorder;  Howard  Myers,  Financial  Sec- 
retary ;  A.  Bolinger,  Receiver;  Daniel  T.  Pinneo,  G.  ; 
Charles  E.  Bell,  I.  W. ;  Samuel  Slocum,  O.  W.  The 
present  membership  is  ^^.  One  has  died,  William 
G.  Wendt.  The  present  officers  are  :  C.  B.  Mar- 
shall, M.  W. ;  John  F.  Simpson,  G.  F.  ;  D.  J.  Durbin, 
O.;  R.  C.  Cobb,  Receiver;  \V.  D.  Webster,  Financial 
Secretary  ;   D.  T.  Pinneo,   Recorder. 

Burr  Oak  Camp,  No.  33,  was  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1884.  with  62  charter  members.  Its  first 
officers  were  W.  R.  Freek,  Consul;  C.  A.  Phillips, 
Adviser;  S.  J.  Whitford,  Banker;  George  B.  Spoor, 
Clerk.  Meetings  are  held  fortnightly.  The  camp 
now  numbers  65.  with  the  following-named  officers: 
W.  R.  Freek,  Consul;  L.  H.  Gardner,  Adviser;  S.  J. 
Whitford,  Banker;  George  B.  Spoor,  Clerk.  The 
The  camp  have  about  $300  in  the  treasury,  and  a 
nicely  furnished  hall. 

A  petition  for  incorporation  was  filed  March  16, 
1867,  and  an  election  was  held  to  vote  upon  the 
question.  It  was  voted  down;  but  in  1877  the  ques- 
tion was  again  subaiitted  and  adopted.  The  first 
Board  of  Trustees  were  elected  in  April,  and  on  the 
23d  day  of  the  same  month  it  was  duly  organized. 
The  following  named  composed  the  first  Board; 
Daniel  Zimmerman,  President;  Thomas  Karr,  J.  B. 
Vandeburgh,  W.  D.  Webster,  A.  Bolinger,  F.  A.  Hall, 
Trustees;  Theodore  Abbott,  Clerk.  The  following 
named  have  served  as  President  of  the  Board  :  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  1878;  William  Shew,  1879-81;  John 
B.  Vandenburg,  1882-84;   Edgar  Humphrey,  1883. 

BOWLING  TOWNSHIP. 

IgOWLING  comprises  all  of  Congressional 
Township,  16  north,  range  2,  west,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Rural,  on  the  west 
by    Edgington,    on    the    north  by   Andalusia 
Township,   and    on    the    south    by    Mercer 
County.      The    township    is    about    equally 
divided  between  timber  and  prairie,  is  quite  rolling, 


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has  in  it  some  splendid  farms  and  an  intelligent 
class  of  citizens. 

Tlie  first  settlement  was  made  in  1838,  Mr.  Bow- 
ling, John  Tyndall  and  Edmond  Cropper  being  num- 
bered among  the  pioneers.  Of  Mr.  Bowling  but 
*  little  is  known.  Sketches  of  the  other  gentlemen 
are  found  in  the  biographical  portion  of  this  work. 

The  next  settlement  was  made  in  1841,  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  township,  by  James,  David 
and  John  Clarke,  and  John  Johnston  and  Christopher 
Armstrong,  all  from  Ireland,  though  the  Clarkes 
were  of  English  descent,  being  related  to  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  Adam  Clarke.  The  Clarkes  located  on 
section  36,  Johnson  on  section  26,  and  Armstrong  on 
section  25.  The  latter  is  still  living  on  the  old 
homestead,  at  an  advanced  age.  Curtiss  McKnight 
settled  soon  after. 

The  first  school  was  held  in  a  small  frame  house 
on  section  26,  some  three  or  four  years  after  the 
Clarke  settlement  was  made.  Mr.  Phillips  was  one 
of  the  first  teachers  here.  There  are  now  six  school 
s  districts  in  the  township,  each  having  good  frame 
school-houses,  the  total  value  of  which  is  returned  at 
$1,435.  Of  persons  under  21,  there  are  359,  of 
whom  269  are  of  school  age.  From  the  year  ending 
June  30,  1885,  there  were  163  enrolled  in  the  public 
schools.  The  highest  wages  paid  any  teacher  was 
per  month,  and  the  lowest  $30. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  soon  after 
the  building  of  the  school-house.  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor, 
a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister,  it  is  believed,  con- 
ducted the  first  exercises  in  this  house.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  the  township  is  represented  by  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  whose  house  of  worship  is  in  the 
north  part  of  the  township,  the  McConnell  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Chapel  in  the  west  part,  and  the 
Episcopal  in  the  southeast  part.  The  Episcopal  was 
organized  in  1854,  and  house  of  worship  erected  in 

1855- 

The  Rock  Island  District  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  have  fine  camp  grounds  on  section  12, 
consisting  of  five  acres  of  nice  timber,  where  annual 
meetings  have  been  held  since  1876. 

In  1885  the  Assessor  reported  the  following  items: 

Improved   land,    23,107     acres;    unimproved    land, 

430;  total   value,  $275,340.     There    were    15    town 

lots,  valued  at  $1,315.     Of  horses  there  were  587; 

\~_   cattle,  2,276;  mules  and  asses,  33;  sheep,  265  ;  hogs, 

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2,6r3;  carriages  and  wagons,  189;  watches  and 
clocks,  69;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  93  ;  pianos, 
5  ;  melodeons  and  orga  is,  41.  Total  value  of  per- 
sonal property,  $57,076. 

Bowling  Township  was  organized  in  1857,  since 
which  time  it  has  been  represented  on  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors  by  the  following-named 

supervisors  : 


T.  W.  Vincent 1857 

JohnC.  Kelley 1858 

Elihu  Rath  bun 1859-60 

John  Morris     1861-2 

Samuel  L    Foster 1863-4 

John  Clark 1S65-6 

Samuel  S.  Foster 1867-S 

John  Morris 1869-70 

John  Clark 1871 


lames  B.  Walker 1872 

James  Todd 1873-74 

William   Miller 1875-6 

]  .  P.  Johnston 1877-78 

William  Miller 1879 

James  B.  McConnell 1880-81 

John  Clark 1882-4 

Hugh  Walker 1885 


— **«3§=#=§s4'»— 5- 


DEURY  TOWNSHIP. 


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\  HIS  township  is  situated  in  the  extreme 
I  western  part  of  the  county,  having  for  its 
■a  ^*  northern  and  western  boundary  the  Missis- 
?ty3^  sippi  River,  its  southern  the  county  of  Mercer 
and  eastern  the  township  of  Buffalo  Prairie. 
The  township  comprises  a  little  more  than  a 
Congressional  township,  having  30,225  acres  of  land. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Drury  family,  the 
pioneers  of  the  township.  About  one-half  of  the 
township  is  unimproved  land,  much  of  it  being  very 
rough  and  broken,  with  some  bottom  land.  Not- 
withstanding this,  much  of  the  land  is  of  the  finest 
quality,  and  it  can  boast  of  some  as  fine  farms  as  are 
to  be  found  in  the  county. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  this  township  were:  Isaiah 
Drury,  Miles  Drury,  Reynolds  Drury,  Eli  Drury, 
James  Reynolds,  Wm.  Reynolds,  Drury  Reynolds,  J. 
A.  Stiver,  Wm.  Huff,  Ithamar  Reynolds,  Anthony 
Rickett,  Wm.  Womacks,  Solomon  Simpson,  Jeremiah 
Lequatte,  Matthew  Lequatte,  I.  B.  Essex,  Elijah  Es- 
sex, James  Essex,  Benj.  Essex,  I.  V.  Reed,  Valentine 
Reed,  John  Ballard,  John  Harbaugh,  James  McPher- 
son,  S.  Prentiss,  Henry  Hampton,  Chas.  Bean,  Wm. 
Peeney,  Mr.  Fox,  Wm.  Hays,  M.  H.  Johnson,  John 
Boruff,  Joseph  Blair,  Antoine  Blair.  All  were  heads 
of  families  save  one  of  the  Blairs,  who  was  a  bache- 
lor. 

The  Drurys  located  above  the  present  city  of  Mus- 
catine, and  "  Drury 's  Landing,"  which  is  four  miles 


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from  that  city,  was  at  one  time  a  most  noted  place. 
They  had  a  large  general  store,  bought  grain  and 
pork,  and  did  a  flourishing  business.  A  postoffice 
was  established  here  at  an  early  day.  Since. the  ad- 
vent of  the  railroads,  which   have  monopolized   the 


greater  part  of  the  river  trade,  business  has  been  sus- 
pended, and  the  steamers  that  now  ply  the  river  pass 
by  without  stopping.  The  principal  market  place  for 
the  citizens  of  the  township  at  present  is  Muscatine, 
in  Iowa,  a  ferry  plying  between  that  city  and  the  Illi- 
nois shore. 

The  township  was  originally  settled  by  Americans, 
but  since  the  war  a  large  number  of  Germans  have 
come  in  and  now  comprise  a  large  part  of  the  popula- 
tion. 

In  the  spring  of  1SS5  there  were  three  postoffices 
in  the  township.  Drury  was  the  first  established. 
Eli  Drury  is  the  present  Postmaster.  Ferdinand 
postoffice  is  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township, 
with  John  Kennedy  as  Postmaster.  Wrayville  is  a 
new  postoffice,  established  in  1883,  with  Helen  Wray, 
wife  of  the  Supervisor,  as  Postmistress.  In  the  neigh- 
borhood of  this  office  the  German  Methodists  have  a 
society,  with  a  neat  frame  house  of  worship,  erected 
in  1875,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,000.  Services  are  held 
regularly  every  Sunday.  Rev.  J.  B.  Wagner  is  the 
present  Pastor.  The  society  has  a  membership  of 
about  60.  The  pastor  resides  herein  the  Church  par- 
sonage. 

Win.  Milton  has  a  small  general  store  at  this 
point,  which  enjoys  a  fair  patronage.  The  store  was 
established  in  1882  by  Mr.  Lequatte,  in  a  room  owned 
by  Mr.  Wray,  and  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Milton  in 
January,  1884. 

There  are  three  other  church  edifices  in  the  town- 
ship. On  section  17  the  Baptists,  on  section  9  the 
Methodist  Episcopal,  and  on  section  12,  the  United 
Brethren,  each  have  houses  of  worship,  and  assemble 
regularly  for  divine  services. 

The  educational  advantages  are  equal  to  those  of 
any  other  agricultural  community,  there  being  good, 
substantial  school-houses  at  convenient  distances  in 
every  part. 

Dr.  Reynolds  was  the  first  physician  in   the  west 

tpart  of  the  county,  as  well  as  in  Drury  Township. 
The  County  Superintendent  in   his   report   for  the 
year  ending  June   30,  1885,  says   there  were  in  the 
township  545   persons  under  21,  of  whom  392   were 


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of  school  age,  and  of  the  same  number  311  were  en- 
rolled in  the  public  schools.  There  were  nine  school 
districts,  each  having  a  good  frame  school-house,  the 
total  value  of  which  were  $7,500.  The  highest 
wages  paid  teachers  were  $45  and  the  lowest  $22.50 
per  month. 

In  18S5  the  assessor  reported  the  following  items: 
Improved  land,  1 ,542  acres;  unimproved  land,  14,- 
799  acres;  total  value,  $129,138.  Town  lots,  76,  val- 
ued at  $[,410.  Of  horses  there  were  607;  cattle, 
1,495;  mules  and  asses,  37;  sheep,  460;  hogs,  2,- 
095  ;  carriages,  129;  watches  and  clocks,  65  ;  sewing 
and  knitting  machines,  70  ;  melodeons  and  organs,  2. 
Total  value  of  personal  property,  $44,614. 

Drury  Township  was  organized  in  1857,  since 
which  time  the  following  named  have  served  as 
members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  the  time 
mentioned  : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Peter  Demoss 1857-61 

David  Manlu,  k    1862 

W.    H.    Womacks 1863-64 

I  lavid   Mardocli 1865 

C.  Thornton 1866-68 

James  R.  Underwood...    1869 

Silas  Drury .1870 

M.  F.  Felix 1871-73 


John  E.   Wray -1874 

Daniel    Mardock 1875-76 

W.  II.  Womacks 1877 

Matthias    Kramer 1878-79 

David  M  trdock 1880 

John  E.    Wray 1881-83 

R.  H.    Hawthorn 1884 

John  E.   Wray r885 


EDGINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

NE  of  the  finest  bodies  of  land  in  Rock  Isl- 
and County  is  acknowledged  to  be  that  of 
Edgington  Township,  comprising  township 
3  west.  It  is  mostly  a  beautifully 
ig,  level  prairie,  well  drained  to  the 
west,  north  and  east.  The  prairie  soil  is  a 
black  alluvium,  of  remarkable  fertility,  varying  in 
depth  from  eight  inches  to  three  feet.  In  the  north- 
ern part  the  land  is  more  rolling,  where  it  is  drained 
by  ravines  leading  to  the  Mississippi  River.  The  low 
hills  were  formerly  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of 
large  trees,  but  now  only  about  half  the  area  is  cov- 
ered, and  that  mostly  of  a  thick  growth  of  young 
timber.  The  soil  is  a  yellowish  clay,  mixed  with  the 
black  alluvium,  in  which  the  former  predominates  in 
most  localities.  The  southwest  and  east  is  also  roll- 
ing, the  former  being  drained  by  Copperas  Creek 
into  the  Mississippi,  and  the  latter  by  Mill  Creek 
into  Rock  River,  at  Milan.     Among    these  hills  are 


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numerous  springs  and  never-failing  supply  of  good 
water.  A  good  supply  of  stone  for  building  purposes 
£§L  is  obtained,  mostly  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town- 
ship. In  this  locality  there  is  an  extensive  deposit 
of  sand,  of  a  superior  quality  for  the  manufacture  of 
glass,  being  remarkably  pure  and  one  of  the  deepest 
in  the  State,  extending  in  a  southwestern  and  north- 
eastern direction  through  sections  4  and  5. 

On  the  adoption  of  the  township  organization  law, 
in  1857,  the  commissioners  appointed  to  divide  the 
county  into  civil  townships  gave  this  one  the  name 
of  Edgington,  in  honor  of  a  pioneer  family  of  that 
name. 

In  the  spring  of  1834  John  Edgington,  Daniel 
Edgington,  James  Robison  and  Joseph  Dunlap  came 
West  to  seek  a  location.  John  Edgington  selected  a 
claim  in  what  is  now  Buffalo  Prairie,  where  he  yet 
lives,  a  much  respected  pioneer.  Daniel  Edgington 
selected  and  entered  land  upon  section  6,  and  then 
returned  to  Steubenville,  Ohio,  for  his  family,  re- 
turning the  following  spring.  Early  in  the  summer 
of  1834  James  Robison  built  a  log  house  and  broke 
the  first  prairie  in  the  settlement.  He  then  returned 
to  Warren  County  and  moved  his  family  here  in  the 
fall.  During  the  summer  Joseph  Dunlap  built  a 
double  log  house  on  section  5.  After  entering  land 
for  himself  and  other  parties  and  completing  his 
I  house,  Mr.  Dunlap  returned  to  Steubenville,  Ohio, 
and  moved  his  family  here  in  the  spring  of  1835. 

When  Mr.  Dunlap  returned  he  was  accompanied 
by  Geo.  W.  Kell  and  Henry  Eberhart  and  family,  who 
settled  in  the  same  vicinity.  Chas.  Eberhart  and 
family  came  the  following  fall.  The  Eberharts  were 
from  New  Jersey.  John  Titterington  and  family,  to- 
gether with  Moses  and  Charles  Titterington,  also 
came  in  the  fall  of  1835,  from  Ohio. 

In  the  spring  of  1S36  B.  McNutt  and  family,  from 
Ohio,  joined  the  settlement,  and  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  Win.  Snell  and  family,  from  Mississippi, 
came  in  and  also  located  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
In  the  fall  of  1S36  Daniel  Montgomery,  a  brother  of 
Rev.  John  Montgomery,  located  on  the  prairie,  mak- 
ing a  claim  on  section  26.  He  was  soon  followed  by 
Alexander  Hazlett  and  family,  W.  D.  Hatton,  and 
shortly  afterwards  by  Parley  Laflin  and  family,  Jo- 
seph Asquith  and  family,  who  formed  the  first  set- 
tlement on  the  prairie. 

In  1838  the  settlements  were  increased  by  George 


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Parmenter,  Allen  Parmenter,  Lorenzo  Parmenter, 
Seth  Parmenter,  H.  H.  Parks,  A.  J.  Webster  and 
Timothy  Dutton.  A  few  others  came  in  from  time 
to  time,  James  Taylor  locating  on  section  12.  He 
had  no  neighbors  for  two  or  three  years,  but  in  time 
others  came  in,  and  every  part  of  the  township  was 
settled  and  improved. 

Like  those  of  other  sections,  the  pioneers  of  Edg- 
ington suffered  many  privations  on  account  of  the 
great  distance  to  market,  cost  of  transportation,  and 
low  prices,  which  generally  prevailed  for  all  kinds  of 
agricultural  products.  When  the  settlement  was  first 
formed,  the  settlers  had  to  go  to  Hendersonville, 
Knox  County,  to  mill,  a  distance  of  45  miles.  It  re- 
quired from  one  to  three  weeks  to  make  the  trip,  as 
each  man  had  to  wait  his  turn,  there  always  being 
many  ahead.  All  this  time  the  people  manufactured 
much  of  their  bread  stuffs  by  pulverizing  grain  in 
iron  kettles  and  hominy  blocks. 

The  first  mill  erected  here  was  by  Joseph  Dunlap. 
The  buhrs  of  this  mill  were  made  from  a  granite 
boulder.  The  lower  one,  to  which  was  attached  an 
iron  shaft  and  pulley,  was  driven  by  horse-power, 
consisting  of  a  heavy,  upright  timber,  about  20  inches 
in  diameter  and  about  eight  feet  long,  held  in  posi- 
tion at  the  top  by  a  large  cross-beam,  resting  upon 
crotches  between  two  oak  trees,  and  the  lower  end 
by  a  log  on  the  ground,  in  which  it  revolved.  Arms 
projected  from  this  shaft  like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel, 
and  within  their  circle  a  horse,  hitched  to  one  of 
them,  drove  the  mill  by  means  of  a  very  long  raw- 
hide band,  passing  around  the  mill  pulley  and  the 
arms  near  their  outer  ends.  This  mill  was  in  a 
cabin,  16  feet  square,  near  the  horse-power.  Its  ca- 
pacity was  about  50  bushels  of  corn  or  other  grain 
per  day.  The  bolting  was  done  by  hand,  with  a  hair 
sieve,  when  an  extra  quality  was  desired,  but  usually 
it  was  used  without  bolting.  No  toll  was  taken,  the 
patrons  of  the  mill  hitching  on  their  own  horses  and 
doing  their  own  grinding.  In  the  winter  people 
brought  grists  to  this  mill  from  the  Iowa  side  of  the 
river,  crossing  on  the  ice.  After  milling  at  Hender- 
sonville for  awhile,  they  changed  to  Wethersfield 
Colony,  then  to  Drury's  Mill,  on  Copperas  Creek,  sub- 
sequently to  Miller's  Mill,  on  Edwards  River,  and 
then  to  Milan. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  John  P.  Cooper  and 
Mina  Pace,  in  1836,  by  Daniel  Edgington,  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace. 


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The  first  religious  services  were  held  al  a  very 
early  date  in  the  cabins  of  the  pioneers.  Rev.  John 
Montgomery  was  doubtless  the  first  to  preach  the 
gospel  in  this  region. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Edgington  was  the 
first  Church  organized  in  the  township,  and  is  the 
oldest  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  county.  It  was 
organized  in  the  fall  of  1837  by  Rev.  John  Mont- 
gomery. The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  him  in 
the  fall  of  1836,  in  the  log  house  of  Joseph  Dunlap, 
where  he  held  services  occasionally  during  that  year, 
and  subsequently  in  the  house  during  the  winter  and 
in  the  barn  during  the  summer  until  1842  or  1843, 
when  a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $2,000.  The  lot  upon  which  the  church  was 
built  consists  of  three  acres  adjoining  the  village  of 
Edgington,  donated  by  Daniel  Edgington.  In  1870 
a  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,400. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Edgington  was  organized 
Aug.  10,  1846,  and  has  had  a  remarkable  career,  be- 
ing the  parent  of  several  Churches  within  a  radius 
of  six  or  eight  miles.  Rett's  History  of  Rock  Island 
County  thus  speaks  of  this  Church:  "This  Church 
has  enjoyed  an  extensive  religious  influence,  sustain- 
ing at  one  time  ministerial  services  at  no  less  than 
six  stations  and  acquired  a  membership  of  555  in  the 
aggregate,  of  whom  330  were  received  by  baptism, 
150  by  letter  and  75  by  experience.  From  this 
central  Church  three  others, — the  Baptist  Church  at 
Antioch,  in  Mercer  County,  in  1866;  the  Hamlet 
Baptist  Church  in  Perryton  Township,  and  the  An- 
dalusia Baptist  Church  in  Andalusia,  in  1867 — 
assumed  separate  organizations.  The  meeting  at 
which  the  Church  was  organized  was  held  in  Geo. 
Parmenter's  barn,  where  the  village  of  Edgington  is 
now  located.  The  congregation,  when  organized, 
consisted  of  seven  members.  The  success  of  the 
Church  is  in  marked  contrast  with  its  organization. 
Subsequently  their  meetings  were  held  in  a  log 
school-house  and  later  in  a  frame  school-house,  both 
of  which  stood  where  the  present  school  building  of 
District  No.  3,  known  as  the  Center  School-house ; 
now  stands.  Rev.  Mr.  Brabrooks,  of  Davenport, 
preached  the  sermon  at  the  organization  of  the 
Church,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  of  Mercer  County, 
was  the  first  regular  minister,  and  preached  about 
every  month  until  1848.  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Chas.  E.  Tinker,  from  1848  to  1850, 
Rev.  A.  G.    Eberhart   took  charge  in   1 85 1 .     This 


year  a  meeting  was  held  to  devise  means  by  which 
to  provide  a  suitable  meeting-house,  and  Joseph 
Seavir,  Henry  Cline  and  Elder  Eberhart  were  ap- 
pointed a  building  committee,  and  they  erected  the 
present  church  building,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  includ- 
ing labor,  most  of  which  was  provided  within  the 
means  of  the  Church.  Rev.  A.  G.  Eberhart's  pas- 
torate continued  into  1853.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Revs.  P.  Watts  in  1854-5,  W.  Whitehead  in  1856, 
John  Cummings,   1857-8,  O.  T.  Conger,  1859-67,  J. 

C.  Post,  r868,  J.   M.   Titterington    in    1869,   Samuel 

D.  Ross,  1871-2,  Mr.  Wylie  in  1873.  Rev.  Ansel 
Post,  1874,  son  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Post,  preached  a  few 
months  in  1875.  The  present  Pastor,  Rev.  T.  A. 
Williams,  was  born  in  Gibralter,  April  21,  r823, 
where  his  father  was  a  soldier  in  a  corps  of  sappers 
and  miners  in  the  British  service  until  he  was  soon 
afterwards  killed,  the  family  then  removing  to  Eng- 
land. Mr.  Williams  was  early  brought  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth,  and  commenced  his  ministerial 
services  at  the  age  of  17  years,  in  South  Devon.  He 
was  educated  for  the  ministry  at  Houghton,  Hunt- 
ingtonshire.  He  was  ordained  as  Pastor  over  his 
first  charge  at  Haddenham,  Cambridgeshire,  in  1859, 
remaining  six  years.  He  was  then  called  to  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Smaffham,  in  Norfolk,  in  1865,  for 
seven  years.  His  two  last  years  in  England  were 
spent  as  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Uxbridge, 
near  London.  He  came  to  this  country  in  r874, 
and  settled  as  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  La 
Salle,  and  in  1875  came  to  his  present  charge,  hav- 
ing preached  the  gospel  continuously  for  27  years. 
Wm.  Cline  was  the  first  Deacon.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  54.  A  comfortable  parsonage  was  built  in 
1863,  at  a  cost  of  about  $500.  The  parsonage  and 
church  building  are  located  near  the  Center  School- 
house." 

In  September,  r839,  the  first  Scoool  Trustees  were 
appointed  in  this  township.  They  were  Daniel 
Edgington,  Charles  Eberhart  and  James  Robison. 
On  the  29th  day  of  February,  1840,  a  petition  was 
made  for  the  sale  of  the  school  section,  which  was 
sold  April  30,  1S40,  for  $1,200.  The  township  was 
made  a  school  district  and  the  first  school  was 
taught  by  Mrs.  Amanda  Cushman,  sister  of  Lorenzo 
Parmenter,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  This  school 
was  taught  in  the  cabin  of  Mr.  Cushman,  which 
stood  one  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  village  of 
Edgington.     There  are  now   seven  districts  in  the 


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township,  each  with  good  school-houses,  there  being 
one  brick  and  six  frame,  the  total  value  being  $9,000. 
For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there  were  446 
persons  of  school  age,  of  whom  the  greater  number 
were  enrolled  in  the  public  schools.  The  highest 
wages  paid  were  $60  and  the  lowest  $30  per  month. 
In  1S85  the  Assessor  reported  the  following  items  : 
Improved  land,  22,472  acres;  unimproved  land,  437 
acres;  total  value,  $317,392.  Town  lots,  81  im- 
proved and  74  unimproved,  valued  at  $21,155.  Of 
horses  there  were  732;  cattle.  2,239;  mules  and 
asses,  15  ;  sheep,  18S  ;  hogs,  4,692  ;  steam  engines, 
1 ;  fire  and  burglar  proof  safes,  9 ;  carriages  and 
wagons,  220;  watches  and  clocks,  83;  sewing  and 
knitting  machines,  112;  pianos,  9;  melodeons  and 
organs,  47.     Total  value  of  personal  property,  $77,- 

547- 

Edgington  was  organized  as  a  township  in  1857, 
since  which  time  the  following  named  have  served  as 
members  of  the  Board  of 

supervisors: 


James  Baker 1857-60 

J.  W.  Lloyd 1861-3 

Wm  Wait 1864-5 

John  G  Parmenter   1866 

Wm.  Wait 1867 

Daniel  Edgington 1868 

Wm.  B.  Bruner 1869 

James  Baker.    1870 

Abraham  Crabbs 1871 


Cyrus  Conkling 1872 

John  G.  Parmenter 1873-4 

Chas.  Titterington 1875 

John  G.  Parmenter 1876 

James  Taylor 1877-81 

J.  W.  Loyd 1882 

James  Taylor 1883 

M.   Schoonmaker 1884 

James  Cozad 1885 


3^ 


Village  of  Edgington. 

HIS  village  is  located  on  the  corners  of 
sections  7,  8,  17  and  18,  and  is  surrounded 
by  as  fine  an  agricultural  region  as  can  be 
found  in  the  State.  On  account  of  the  building 
of  a  railroad  a  few  miles  distant  on  the  east, 
its  growth  was  stopped,  and  to-day  the  village 
can  scarcely  be  said  to  exist  more  than  in  name.  At 
one  time  it  was  quite  a  flourishing  place,  consid- 
erable business  being  done  by  its  enterprising  mer- 
chants. 

Being  somewhat  remote  from  market  or  a  base  of 
supplies,  and  much  of  the  surrounding  country  hav- 
ing been  taken  up  by  a  thrifty  class  of  citizens, 
George  D.  Parmenter,  about  1843,  opened  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise,  his  place  of  business  being  the 
log  house  in  which  he  lived.     He   soon   afterwards 


built  a  somewhat  larger  house,  in  which  he  lived  and 
still  sold  goods,  and  still  later  built  the  old  red  store, 
as  it  was  called.  After  continuing  in  this  place  for 
some  years,  he  sold  out  to  Isaac  Negus  and  E.  Bur- 
rell.  The  firm  of  Negus  &  Burrell  subsequently 
erected  a  larger  and  better  building  on  the  corner. 
They  were  succeeded  by  Charles  R.  Ainsworth,  who 
in  turn  sold  to  Rufus  Walker,  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  village  of  Reynolds. 

About  1853  Fish  &  Lee  commenced  doing  busi- 
ness here,  erecting  a  store  building  for  that  purpose. 
Other  business  houses  were  erected  and  others  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  trade  at  different  times,  as 
the  county  increased  in  population  and  wealth. 

E.  D.  Cushman  was  the  first  Postmaster,  the  office 
being  kept  at  his  residence. 


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;  County  Railroad,  and  laid  out  on  section 
12,  Edgington  Township,  ^nd  section  7  of 
Bowling,  is  the  village  of  Taylor  Ridge,  named 
in  honor  of  James  Taylor,  who  gave  the  right 
of  way  and  $r,ooo  towards  the  building  of  the 
railroad.  It  is  very  pleasantly  situated  and  presents 
a  neat  and  attractive  appearance.  The  railroad  was 
completed  to  this  point  in  September,  1876,  and  on 
the  day  of  its  completion  there  were  23  car  loads  of 
stock,  and  on  the  next  day  17  car-loads,  shipped  to 
Chicago. 

The  village  was  platted  by  J.  L.  Frankeberger,  a 
civil  engineer  employed  on  the  railroad,  on  land 
owned  by  Mr.  Taylor. 

Village  of  Reynolds. 

"^;  HORTLY  before  the  completion  of  the 
~\'  railroad  to  this  point,  Wait  &  Walker  had 
.  surveyed  and  platted  a  portion  of  section 
li\C  3^1  f°r  a  village,  which  was  given  the  name  of 
Reynolds,  in  honor  of  E.  P.  Reynolds,  the 
railroad  contractor  of  Rock  Island.  The 
village  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  good  ( 
agricultural  country,  and  in  proximity  to  the  coal  ( 
fields  of  Mercer  County. 


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The  first  plat  contained  three  blocks  and  40  lots. 
Several  additions  have  since  been  made,  until  at 
present  the  village  plat  includes  160  acres  in  all, 
divided  into  blocks  and  out-lots. 

The  railroad  was  completed  to  this  place,  Oct.  6, 
1876.  On  the  morning  of  that  day  the  rails  had 
been  laid  within  one-half  mile  of  this  point,  which 
half-mile  was  completed  and  a  switch  track  laid  by 
3  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  before  6  o'clock  there  were  ^ 
cars  loaded  with  stock  for  the  Chicago  markets  ! 

The  first  building  erected  on  the  village  plat  was 
the  depot,  in  which  Rufus  Walker  sold  the  first  goods 
in  the  place.  This  was  before  the  completion  of  the 
road.  Mr.  Walker  soon  after  sold  the  stock  to  R.  B. 
Olmstead,  who  continued  the  business  about  two 
years,  and  then  sold  to  Montgomery  Bros.,  who  re- 
tained it  but  a  few  months,  when  Rufus  Walker  again 
purchased  the  stock.  Mr.  Walker  some  three  months 
after  sold  to  Mr.  Schoonmaker,  who  continued  rS 
months.  Wait  &  Walker  then  became  proprietors  of 
the  store,  but  soon  sold  to  McLaughlin  &  Miller,  who 
continued  in  partnership  about  two  years,  when  M. 
M.  Miller  became  sole  proprietor,  and  yet  continues 
the  business. 

A.  Crandall,  also  before  the  railroad  was  completed, 
erected  a  one-story  frame  building,  the  only  one- 
story  building  ever  erected  in  the  place  for  business 
purposes,  and  opened  a  store,  the  principal  stock  of 
which  was  drugs.  He  subsequently  sold  the  stock 
to  Wilford  Pitman,  who  carried  a  general  stock. 

Hartley  Smith  started  the  next  drug  store  in  the 
place,  during  the  first  year. 

C.  H.  Dibbern  was  the  first  to  engage  in  the  hard- 
ware trade,  also  carrying  a  line  of  agricultural  im- 
plements. 

The  first  dwelling-house  erected  in  the  place  was 
put  up  by  Sterling  Honeycutt. 

W.  D.  Goodner  erected  the  first  hotel,— the  Com- 
mercial House,— in  the  fall  of  1876.  He  ran  the 
house  for  some  time  and  sold  to  John  Boney,  who 
was  succeeded  by  G.  F.  Brayton,  who  continued  till 
1883,  when  Clifton  Stanley  purchased  the  house,  and 
is  yet  running  the  same.  The  building  is  a  good 
one,  and  Mr.  Stanley  keeps  a  good  hotel. 

The  first  "  village  blacksmith"  was  H.  Webster, 
who  commenced  work  here  in  the  winter  of  1876-7. 

The  first  harnessmaker  was  Emil  Helpenstel,  who 
commenced  business  in  the  spring  of  1877  and  still 
continues. 


A  building  was  erected  by  S.  Honeycutt  in  which 
M.  Freydag  commenced  the  furniture  business.  He 
still  continues  in  the  trade. 

Joseph  Flora  was  the  first  wagon-maker,  coming  in 
the  spring  of  1S77. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  F.  Stuart,  who  came  in 
1877,  and  yet  continues  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession.  Dr.  Ashbaugh  was  the  second  physician. 
He  remained  but  a  short  time.  Dr.  James  Cozad 
was  the  third.  He  came  in  the  fall  of  1882  and  is 
still  here. 

Wait  &  Walker  were  the  first  grain-buyers,  loading 
grain  directly  into  the  car.  In  1877  a  warehouse 
was  erected  by  Montgomery  Bros.  It  has  since  been 
enlarged  and  is  now  an  elevator  with  a  capacity  of 
30,000  bushels  of  grain.  In  1878  Wait  &  Walker 
put  up  a  building  for  baling  hay.  This  has  since 
been  converted  into  an  elevator,  having  a  storage 
capacity  of  $60,000  bushels.  The  grain  trade  of  the 
place  has  always  been  good,  the  shipments  being 
very  large. 

Wait  &  Walker  commenced  buying  and  baling  hay 
in  1878.  They  continued  but  a  short  time,  as  the 
business  was  not  a  paying  one. 

M.  Wait  was  the  first  stock-buyer  and  made  the 
shipment  spoken  of.  He  still  continues  in  the  busi- 
ness and  ships  annually  about  300  cars  of  stock. 

Rufus  Walker  started  a  lumber-yard  in  the  fall  of 
1876.      He  still  continues  the  business. 

The  postoffice  was  established  in  the  fall  of  1876, 
with  R.  B.  Olmstead  as  Postmaster.  Mr.  Olmstead 
retained  the  office  about  two  years,  when  Wm.  Mc- 
Laughlin received  the  appointed.  He  retained  the 
office  until  M.  C.  Crandall  was  appointed.  A  money 
order  department  was  established  July  1,  1883. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  Reynolds,  son  of  Emil 
Helpenstel,  born  in  the  spring  of  1877. 

District  No.  7  was  formed  in  1877,  comprising  the 
village  of  Reynolds,  together  with  some  out-lying 
territory.  The  first  school  was  taught  that  year,  in 
the  house  of  Weaver  Kuhns,  by  Miss  Jenny  Kuhns. 
A  brick  two-story  school -house  was  soon  afterwards 
erected,  which  is  still  in  use  and  is  an  honor  and 
credit  to  the  place.  It  has  two  school-rooms  and 
two  recitation-rooms.  Two  teachers  are  constantly 
employed.  M.  McPhail  is  the  Principal  for  the  year 
1885-6.  The  school  is  a  graded  one. 
There  are  two  church  edifices  in  the  village  and 


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two  religious  societies— the  Methodist  Episcopal  and 
Baptist. 

The   Methodist    Episcopal   Church   of  Reynolds 
was  organized  the  first  Sunday  after  the  annual  con- 
ference in  the  fall  of  1877.     A  house  of  worship  had 
already  been  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  which  was 
dedicated  Oct.  14,  iS77,by  Rev.  F.  M.  Chaffee,  assist- 
ed by  Elder  E.  Wasmuth.     In  the  evening  after  the 
dedication  a  class  was  organized,  with  S.  Honeycutt 
as  Leader.     It  was  assigned  to  Pre-emption  Circuit, 
at  that  time  under  the  charge  of  Revs.  V.  C.  Ather- 
ton    and    F.    Doran,   the  latter  taking  up  his   resi- 
dence in  this    place.     Rev.    Parmenius    Smith    was 
assigned  to  the  circuit  and  served  one  year.    He  was 
succeeded  by   Rev.  Thos.  F£.  Pryor  for  two   years. 
John  Small  then  came  and  remained  one  year.  Rev. 
John  Q.  Adams  was  next  assigned,  serving  two  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1884,  Rev.  W.  H.   H.  Witter  was  ap- 
pointed, and  is  now  serving  the  Church.     In  the  fall 
of  1881  a  two-story  frame  parsonage  was  built,  which, 
together  with  the  ground,  is  valued   at  $2,500.     In 
July,  1885,  there  were  enrolled  120  members  and  ten 
probationers.     A  Sunday-school,  with  J.  B.  McCon- 
nell  Superintendent,  is  connected  with   the   Church, 
having  an  average  attendance  of  100. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Reynolds  was  organized  in 
1869,  some  two  and  a  quarter  miles  southwest  of  Rey- 
nolds, in  Mercer  County,  under  the  name  of  the 
Hamlet  Baptist  Church,  with  a  membership  of  30. 
Many  of  its  members  came  from  the  Edgington 
Church.  Their  first  meetings  were  held  in  school- 
houses,  but  soon  after  its  organization  a  church  edi- 
fice was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  In  the  fall  of 
1880  the  congregation  resolved  to  move  to  Edging- 
ton.  The  building  was  accordingly  placed  on  wheels 
and  moved  to  the  village  and  re-fitted,  at  a  cost  of 
$800.  The  Church  has  now  a  membership  of  but 
40,  having  dismissed  many  of  its  members  who 
moved  away.  A  Sabbath-school  has  been  continued 
since  the  organization  of  the  Church,  which  has  now 
an  average  attendance  of  50.  At  present  the  Church 
is  without  a  pastor,  but  prayer  services  are  regularly 
held.  The  name  of  the  Church  was  changed  on  its 
removal  to  Reynolds.  Alvah  CofFman,  A.  H.  Smith 
and  H.  N.  Sellers  are  the  present  Deacons.  A.  H. 
Smith  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 

The  cemetery  located  near  the  village   is  hand- 
somely laid  out  and  contains  about   16  acres.     An 


association  has  been  incorporated  for  its  care  and 
improvement.  The  trustees  are  M.  Wait,  Wm.  H. 
Wheaton  and  Rufus  Walker. 

In  the  fall  of  1885  the  business  of  Reynolds  was 
represented  by  four  general  merchandise,  one  hard- 
ware, one  millinery,  two  drug  and  one  furniture 
stores,  one  harness,  one  shoe,  one  blacksmith  and 
one  wagon  shop,  one  stock  and  one  grain  buyer,  one 
hotel,  one  restaurant,  one  feed  mill,  one  barber  shop, 
one  livery  and  two  physicians. 

The  village  is  unincorporated  and  has  about  300 
inhabitants. 

HAMPTON    TOWNSHIP. 

W,.uawt 

HAMPTON  was  one  of  the  first  townships  in 
the  county  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
permanent  settler.  It  comprises  a  portion 
of  township  17  and  18,  range  1  east,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Port  Byron  Township 
and  the  Mississippi  River,  on  the  south  by  the 
Rock  River,  on  the  east  by  Zuma  Township  and  on 
west  by  Moline. 

Martin  Culver,  it  is  claimed,  made  the  first  claim 
in  1827.  Soon  after  John  Kinney  and  his  two  broth- 
ers made  claims,  locating  here  soon  after,  probably  in 
the  spring  of  1828.  Henry  McNeal,  Joel  Thomp- 
son,Michael  Bartlett,  Asaph  Wells  and  Joel  Wells,  Jr., 
settled  in  the  same  vicinity.  The  township  rapidly 
settled  up.  When  J.  B.  Cox  came,  in  1S36,  he  re- 
members then  living  here  the  following  named  : 

Lucius  Wells,  residing  on  section  3,  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Hampton.  Mr.  Wells  came  to  the  county  in 
1832,  remained  a  time  near  Milan,  and  in  1833  lo- 
cated in  Hampton.  He  was  a  prominent  figure  in 
the  early  history  of  the  country,  serving  as  County 
Commissioner,  Sheriff  and  in  other  local  offices.  He 
lived  to  a  good  old  age,  dying  on  his  homestead  in 
1876. 

John  Y.,  Horace  R.,Eliphalet,  William  and  Nelson 
Cook,  residing  on  the  prairie  south  of  Hampton. 
They  were  natives  of  Tolland  Co.,  Conn.,  but  re- 
moved to  Wayne  Co.,  111.,  in  1824.  They  located 
here  at  different  times  from  1833  to  1835.  John  Y. 
died  on  his  homestead  a  number  of  years  ago. 
Horace  R.  yet  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  few  old  settlers  yet  living. 
Eliphalet  is  dead.  William  is  still  living  on  his 
homestead.     Nelson  is  dead. 


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Geo.  McMurphy,  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  for 
many  years  a  citizen  of  New  York,  who  resided 
for  a  time  in  the  southern  part  of  this  State,  whence 
he  came  to  Hampton. 

John  Wells,  a  native  of  Vermont,  from  the  south- 
ern part  of  Illinois.     Now  dead. 

E.  F.  Arcularius,  of  German  descent,  born  in  New 
York,  locating  here  in  1834.  He  is  still  living,  on 
the  old  homestead. 

Samuel  Smith,  from  the  southern  part  of  Illinois. 
He  removed  to  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  some  years  before 
the  war. 

Daniel  W.  Howard,  living  between  Hampton  and 
Rapids  City,  a  native  of  New  York.  He  died  some 
years  ago. 

Samuel  Knight,  also  living  between  Hampton  and 
Rapids  City,  who  came  from  Indiana.  He  resided 
on  his  homestead  some  10  or  12  years,  then  moved 
to  Iowa,  and  has  since  died. 

Andrew  Devine  and  Elisha  Devine,  living  in  the 
same  neighborhood,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania. 
Both  have  since  died  where  they  originally  located. 

John  W.  Cox,  from  Indiana,  who  located  on  sec- 
tion 1.  He  moved  to  Henry  County  years  ago,  and 
has  since  died. 

Francis  Yost,  a  native  of  one  of  the  German  pro- 
vinces under  F  rench  dominion.  He  had  been  a 
soldier  under  the  great  Napoleon,  had  great  love  for 
the  man,  and  would  fight  on  the  "  drop  of  the  hat  " 
if  any  man  said  aught  against  the  old  commander. 
He  was  a  musical  genius,  and  died  many  years  ago. 

Louis  Dow,  originally  from  Vermont.     Now  dead. 

Asaph,  Eri,  Merritt,  Ira,  Nelson  and  Daniel  Wellsi 
living  with  a  maiden  aunt.  They  were  natives  of 
Vermont.  Asaph,  Eri,  Ira  and  Daniel  moved  to  Ore- 
gon. The  latter  is  dead.  Merritt  moved  to  Ne- 
braska, but  is  supposed  now  to  be  in  New  Mexico. 
Nelson  is  dead. 

Joel  Thompson,  living  in  the  village,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.     Mr.  Thompson  died  in  Rock  Island. 

Ira  Wells,  Sr.,  better  known  as  "  Uncle  Ira,"  was 
from  Vermont.     He  died  many  years  ago. 

Michael  Bartlett,  also  a  native  of  Vermont.  Mr. 
Bartlett  was  the  second  Sheriff  in  the  county.  Died 
years  ago  in  the  village  of  Hampton. 

David  Jamison  was  from  the  southern  part  of  the 
State.     Now  dead. 

Wesley  Bisand,  from  Vermont.     Now  dead. 


J.  W.  Vansant,  from  one  of  the  New  England 
States.     He  is  now  living  in  Le  Claire,  Iowa. 

Samuel  Bowles,  in  the  south  part  of  the  township, 
a  native  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Bowles  yet  resides  in  the 
township,  and  is  a  well  respected  citizen. 

Wm.  Porter,  also  in  the  south  part  of  the  town- 
ship, a  native  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Porter  resided  here 
till  his  death,  which  occurred  a  few  years  ago  on  the 
old  homestead. 

Erskine  Wilson,  on  Rock  River,  from  Vermont. 
Mr.  Wilson  died  on  the  homestead. 

Mrs.  Wilshire  and  her  two  sons,  Wm.  XV.  and 
George.  Mrs.  Wilshire  has  since  died.  Wm.  W. 
removed  to  Arkansas,  where  he  became  a  very  prom- 
inent politician.     George  removed  to  California. 

Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Mc- 
Neal,  was  born  Oct.  5,  1832.  This  was  the  first  birth 
in  the  township. 

The  first  death  occurred  on  board  the  steamer 
Josephine  about  1829.  A  lady  from  England  was 
on  her  way  to  Galena  to  visit  her  son,  and  died  just 
as  the  boat  was  landing.  She  was  buried  at  Hamp- 
ton. 

Joel  Wells  and  Mary  McMurphy  were  married  in 
1835  by  J.  Wells,  J.  P.  Their  marriage  was  the  first 
solemnized. 

Chas.  Ames  opened  out  and  marketed  the  first  coal 
in  the  township. 

Joel  Thompson  was  the  first  postmaster,  receiving 
his  appointment  in  the  winter  of  1837-8. 

Rev.  John  Kinney,  a  local  Methodist  Episcopal 
minister,  preached  the  first  sermon  and  continued  to 
officiate  for  several  years,  or  until  this  part  of  the 
county  was  placed  in  a  circuit  and  other  preachers 
were  sent  to  the  charge.  Rev.  B.  H.  Hanna  was 
one  of  the  first  on  the  circuit.  Services  were  usu- 
ally held  in  private  houses,  that  of  Lucius  Wells  be- 
ing more  generally  used.  There  are  now  a  number 
of  church  edifices  in  the  township  and  divine  servi- 
ces can  be  attended  every  Sunday. 

Lucius  Wells  taught  the  first  school  in  a  log  cabin 
that  had  been  used  as  a  dwelling  in  the  winter  of 
1833-4.  Larger  and  commodious  school-houses  are 
to  be  found  at  present  in  the  village  and  in  some 
country  districts.  According  to  the  report  of  the 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools  for  the  year  end- 
ing June  30,  1885,  there  were  1,375  persons  under 
21  years  of  age,  of  whom  941  were  of  school  age, 


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Of  this  number  737  were  enrolled  in  the  public 
schools.  There  were  11  school  districts,  with  10 
school-houses,  valued  at  $19,630.  The  highest 
wages  paid  were  $60  per  month  and  the  lowest  $22. 

Hampton  Township  is  well  supplied  with  rail- 
roads. The  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  runs 
through  the  south  part  and  has  about  four  miles  of 
main  track,  with  one  station — Carbon  Cliff.  The 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  runs  east 
and  west  through  the  central  part,  with  nearly  seven 
miles  of  main  track.  Barstow  and  Port  Byron  Junc- 
tion are  stations  on  this  line.  The  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul  track  extends  along  the  Mississippi 
the  length  of  the  township,  with  Watertown,  Hamp- 
ton and  Rapids  City  as  stations  on  the  line. 

The  assessor  in  1885  reported  the  following  items  : 
Improved  land,  19,416  acres;  unimproved  land,  1,190 
acres;  total  value,  $235,27  1.  Town  lots,  total  value, 
$31,324.  Of  horses  there  were  520  ;  cattle,  1,665  ; 
mules  and  asses,  3S;  sheep,  179;  hogs,  1,585  ;  steam 
engines,  4:  billiard  tables,  5;  carriages  and  wagons, 
155  ;  watches  and  clocks,  26;  sewing  and  knitting 
machines,  99;  pianos,  9;  melodeons  and  organs,  69; 
total  value  of  personal  property,  $66,490. 

Since  its  organization  the  following  named  mem- 
bers have  served  the  township  as  members  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors : 

SUPERVISORS. 


Lucius  Wells 1857-58 

Wm.  B.  Webster 1850-61 

Lucius  Wrells   1862 

Wm.  S.    Thomas 1863 

L.  F.    Baker 1864 

Ira  Crawford 1865 

A.  D.  Cox 1866 

W.  B.    Webster 1867 

Lucius    Wells 1868 

Wm.  B,  Webster , 1S69 

1  pin  aim  Warren, 1870 

Geo.  W.  Henry 1871 


Joseph  Albrecht 1872 

T.  S.  Silvis 1S83-74 

Jeremiah  Chamberlin . . . .  1875-76 

Wm.  B.    Webster 1877 

S.i  inn  el  De\  inney 1878 

S     Silvis 1879 

Samuel  D.  Wainwright . .  1880 

Joseph  Albrecht 1881 

(i.    R.  Wells 1882 

Drury  A.  Weatherhead  .  .18S3-84 
Henry  O.  Norton 1885 


Village  of  Hampton. 

3|HE  village  of  Hampton  is  located  upon  sec- 
tion r7.     It  was  surveyed  and  platted.soon 
alter  the  organization  of  the  county.     Joel 
Thompson  was  doubtless  the  first  to  do  busi- 
ness.    Among  the  other  early  business  men  of 
the  place  were  J.B.  Clapp,  Dower  &  Hammond, 
Samuel  and    David   Lambert,  M.  W.    Wright    and 
Francis  Black,  the  latter  being  yet  in  the  business. 
The  postoffice  was  established   it;  the  winter  of 


1837-8.  A  petition  for  the  establishment  of  an  office, 
under  the  name  of  Milan,  was  sent  to  the  Postoffice 
Department  at  Washington.  There  being  at  that 
time  an  office  in  the  State  by  that  name,  the  prayer 
could  not  be  granted.  The  office  was  established, 
to  which  was  given  the  name  Hampton  by  the  De- 
partment. Joel  Thompson  was  commissioned  the 
first  Postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  by  Francis 
Black,  who  in  time  gave  way  to  Samuel  Heagy,  in 
1865.     E.  Baker  is  the  present  Postmaster. 

Before  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  Hampton 
was  a  great  shipping  and  trading  point,  seeming 
trade  as  far  east  as  Geneseo,  in  Henry  County. 
Grain  and  pork  were  bought  in  large  quantities.  The 
railroad  cut  off  this  trade.  The  coal  interests  are 
now,  and  for  some  years  have  been,  the  principal 
reliance.  For  many  years  Heagy  &  Stoddard  were 
extensive  dealers  and  operators  in  coal,  having  ex- 
tensive mines  on  sections  16  and  22.  They  built  a 
railroad  from  their  mines,  connecting  with  the  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  at  Watertown, 
in  the  winter  of  1872-3.  This  road  was  used  up  to 
1884,  when  it  was  taken  up,  the  mines  no  longer 
making  its  use  profitable.  In  the  fall  of  1884  the 
Northern  Mining  and  Railway  Company,  of  Hamp- 
ton, was  incorporated  for  the  purpose  of  mining  and 
shipping  coal.  This  company  are  successors  to 
Heagy  &  Stoddard.  The  officers  are  :  G.  D.  Tooth- 
aker,  President ;  Samuel  Heagy,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer; A.  R.  Stoddard,  superintendent  of  mines.  The 
company  employ  from  50  to  100  men  and  have  built 
a  railroad  from  their  new  mines  to  Port  Byron  Junc- 
tion, from  which  place  shipments  are  made.  Con- 
siderable coal  is  yet  shipped  from  Hampton.  The 
company  operate  a  store  in  this  village. 

The  educational  interests  of  the  place  are  well  at- 
tended to.  There  is  a  good  school-house  in  the  vil- 
lage. 

In  the  way  of  religious  instruction,  the  Congrega- 
tional and  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  meet  the 
demand. 

The  Methodists  are  the  pioneers  of  the  place,  a 
class  being  organized  in  1842  or  1843,  consisting  of 
11  members,  among  whom  were  Harmon  G.  Rey- 
nolds, E.  F.  Arcularius  and  wife  and  Nancy  Thomp- 
son. The  class  was  first  attached  to  the  Moline 
Circuit,  then  Port  Byron,  and  finally,  in  1865,  the 
Hampton  Circuit  was  organized.     In  1870  Hampton 


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was  joined  to  Zuma,  under  the  name  of  Rock  River 
Circuit. 

The  Congregational  Church  of  Hampton  was  or- 
ganized Feb.  15,  1853,  by  Rev.  A.  B.  Hitchcock, 
with  a  membership  of  14  persons,  among  whom  were 
Luther  Pearsall  and  wife,  Elihu  Barr  and  wife, 
Milton  Ward  and  wife,  David  Jennings  and  wife. 
A  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1856-7,  at  a  cost 
of  $2,500.  Rev.  A.  B.  Hitchcock  was  the  first  Pas- 
tor. Rev.  A.  Harper,  of  Port  Byron,  now  ministers 
to  the  congregation. 

The  United  Workmen  have  a  lodge  and  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America  have  a  camp  at  this  place. 
The  Odd  Fellows  were  formerly  represented  with  a 
flourishing  lodge,  but  it  has  ceased  to  exist. 

Laurel  Camp,  No.  30,  M.  W.  A.,  was  organized 
April  20,  1884,  with  22  charter  members.  It  has 
now  a  membership  of  25,  and  is  in  good  working 
condition.  The  officers  in  the  summer  of  1885  were 
James  Howard,  Consul;  Chas.  Livergood,  Adviser; 
George  Heagy,  Clerk;  R.  H.  Coomes,  Banker.  Meet- 
ings are  held  fortnightly,  in  Baker's  Hall. 

Riverside  Lodge,  No.  62,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  organ- 
ized March  20,  1877,  with  20  charter  members.  In 
consequence  of  removals,  the  number  is  but  15  at 
the  present  time,  with  the  following  named  officers  : 
G.  T.  Toothaker,  M.  W. ;  A.  R.  Stoddard,  G.  F. ;  G. 
C.  Hanewacker,  O.  ;  R.  H.  Coomes,  Fin. ;  Geo.  A. 
Heagy,  Recorder;  S.  Heagy,  Receiver;  Herbert 
Cook,  Guide.  Meetings  are  held  Tuesday  evening 
of  each  week. 

Hampton  is  an  incorporated  village.  In  the  spring 
of  1885  the  business  of  the  place  was  represented  by 
three  general  merchandise,  two  drug  stores,  three 
shoe  shops,  two  wagon  shops,  two  blacksmith  shops, 
one  hotel,  one  lumber  depot,  five  insurance  agents, 
one  furniture  dealer,  one  boat  builder,  one  agricul- 
tural implement  dealer,  one  coal  company,  two  phy- 
sicians and  three  churches. 

Rapids  City. 

GRIST-MILL  was  built  at  this  point  at  a 
very  early  day,  probably  1833,  by  the  Wells 
Brothers,  who  operated  it  for  a  time,  and 
then  sold  it  to  Ezra  Blanchard,  who  sold  it  to 
Mr.    Barber.     A   saw-mill  was    subsequently 
added,  and  other   improvements   were    made 
from  time  to  time  ;  but  it  was  finally  torn  down,  and 


Barber  &  Williams  erected  the  present  mill,  which 
subsequently  passed  into  the  hands  of  A.  B.  E. 
Adams,  the  present  owner.  Joseph  Cox  also  built 
a  grist  and  saw  mill  here  in  1838.  The  erection  of 
this  grist-mill  on  the  rapids  was  the  commence- 
ment of  Rapids  City,  which  was  laid  out  in  T838. 

A  Mr.  Runkle,  it  is  thought,  sold  the  first  goods 
here,  before  the  laying  out  of  the  village.  He  carried 
a  very  small  stock  of  general  merchandise.  At  the 
time  he  operated  the  mill,  Mr.  Blanchard  also  sold 
goods. 

Joseph  Garnett  started  a  blacksmith  shop  here  in 
1847.     He  is  thought  to  have  been  the  first. 

In  1855,  Henry  S.  Shurtleff  started  a  grocery 
store,  subsequently  adding  dry  goods.  He  continued 
for  many  years. 

E.  M.  Prudens  put  in  a  stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise about  1857. 

A  postoffice  was  established  here  in  1857,  Henry 
S.  Shurtleff  receiving  the  appointment  of  Postmaster, 
his  first  commission  bearing  date  March  12,  1857, 
Mr.  Shurtleff  served  three  terms,  and  was  succeeded 
by  J.  L.  Perkins,  who  held  the  office  but  a  short  time, 
moving  from  the  village.  Dr.  Samuel  Gast  was  the 
next  appointee;  John  Hannegan,  Peter  McCarls  and 
George  J.  Rowe  each  held  it  in  succession,  the  lat- 
ter being  the  present  incumbent. 

The  village  is  incorporated,  the  officers  for  1885 
being  R.  M.  Mitchell,  President  of  the  Board;  Cas- 
per Maurer,  William  Scherschell,"  James  Graham, 
Abram  Lloyd,  Adam  Hoffstetter,  Trustees;  A.  Lind- 
strom,  Clerk. 

The  moral  interests  of  the  village  are  guarded  by 
the  Catholics,  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Christian 
Churches. 

The  benevolent  secret  societies  are  represented  by 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  United  Workmen,  both  of 
which  have  flourishing  lodges. 

Rapids  City  is  part  of  School  District  No.  8,  which 
was  formed  after  the  village  was  laid  out.  A  school- 
house  was  built  at  the  time.  Josiah  Rickel  was  the 
first  teacher  in  this  house.  In  1875  a  new  school- 
house  was  erected.  Two  teachers  are  constantly 
employed.  There  are  200  children  of  school  age  in 
the  village. 

Coal  was  discovered  near  this  village  at  an  early 
day,  but  mining  was  not  done  to  advantage  until  the 
completion  of    the    railroad.     There   are    now    two 


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shafts  in  the  neighborhood,  and  a  large  quantity  of 
coal  is  annually  mined.  The  mines  here  have 
brought  in  many  foreigners,  that  element  being  at 
present  largely  in  the  ascendency. 

In  the  summer  of  18S5  there  were  in  the  village 
3  general  stores,  1  grocery  store,  r  restaurant,  1  hotel, 
2  shoe  shops,  1  blacksmith  shop,  1  agricultural  im- 
plement dealer  and  1  millinery  store.  There  is 
neither  lawyer  or  physician  in  the  place;  so  the  good 
citizen  boasts  of  its  peacefulness  and  its  healthful- 
ness.     The  population  is  about  500. 


Barstow. 

HEN  the  Sterling  branch  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  was  com- 
pleted through  Hampton  Township  in 
?  1869,  a  station  was  established  upon  section 
26,  on  land  owned  by  Joel  G.  Franklin.  A 
postoffice  was  soon  afterward  established  here, 
to  which  was  given  the  name  of  Franklin  Crossing. 
When  the  main  line  of  the  railroad  was  run  to  this 
place,  the  name  was  changed  to  Barstow  by  the 
company,  and  subsequently  the  name  of  the  post- 
office  was  changed  to  that  of  the  station. 

J.  G.  Franklin  was  appointed  Postmaster  when 
the  office  was  established,  and  continued  to  dis- 
charge its  duties  until  June,  1884,  when  he  resigned 
in  favor  of  William  J.  Swisher,  who  was  duly 
appointed. 

With  the  exception  of  a  boarding-house,  estab- 
lished in  1877,  by  William  Golden,  and  the  station- 
house,  no  improvements  were  made  here,  or  any 
attempt  really  made  to  secure  a  village  until  June, 
1884,  when  William  J.  Swisher  opened  out  in  the 
mercantile  business,  and  soon  after  erected  a  black- 
smith shop,  which  he  rented  to  other  parties.  Dr. 
McLouth  located  here  in  the  fall  of  1884,  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession. 

A  large  transfer  business  is  done  at  this  point 
from  the  Sterling  branch  to  the  main  line  for  St. 
Louis  and  intermediate  points,  as  well  as  from  the 
main  line  to  the  Sterling  branch. 

The  village  now  comprises  some  eight  or  ten 
dwelling-houses,  a  general  store,  blacksmith  shop, 
a  school  house  and  depot. 


Carbon  Cliff. 

ARBON  CLIFF  lies  in  the  south  part  of 

Hampton  Township,  on  section  4,  town-' 

"  *     ship  17,  range  1  east.     It  was  established 


here  at  a  time  when  coal-digging  was  the  chief 
industry.  Now  but  little  is  done  here,  with 
no  shipments  from  the  station  at  this  place. 
The  place  is  now  noted  for  its  tile  works  and  pottery. 
The  Argillo  Works  manufacture  tile  and  fire-brick 
quite  extensively,  their  shipments  by  rail  averaging 
two  car-loads  per  day.  The  works  are  managed  by 
a  stock  company,  with  Mylo  Lee  as  President  and 
manager,  and  Cornelius  Lynde,  of  Rock  Island,  Sec- 
retary. The  capital  stock  is  §100,000.  About  60 
men  find  employment  in  these  works.  In  addition 
to  these  works,  there  are  three  potteries,  each  of 
which  do  a  good  business. 

There  is  but  one  store  in  the  place,  owned  by  C. 
Corbin,  the  store  building  being  used  as  a  depot  and 
postoffice.     Mr.  Corbin  is  also  Postmaster. 

In  educational  matters,  the  village  has  a  good 
frame  school-house,  in  which  school  is  regularly  held. 
There  is  an  enrollment  at  present  of  55. 

There  is  no  church  edifice  here,  though  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  people  hold  services  regularly  in  the 
school-house,  and  have  a  regularly  organized  society. 


Watertown. 


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ATERTOWN  village  was  platted  in 
1857,  by  Henry  McNeil,  Alfred  Sanders 
K&L  '  and  Alonzo  Nourse.  It  is  located  on 
~|yS'  section  — ,  Hampton  Township.  The  village 
taFN  has  never  attained  any  distinction,  being  in 
proximity  to  several  other  villages  and  cities, 
which  deprive  it  of  its  trade.  The  first  store  was 
started  in  1857,  shortly  after  the  platting  of  the  vil- 
lage, by  Lucius  Curtis.  A  postoffice  was  established 
about  the  same  time,  with  Mr.  Custis  as  Postmaster. 
He  held  the  office  until  i860,  when  Dan.  McNeil 
was  appointed.  Mr.  McNeil  about  a  year  previous 
commenced  the    mercantile   business    in   the  place. 


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He  still  occupies  the  position  of  Postmaster,  but  has 
retired  from  the  mercantile  trade.  Wm.  E.Crawford 
is  the  only  representative  of  the  general  trade  at  the 
present  time,  though  A.  C.  Sible  carries  a  small  stock, 
principally  of  peddler's  goods. 

A  new  school  district  was  formed  in  1857,  of  which 
the  village  became  a  part,  and  a  school-house  was 
erected  at  this  point.  There  are  now  about  60  pupils 
in  the  district,  school  being  regularly  maintained. 

The  Baptists  have  here  a  house  of  worship, 
erected  in  1879,  which  is  used  jointly  by  that  body 
and  the  Methodists,  each  of  which  have  organiza- 
tions, and  which  have  been  in  existence  for  many 
years. 

"'IM- 


PORT BYRON   TOWNSHIP. 

_T  an  annual  town  meeting  held  in  1867, 
|[  J.  H.  Lyford,  N.  Belcher  and  Archie  Allen 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  write  a 
history  of  Port  Byron  Towinship  In  1869 
|^*  they  made  a  report,  from  which  the  principal 
facts  in  this  sketch  are  taken.  The  gentlemen 
were  each  of  them  early  settlers  and  active  men,  and 
all  have  since  passed  away. 

In  the  spring  of  1828,  two  brothers,  Robert  and 
Thomas  Syms,  made  the  first  permanent  settlement 
in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Port  Byron.  They 
were  bachelors,  and  came  from  Sangamon  County, 
111.,  engaging  in  the  keeping  of  a  wood-yard,  supply- 
ing such  steamboats  as  occasionally  passed  up  and 
down  the  Mississippi  River.  The  Syms  soon  had 
competition  in  the  wood  trade,  which  led  to  a  serious 
difficulty  and  to  a  lawsuit,  being  the  first  appeal  to 
the  law  in  this  vicinity.  A  man  by  the  name  of 
Kinney  located  about  three  miles  below  on  the  rap- 
ids and  went  into  the  same  business.  As  there  was 
no  landing  there,  or  an  available  place  for  one,  he 
hauled  his  wood  to  the  head  of  the  rapids,  and  of- 
fered it  for  sale  near  the  Syms'  wood-yard.  The 
wood  offered  by  Kinney  was  superior  to  that  of  Syms, 
so  that  he  soon  monopolized  the  trade.  This  led  to 
unpleasant  feelings.  It  so  happened  that  one  night 
Kinney's  wood  pile  was  burned  up,  and  shortly  after 
Sym's  cabin  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  next  ttme 
Kinney  and  one   of  the  Syms'  met  after   this  occur 


rence,  a  quarrel  ensued,  and  in  the  fight  Kinney  was 
stabbed  with  a  knife.     Syms  was  arrested  and  taken 
before  Joel  Wells,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  who  resided 
just  below  what  is  now   the  village  of  Hampton,  Jo- 
seph Danforth,  who  lived  just  aDove  the  present  city  of 
Moline,  being  the  Constable  who  executed  the  warrant. 
Syms  was  required  to  give  bail  for  his  appearance  at 
court,  and  not  being  able  or  willing  to  do  it,  was  order- 
ed committed  to  jail.     The  nearest  jail  on  the  north 
was  at  Galena,  and  on  the  south  at  Alton,  and  Con- 
stable Danforth  started  with  him  for   Alton  on  foot. 
After  going  some  miles,  the  Constable  happened  to 
fall  behind  the  prisoner,  who,  on  getting  out  of  sight 
of  the   officer,  struck    for   the  timber  and  beat  him 
back  home.     This  was  the  end  of   the  proceedings. 
In  the  same  year,    1828,  Archibald  Allen,  Conrad 
Leek  and  Geo.  W.  Harlan,  with  their  families,  made 
a  settlement  in  the  township.     Geo.   W.  Harlan  was 
afterwards  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  the  first  re- 
siding within  the  limits  of  the  township.     A.  Allen 
(more  familiarly  known  as  Uncle  Archie)  was  a  na- 
tive  of  New    York.      He    removed  to   St.  Clair  Co., 
111.,  in  1813,  and  in  1823  to  Fort  Clark,  now  Peoria, 
and  from  thence  to  this  place.     Mr.  Allen  built   his 
cabin  on  what  is  now  the  southwest    fractional  quar- 
ter of  section  24,  and  commenced    trading  with  the 
Indians,  trafficking  for  their  furs  and  skins.    Shortly 
after  his    coming    he    was    appointed  Supervisor  of 
Roads.     He  was    elected    Constable   for  Jo  Daviess 
County,    Rock    Island    County     forming  a     part     of 
that  county,  which  extended  almost  over  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  State.     In    1833    and    1834,  he  was 
mail-carrier  from  Rock    Island  to  Galena.     Once  a 
week  this  hardy  backwoodsman  would  make  his  way 
on  foot  to  and  from  his   appointed  destination.     He 
traveled  on  foot  for  the  reason  that    the    travel  was 
often  attended  with  great  difficulty,  the  sloughs  and 
streams  at  times  being  impassable    for  a  horse.     At 
that  time  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  the  office  be- 
ing known  as  Canaan  postoffice,  and   kept    at    his 
house.     The    postoffices   which  he    supplied  on  his 
route  were  Rock  Island,  Canaan,  Savanna  and  Ga- 
lena.    From  Canaan    to   Savanna,  a  distance  of  45 
miles,  there  was  no  house,  and  from  Savanna  to  Ga- 
lena, about  40  miles,  there  was  but  one  house,  and 
that  was  at  Apple  River.     Mr.   Allen  built  the  first 
frame   house  that  was  erected  between  Quincy  and 
Galena.     This    house    was   destroyed    by    fire  some 
years  afterward. 


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In  1830,  Mr.  Harvey,  Thomas  Hubbard,  H.  East 
and  Mr.  Britton  settled  in  the  precinct.  In  this  year 
a  son  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conrad  Leek,  the 
first  birth  in  the  township. 

In  1 831  a  son  of  Geo.  W.  Harlan  died,  being  the 
first  death  in  the  township.  Mrs.  A.  Allen  was  the 
first  adult  to  die  in  the  township. 

In  1832  Edmund  A.  Philleo  came  from  Galena 
and  located  here.  He  was  a  bachelor,  gentlemanly, 
well  educated,  and  a  lawyer  by  profession.  While 
at  work  in  his  garden  he  was  shot  and  killed,  in 
1843,  by  Wm.  McKinney. 

In  1834  Walter  Phillips,  Geo.  R.  Allen  and  Har- 
vey W.  Smith,  with  their  families,  located  in  the 
township.  In  1835  Samuel  Allen,  Wm.  McKinney 
and  Mr.  Hathaway,  with  their  families,  made  a  set- 
tlement. Samuel  Allen  lived  in  a  double  log  house 
"  and  kept  tavern,"  and  as  Mrs.  Allen  (Aunt  Can- 
dace  as  she  was  known)  was  a  good  cook,  those  who 
patronized  the  house  had  plenty  to  eat,  and  though 
the  variety  was  not  large  it  was  good.  As  for  lodg- 
ings, not  only  were  the  beds  brought  into  use  each 
night,  but  "  shakedowns  "on  the  floor  had  frequent- 
ly to  be  resorted  to  in  order  to  accommodate  all  their 
patrons.  Mr.  Allen  also  started  a  grocery  store, 
which  was  patronized  a  great  distance. 

The  year  1836  witnessed  the  coming  of  Moses 
Bailey  and  family,  B.  B.  Chase,  Nathaniel  Belcher, 
J.  H.  Lyford  and  wife,  A.  N.  Philleo  and  wife  and 
Miss  Lucretia  Philleo.  Mr.  Bailey  came  from  In- 
diana and  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  built  the 
first  blacksmith  shop  in  town,  and  worked  at  his  trade 
some  years.  B.  B.  Chase  was  from  Maine,  and  was 
the  first  stone-mason  and  plasterer  to  locate  here. 
He  was  afterwards  extensively  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture and  sale  of  the  celebrated  Port  Byron  white 
lime.  Nathaniel  Belcher  was  from  Vermont.  He 
built  a  frame  building  for  a  store,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business. 
He  built  the  Port  Byron  House,  which  for  many 
years  was  the  only  hotel  in  the  village  of  Port  Byron. 
He  also  erected  a  number  of  other  substantial  build- 
ings, among  them  being  a  large  brick  block.  He 
was  an  energetic  man,  and  held  many  local  offices. 
Dr.  J.  H.  Lyford,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  a 
graduate  of  the  Medical  Institute  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, was  the  first  physician  to  locate  here.  At  that 
time  the  nearest  physician  on  the  north  was  at  Ga- 


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lena,  and  on  the  south  at  Rock  Island.  Dr.  Lyford's 
rides  were  extensive,  his  practice  extending  to  the 
northern  part  of  Rock  Island  County,  Whiteside  and 
Henry  Counties,  and  in  the  northern  part  of  Scott 
County,  Iowa,  with  occasional  calls  still  further  north 
in  Iowa  Territory.  At  that  time  there  were  few 
roads  and  few  bridges.  The  sloughs  and  streams 
were  crossed  where  they  could  best  be  forded.  In- 
termittent and  bilious  fevers,  and  occasionally  cases 
of  a  more  complicated  nature  and  of  surgery  called 
the  doctor  frequently  on  long  journeys  of  a  week's 
duration.  The  conveniences  for  the  sick  were  quite 
limited,  as  the  houses  or  cabins  generally  consisted 
of  but  one  room  ;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  early  set- 
tlers being  possessed  of  good  consitutions  or  of  good 
nursing,  good  doctoring,  or  of  all  combined,  there 
were  but  few  deaths. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  John  D.  Allen  married  Su- 
san Remson,  this  being  the  first  marriage  in  the 
township. 

On  Aug.  r,  1836,  the  first  election  was  held  in  the 
precinct,  at  the  house  of  S.  Allen.  It  was  a  general 
election  for  Congress,  the  Legislature  and  county 
officers.  There  were  52  votes  cast.  For  Congress- 
man, Jonn  T.  Stuart,  Whig,  received  35,  and  Wm.  L. 
May,  Democrat,  14.  The  Port  Byron  election  pre- 
cint  included  all  the  northern  part  of  the  county  from 
a  short  distance  above  Moline  to  the  Meredosia. 
Previous  to  this  election  all  the  voters  had  to  go  to 
Rock  Island  in  order  to  cast  their  ballots.  The  sec- 
ond election  in  the  precinct  was  in  November,  1836. 
There  were  42  votes  cast,  of  which  n  were  for  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren,  Democrat,  for  President,  and  the  re- 
mainder for  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  Whig. 

In  1837  came  Warren  Wilcox  and  family,  Nathan- 
iel Dorrance,  G.  S.  Moore,  Silas  Marshall  and  fam- 
ily and  Miss  Harriet  Dodge.  Mr.  Wilcox  was  the 
first  carpenter  and  joiner  that  settled  in  the  township. 
He  built  most  of  the  best  houses  erected  in  the  vil- 
lage and  vicinity  at  that  lime.  Nathaniel  Dorrance, 
by  industry  and  economy,  amassed  considerable 
money  and  made  valuable  improvements  in  the  vil- 
lage and  country,  afterward  engaging  in  the  lumber 
trade  and  running  a  saw-mill.  Silas  Marshall  for  a 
number  of  years  kept  the  Port  Byron  House,  and 
was  also  engaged  in  farming.  G.  S.  Moore  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business,  and  was  the  leading  mer- 
chant in  Port  Byron  for  many  years.     He   built   a 


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number  of  good  houses,  among  which  were  a  large 
brick  store,  a  handsome  dwelling  house  and  a  large 
public  house  known  as  the  De  Soto  Hotel,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  7869. 

Port  Byron  is  a  small  township,  but  boasts  of  good 
schools.  In  addition  to  the  academy  mentioned  else- 
where, it  has  two  good  public  schools,  one  of  which 
is  graded.  There  were  in  1885,  according  to  the 
County  Superintendent,  423  persons  in  the  township 
under  the  age  of  21,  of  which  number  304  persons 
were  of  school  age,  231  of  whom  were  enrolled  in  the 
public  schools.  In  the  two  districts  are  two  good 
school-houses,  one  frame  and  one  brick,  valued  at 
$10,000.  Five  teachers  were  employed  during  the 
year.  The  highest  salary  paid  was  $75  per  month 
and  the  lowest  $35. 

The  Assessor,  for  1885,  reported  the  following 
items:  Improved  land,  1,965  acres;  unimproved 
land,  108  acres;  total  value,  $44,239.  Of  town  lots 
there  were  425  improved,  and  202  unimproved,  hav- 
ing a  total  valuation  of  $36,655.  Of  horses  there 
were  131;  cattle,  215;  mules  and  asses,  9;  hogs, 
220;  steam  engines,  3;  safes,  n;  carriages  and 
wagons,  118;  watches  and  clocks,  [65;  sewing  and 
knitting  machines,  1 10  :  pianos,  22;  melodeons  and 
organs,  51.  The  total  value  of  personal  property 
was  assessed  at  $51,719. 

Port  Byron  Township  was  organized  in  1857.  The 
following  named  have  served  as  Supervisors  : 

SUPERVISORS. 


David  S.  Holiart 1857-9 

Nathaniel   Belcher i860 

F.  C.    Temple 1861 

E.  H.  Johnston 1862 

Nathaniel    Belcher 1863 

Wm.  J.  Shehard 1864-5 

1  >jv  id  N.  Simonson 1866 

F.  C.  Temple 1867 

J.  H.   Lyford 1868 

E.  H.    Johnston 1869-70 


Samuel  R.  Allen 1871 

F.  G  .    Gates 1872.3 

Henry    C.    Trent 1874-6 

RogerJ     Bell 1877-8 

B.   Wightman 1879 

F.  S.    Cone 1880 

E.  N.  Hollister 1881 

John  Schafer,  Jr 1882-3 

E.  N.  Hollister 18S4-5 


Village  of  Port  Byron. 

HIS  beautiful  village  was  laid  out  in  1836, 
by  Samuel  Allen   Dr.  P.  Gregg,  N.  Belcher 
^  and    Moses    Bailey,    on    land   owned  by 
Samual    Allen,   but    purchased    and   held    in 
common  by  the  four  gentlemen  mentioned.  The 
original  village  was   laid  out  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  25,  but  now  embraces  in  addition 
the  southwest  fraction  and  the   east    half  of  section 
the    northwest  fraction  of     section   36,  and   a 


portion  of  section  24.  It  was  incorporated  under 
the  general  laws  of  the  State  in  1876. 

At  the  time  the  village  was  laid  out  there  was  but 
one  log  house  and  a  small  log  store  on  the  land,  the 
property  of  Samuel  Allen.  The  store  was  started  by 
Walter  Phillips,  and  with  the  land  was  sold  by  him 
to  Mr.  Allen.  Robert  and  Thomas  Syms  lived  on 
the  spot  where  the  depot  now  stands,  in  a  log  house, 
and  kept  a  wood  yard  for  the  passing  boats. 

Shortly  after  the  village  was  laid  out  Nathaniel 
Belcher  built  a  frame  store  and  put  in  a  stock  of  gen- 
eral merchandise.  This  was  the  first  general  stock. 
Mr.  Belcher  continued  in  business  for  many  years, 
and  was  a  most  enterprising  citizen.  In  his  first 
mercantile  effort  Mr.  Belcher  was  associated  with 
Mr.  Hambaugh,  under  the  firm  name  of  Belcher  & 
Hambaugh. 

As  already  stated,  a  postoffice  had  been  established 
about  one  mile  from  the  village,  known  as  Canaan, 
with  Archibald  Allen  as  Postmaster.  In  March,  1837, 
the  office  was  removed  to  the  village,  its  name 
changed  to  Port  Byron,  and  N.  Belcher  was  appoint- 
ed Postmaster.  For  a  period  of  thirty  years,  though 
not  successively,  Mr.  Belcher  retained  the  office. 
The  office  has  been  held  by  Geo.  S.  Moore,  David 
Zeigler  and  John  Zollinger,  the  incumbent. 

George  S.  Moore  started  a  grocery  store  in  May, 
1837,  subsequently  adding  dry-goods,  and  for  years 
was  a  leading  merchant. 

About  this  time  N.  Belcher  erected  a  hotel  known 
as  the  Port  Byron  House,  opposite  Devore's  bank. 
As  stated,  the  house  burned  some  years  after. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Lyford  started  the  first  drug  store. 

The  panic  of  1837  retarded  the  growth  of  Port 
Byron,  and  it  took  many  years  to  recover,  but  it  was 
first  settled  by  an -enterprising  people,  who  were  de- 
termined to  make  of  it  a  neat  and  attractive  if  not  a 
populous  town.  Their  efforts  were  crowned  with 
success. 

The  first  grist-mill  in  the  village  was  erected  in 
the  spring  of  1849,  by  T.  G.  Temple  and  N.  Dor- 
rance,  between  the  hotel  and  river.  It  was  run  by 
steam  and  had  one  set  of  buhrs  for  wheat  and  one 
for  corn. 

The  first  school  was  held  in  the  old  log  store  build- 
ing that  had  been  owned  by  Samuel  Allen,  in  the 
summer  of  1838,  Harriet  Dodge  being  the  teacher.  In 
the  winter  following  Wm.  Kelley  "wielded  the  birch." 


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The  first  school-house  was  of  brick,  and  erected  in 
front  of  the  present  Congregational  church".  This 
house  becoming  too  small  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
district,  the  present  building  was  erected  in  1863-4, 
at  a  cost  of  $12,000.  Four  teachers  are  constantly 
employed. 

In  addition  to  the  public  schools  an  academy  was 
started  in  18S1,  with  E.  T.  Harper  as  principal,  who 
held  the  position  for  three  years,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Isaac  P.  Tracy,  who  served  one  year.  W.  H. 
Williams  is  the  Principal  for  the  year  1885-6.  The 
institution  was  started  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Congregational  Church  of  Port  Byron,  but  is  unde- 
nominational. For  two  years  a  room  was  rented  for 
school  purposes,  but  in  1883,  a  building  was  erected 
especially  for  its  use.  The  school  has  had  an  ever- 
age  attendance  of  50,  and  apparently  has  a  bright 
future  before  it. 

The  religious  societies  of  the  place  are  represented 
by  the  Congregationalists,  Baptists  and  Method- 
ists. 

The  Congregational  Church  of  Port  Byron  was  or- 
ganized Sept.  1,  1849,  a  few  persons  meeting  at  the 
school-house  for  that  purpose.  The  folowing  named 
comprise  the  original  membership :  Win.  C.  Pearsall, 
Jesse  Maxwell,  Isaac  Hollister,  Martha  Hollister, 
Mrs.  W.  C.  Pearsall,  Mrs.  A.  N.  Maxwell,  Mrs.  C. 
Mulhollen,  Mrs.  Robert  Hilton  and  Martha  Jen- 
nings. The  meetings  continued  to  be  held  in  the 
old  school-house  until  the  completion  of  their  church 
building  in  1856.  The  church  is  situated  on  High 
Street,  commanding  a  full  view  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  and  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,100.  Additions 
and  improvements  have  since  been  made,  the  prop- 
erty now  being  valued  at  $4,000.  Rev.  A.  L.  Bullen 
was  the  first  to  serve  the  Church.  He  was  succeeded, 
in  turn,  by  Revs.  Wm.  Porter,  Mr.  Miles  and  Aimer 
Harper.  The  latter  gentleman  began  his  pastorate 
in  September,  i86i,and  yet  serves  the  Church.  His 
pastorate  has  now  extended  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  and  the  good  he  has  been  enabled  to  do  in 
this  community  will  be  known  only  in  eternity.  Rev. 
Wm.  Thompson  was  drowned  in  endeavoring  to 
cross  the  Meredosia  in  the  spring  of  1852.  The 
Church  has  flourished  with  varying  success  since  its 
organization,  and  now  has  a  membership  of  100  faith- 
ful persons.  W.  C.  Pearsall  W.  H.  Devore  and  E. 
N.  Hollister  are  the  Deacons  ;  W.    S.   Grove,  Clerk.   1 


A  flourishing  Sunday-school   has  always  been  main- 
tained. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  place 
dates  its  existence  since  1836,  almost  one-half  cen- 
tury. A  few  faithful  persons,  among  whom  were 
Archibald  Allen,  Candace  Allen,  J.  H.  Lyford  and 
wife,  John  Mitchell  and  wife,  composed  the  first  class. 
The  earliest  meetings  were  held  in  the  log  cabins  of 
the  settlers,  subsequently  in  the  school-house,  and 
finally  in  their  own  house  of  worship,  which  was 
erected  in  1855  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  The  Church  has 
been  fairly  prosperous. 

The  Baptists  have  no  house  of  worship,  their  meet- 
ings for  divine  service  being  held  in  a  public  hall. 

The  secret  and  benevolent  societies  are  repre- 
sented by  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  United  Work- 
men and  Modern  Woodmen. 

Philo  Lodge,  No.  436,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  received  its 
charter  from  the  Grand  Lodge  in  October,  1865. 
There  were  13  charter  members.  Meetings  were  first 
held  in  a  hall  in  Dorrance's  Block.  One  year  after, 
they  removed  to  the  third  story  of  the  building  now 
owned  by  Rogers  &  Son,  where  they  met  for  some 
years.  For  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years  meetings 
have  been  held  in  a  hall  specially  arranged  for  that 
purpose,  over  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  Wilson  Fleming. 
The  lodge  takes  its  name  from  a  word  meaning  a 
friend.  The  first  W.  M.  of  the  lodge  was  E.  M. 
Hickox,  with  Wilson  Fleming,  S.  W.  ;  and  Geo.  P. 
Yates,  J.  W.  The  lodge  has  always  flourished,  and 
was  never  in  better  condition  than  at  present.  The 
officers  for  r885  were  Dr.  Wilson  Fleming,  W.  M. ; 
Ambrose  Searl,  S.  W. ;  Thos.  Jennings,  J.  W. ;  W. 
H.  Devore,  Treas. ;  E.  B.  Stone,  Sec. ;  James  Searl, 
S.  D. ;  W.  H.  Malarkey,  J.  D. ;  D.  A.  Malarkey, 
Tyler, 

Port  Byron  Lodge,  No.  624,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  insti- 
tuted in  the  Centennial  year,  its  charter  bearing  date 
Oct.  25,  1876.  Few  lodges  have  been  more  prosper- 
ous. It  is  the  parent  of  Rapids  City  Lodge,  a  num- 
ber of  its  members  being  dismissed  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  in  that  village.  The  membership  is 
60,  and  the  lodge  has  in  available  means  about 
$2,500.  The  officers  in  July,  1885,  were  John  Shaf- 
fer, Jr.,  N.  G. ;  S.  Allen,  V.  G  ;  D.  Zeigler,  Sec.  and 
P.  S. ;  F.  E.  Rogers,  Treas.  Meetings  are  held  each 
Monday  evening,  in  hall  over  Rogers'  bank. 

Alpha  Lodge,  No.  S5,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  organized 
June  16,  1877,  with  28  charter  members.     Meetings 


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are  held  in  the  Masonic  Hall  every  Friday  evening. 
The  membership  is  now  31,  and  the  lodge  is  in  good 
condition  in  every  way.  No  deaths  have  occurred. 
The  officers  in  July,  1885,  were  John  C.  Wainwright, 
M.  W. ;  Thomas  McCall,  G.  F. ;  E.  B.  Stone,  Re- 
ceiver; E.  M.  Rogers,  Rec.  ;  C.  P.  Albrecht,  Fin.; 
James  W.  Simonson,  Representative. 

Sycamore  Camp,  No.  34,  M.  W.  A.,  was  instituted 
in  April,  18S4,  with  28  charter  members.  It  has 
now  36,  and  is  in  a  healthy  condition.  The  camp 
meets  once  in  two  weeks  for  the  transaction  of  busi- 
ness and  for  the  development  of  the  social  features 
of  the  order.  The  officers  in  the  summer  of  1885 
were  F.  H.  Longfellow,  Consul;  S.  J.  Maxwell,  Ad- 
viser; W.  S.  Grover,  Clerk;  J.  J.  Tubbs,  Banker. 

An  election  was  held  Feb.  23,  1856,  to  vote  on  the 
question  of  incorporation  as  a  town.  There  were  55 
votes  cast,  52  of  which  were  for  incorporation  and  3 
against.  The  first  election  for  town  officers  was  held 
March  1,  1S56,  the  following  named  being  elected 
Trustees:  Nathaniel  Dorrance,  D.  S.  Hobart,  T.  C. 
Temple,  G.  H.  Ambrose  and  Win.  J.  Shepherd. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1876,  an  election  was 
held  on  the  question  of  incorporating  as  a  village 
under  the  general  act.  There  were  101  votes  cast 
for  the  measure  and  95  against.  Two  days  after,  an 
election  was  held  for  village  officers.  J.  W.  Simon- 
son,  G.  D.  Moore,  T.  J.  Zeigler,  F.  S.  Gates,  George 
McNeal  and  Jesse  Maxwell  were  elected  Trustees. 
The  following  named  comprise  the  Trustees  for  1885  : 
E.  M.  Rogers,  A.  E.  Lyford,  S.  J.  Maxwell,  D.  A. 
Malarkey,  G.  A.  Metzgar,  J.  YV.  Simonson.  C.  C. 
Trent  is  Village  Clerk. 

The  issue  in  the  village  elections  for  many  years 
has  been  that  of  licensing  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquor.  The  anti-license  men  carry  the  day.  Port 
Byron  has,  therefore,  no  licensed  saloon,  and  its 
business  men  are  generally  satisfied  that  their  trade 
is  not  lessened  thereby. 

RURAL  TOWNSHIP. 

URAL  Township,  when  the  county  was  di- 
vided   into  civil    townships    in   1857,  was 
included  in  Coal  Valley,  and  so  continued 
V  vby    until  1871,  when  it  was  duly  organized  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors.     As  now  organized  it 
comprises    township  16,  range  r   west,  and  is 
considered    a    valuable  township   of    land.       It    is 


bounded  on  the  east  by  Henry  County,  on  the  south 
by  Mercer  County,  on  the  north  by  Coal  Valley  and 
Black  Hawk  Townships,  and  on  the  west  by  Bowling 
Township. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  this  township  in 
1838  or  1839,  by  Thomas  and  David  Goodlow,  who 
built  the  first  house  on  section  29.  John  Farlow 
built  the  second  house  on  that  section.  Mr.  Farlow 
moved  here  from  Pre-emption  Township,  in  Mercer 
County,  of  which  township  he  was  the  first  settler. 
Previous  to  1840,  the  following  named  made  claims 
and  became  citizens  of  the  township  :  A.  L.  and  A. 
N.  Sayre,  J.  M.  Wilson,  Capt.  J.  A.  Jordan  and  Dan- 
iel Valentine.  Others  soon  after  came  in,  among 
whom  was  a  man  known  as  "  Wild-cat  Moore,  "  who 
received  his  name  in  the  following  manner :  In  1842, 
in  this  township,  he  pursued  a  catamount  on  horse- 
back, overtook  him  in  the  brash,  and,  without  a 
weapon  of  any  kind,  leaped  from  his  horse,  taking 
his  buffalo  robe  before  him,  sprang  upon  the  cata- 
mount, which  was  a  very  large  one,  crushed  him  to 
the  earth  and  succeeded  in  killing  him,  without  re- 
ceiving a  scratch!  After  this  he  was  always  called 
"  Wild-cat  Moore.  "  Some  time  after  this  feat  he 
caught  a  wolf  in  his  hands  and  choked  him  to  death, 
though  he  received  many  wounds  in  the  encounter. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  a  son  of  John  Farlow, 
born  in  1839. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  David  Goodlow  and 
Nancy  Farlow,  who  subsequently  removed  to  Oregon. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Seth  Trego  in  a 
private  house.  The  first  school-house  was  built  in 
1846,  the  following  named  uniting  in  its  erection: 
Capt.  J.  A.  Jordan,  Albert  N.  Sayre,  Alonzo  S.  Sayre, 
M.  Sayre,  J.  M.  Wilson,  Daniel  Valentine  and  Will- 
iam Crist.  The  first  teacher  employed  holding  a 
school  in  this  house  was  Mr.  Shedd.  The  educa- 
tional advantages  of  Rural  is  now  equal  to  that  of 
any  agricultural  township  in  the  county. 

The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Jones,  in  1839.  The  first  religous  organization  was 
effected  in  1852,  at  which  time  what  is  known  as  the 
Homestead  United  Presbyterian  Church  was  organ- 
ized with  the  following  named  members:  David 
Campbell  and  wife,  Francis  Bailey  and  wife,  Miss 
Jane  Patterson,  James  Donon,  Sr.,  and  wife,  James 
Donon,  Jr., and  wife,  John  Donon,  Robert  Bailey  and 
wife  and  John  McLain.     Rev.  Win.  Oburn  was  the 


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first  to  minister  to  the  congregation.  In  1858  the 
Associate  and  the  Associate  Reformed  Church  having 
united,  Homestead  Church  came  within  the  bounds 
of  the  United  Presbytery  of  Monmouth.  It  was 
subsequently  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Rock 
Island.  In  1855  a  substantial  church  edifice  was 
erected,  at  a  cost  of  $1,400,  and  in  1870  a  parsonage 
was  built,  costing  $r,ioo.  The  first  elders  were 
David  Campbell  and  James  Donon,  Sr.  In  1856  a 
Sabbath-school  was  organized  by  the  Church,  which 
is  still  regularly  maintained. 

The  Beulah  Presbyterian  Church  is  located  on 
section  14.  It  was  organized  Aug.  22,  1854.  Before 
the  completion  of  their  house  of  worship,  meetings 
were  held  in  the  Bailey  School-house,  on  section  2. 
In  1859  this  church  edifice  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,600.  Among  those  forming  the  original  Church 
were  Margaret  and  Elizabeth  Gordon,  James  Farrar 
and  wife,  Henry  Brown,  Mary  A.  Edwards,  Alexan- 
der Gordon,  Maria  Gordon,  Francis  Killing,  fane 
Killing  and  Wm.  F.  Brown.  The  organization  is  still 
'  maintained,  and  much  good  is  done  in  the  communi- 
ty in  which  it  is  located. 

The  County  Almshouse  is  located  in  this  township 
on  section  3,  and  is  on  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
county. 

The  report  of  the  County  Superintendent  of  Public 
Schools  furnishes  some  interesting  items.  For  the 
year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there  were  369  persons 
in  the  township  under  21,  of  whom  259  were  of  school 
age.  There  were  eight  school  districts,  each  having 
a  good  frame  house,  the  total  value  being  $4,355. 
The  highest  wages  paid  a  teacher  during  the  year 
was  $50  and  the  lowest  $25  per  month. 

In  1SS5  the  assessor  reported  the  following  items: 
Improved  land,  22,900  acres;  unimproved  land,  80 
acres;  total  value,  $262,705.  Of  horses  there  were 
595  ;  cattle,  2,429  ;  mules  and  asses,  24  ;  sheep,  161  ; 
hogs,  2,373;  carriages  and  wagons,  198;  watches  and 
clocks,  36 ;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  83  ;  pianos, 
8;  melodeons  and  organs,  28.  Total  value  of  per- 
sonal property,  $69,384. 

The  following  named  have  served  the  township 
since  its  organization  as  members  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  : 

SUPERVISORS. 


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Andrew    Donaldson 1873-4 

Miles  B.  Wright 1875-6 

R.  D.  McCreary 1877 

Andrew   Donaldson 1878 

A.  L.  Say  re 1879 


John   A.Wilson i8So-8i 

John  A.  Jordan.... 1882 

John  Warnock 1883 

Stephen  E.    Goodlow 1884-5 


OOP 


SOUTH    MOLINE  TOWNSHIP. 

OUTH  MOLINE  was  organized  as  a  town- 
ship in  1879.     It  comprises  all  the  territory 
originally  in  Moline  Township,  lying  south 
and  east  of  the  city  or  about   20  sections  of 
land.     The  history  of  the  township  is  closely 
interwoven  with  that  of  Moline  city.     Its  early 
settlers  were  Joel   Wells,  Huntington  Wells,  Joseph 
Danforth,  D.  B.  Sears,  Chas.   Atkinson  and  others. 
The  township  is  a  part  of  Congressional   township 
17,  range    1   west,  and  with  Coal  Valley  partakes  of 
the  benefit  derived  from  the  school  section.     In  the 
two  civil  townships   there  are   2,151    persons   under 
2i,  of  whom  1,339  are  of  school  age,  806  being  en- 
rolled in  the  public  schools.     There   are    n    school 
districts,  with    13    frame   school-houses,  valued   at 
$19,000.     For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885,  there 
were   t9   teachers   employed,  the  highest  salary  re- 
ceived by  any  one   being  $65,  while  the  lowest  re- 
ceived $30. 

The  following  items  were  reported  by  the  assessor 
in  18S5  :  Improved  land,  12,268  acres;  unimproved 
land,  342  acres;  total  value,  $249,316.  Town  lots, 
317  improved  and  72  unimproved,  having  a  valua- 
tion of  $61,797.  Of  horses  there  were  590;  cattle, 
1,282  ;  mules  and  asses,  29;  sheep,  105;  hogs,  1,030; 
steam  engines,  2;  carriages  and  wagons,  269  ;  watches 
and  clocks,  216;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  274; 
pianos,  17;  melodeons  and  organs,  40.  The  total 
value  of  personal  property  was  $65,820. 

Since  its  organization  it  has  been  served  on  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  by  the  following  named  : 
Daniel  Gordon,  1879;  Samuel  M.  Zeigler,  1880; 
Daniel  Gordon,  18S1-3;  C.  P.  Ryder,  1884-5. 

SOUTH  HOCK  ISLAND  TOWNSHIP 

a||OUTH  ROCK  ISLAND  Township  com- 
jt  prises  all  that  portion  of  the  territory 
originally  in  the  township  of  Rock  Island 
south  of  the  city  limits.  It  was  created  in 
1879,  and  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Moline 
Township,  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi 
and  Rock  Rivers,  on  the  north  by  the  city  of  Rock 
Island,  and  on  the  south  by  Black  Hawk  Township. 


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ItOhas  2,984  acres  of  improved  land ;  unimproved 
land,  1,444  acres;  total  value,  $127,427.  Town  lots, 
47  improved,  unimproved  174,  valued  at  $25,672.  Of 
horses  there  were,  186  ;  cattle,  502  ;  mules  and  asses, 
12;  hogs,  350;  fire  and  burglar  proof  safes,  2  ;  car- 
riages and  wagons,  141;  watches  and  clocks,  12; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  76;  pianos,  12  ;  melo- 
deons  and  organs,  n.  Total  value  of  personal 
property,  $28,972. 

The  history  of  this  township  is  closely  interwoven 
with  that  of  Rock  Island  city,  the  latter  of  which  is 
treated  at  length,  and  to  which  the  reader's  attention 
is  directed.  This  township,  together  with  Black 
Hawk,  form  one  Congressional  township,  and  there- 
fore in  school  matters  they  are  treated  as  one  by  the 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools.  The  two  civil 
townships  in  1885  had  1,007  persons  under  21  years 
of  age,  and  698  of  school  age.  There  were  8  school 
districts,  with  t  graded  and  9  ungraded  schools, 
with  a  total  enrollment  of  439;  13  teachers  were 
employed  during  the  year.  The  highest  monthly 
wages  paid  were  $80,  and  the  lowest  $25.  There 
is    1    brick   and    9    frame    school-hoses,    valued    at 

$12,575- 

The  Supervisors  have  been  as  follows  :  H.  S.  Case, 

1879;  L.  C.  Lloyd,  1880;  Thomas  Campbell,  1881-5. 

There  is  one  small  village  in  this  township,  that 
of  Sears,  platted  in  January,  1869,  by  D.  B.  &  David 
Sears.  It  lies  upon  the  north  bank  of  Rock  River, 
about  three  miles  south  of  the  city  of  Rock  Island. 
But  little  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  improve- 
ment, its  proximity  to  the  tri-cities  and  Milan  oper- 
ating against  it. 

The  main  industries  of  the  place  is  Sears'  Flouring 
Mill,  the  cotton  factory  and  paper-mill,  the  latter 
being  upon  the  island. 

Sears'  Flouring  Mill  is  a  five-storf  stone  structure, 
erected  in  1867-8,  by  the  proprietor  of  the  village. 
When  first  put  into  operation  it  had  nine  run  of 
buhrs,  two  being  subsequently  added.  In  1878 
rollers  were  substituted  in  part,  and  completely  in 
1882.  When  run  to  its  full  capacity,  365  barrels  of 
flour  can  be  manufactured  per  day,  300  barrels  being 
considered  a  fair  day's  work. 

The  paper-mill  and  cotton  factory  have  each  done 
a  good  business  in  times  past. 

A  postoffice  was  established  here  in  1868.  Mail 
is  received  twice  each  day. 


+##+ 


ZUMA  TOWNSHIP. 

N  1835  the  first  settlement  made  in  what 
is  now  the  township  of  Zuma  was  by  Hiram 
Walker,  George  Walker,  Ira  Wells,  Nelson 
Wells,  Josiah  Carter  and  Perry  Carter.  In  1836 
amec  D.  N.  Beal,  while  Philip  Michaels,  Ben- 
jamin Shank,  John  Sturtevant  and  William 
Sturtevant  came  in  1837.  Others  came  in  from  time 
to  time,  until  all  the  available  Government  land 
which  was  considered  tillable  was  taken  up. 

Mary  A.  Sturtevant  was  born  Dec.  25,  1836,  be- 
ing an  acceptable  Christmas  gift  to  her  parents.  She 
was  the  first  born  in  the  township.  The  first  male 
child  and  the  second  birth  in  the  township  was  that 
of  Lucius  W.  Beal,  born  Jan.  20,  1838. 

Nelson  Wells  and  Harriet  Dow  were  united  in 
marriage  in  1838.  This  was  doubtless  the  first  wed- 
ding in  the  township. 

The  first  school  was  held  some  time  during  the  first 
decade  of  the  settlement  of  the  township.  Mary 
Grant  was  the  first  teacher.  The  school  was  held 
in  an  old  log  church.  This  was  before  the  days  of 
free  schools,  and  was  what  is  known  as  a  subscrip- 
tion school.  Zuma  will  compare  favorably  with 
other  townships  with  respect  to  her  public  schools  at 
the  present  day. 

The  first  religious  service  that  is  now  brought  to 
mind  was  held  in  the  house  of  John  Sturtevant,  the 
minister  officiating  being  Rev.  Philip  Hannah,  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  There  are  now 
two  religious  societies  represented  in  the  township. 
The  United  Brethren  organized  a  class  in  1847,  and  in 
1850  erected  a  church  edifice  at  Rose  Hill.  Rev. 
Heman  Scott  was  the  first  preacher.  The  Method- 
ist Episcopal  denomination  have  a  house  of  worship 
at  Zuma  Center,  which  was  erected  in  1870.  The 
society  that  worships  here  has  a  membership  of  25. 
Zuma  Township  was  organized  in  1857.  It  com- 
prises a  part  of  township  18,  range  2  east,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Canoe  Creek  and  Rock  Riv- 
er, on  the  west  by  Hampton  Township,  on  the  north 
by  Coe  Township,  and  on  the  south  by  Rock  River. 
The  first  officers  were  Rinnah  Wells,  Supervis- 
or; J.    L.    Cox  and  B.   B.    Joslyn,  Justices   of  the 


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Peace;  Wesley  Hannah,  Collector;  D.  N.  Beal,  As- 
sessor; Nelson  Wells,  Gregory  Brown,  Road  Com- 
missioners. The  officers  for  1885  were  John  L. 
Noah,  Supervisor ;  Frederick  Whiteside,  Clerk;  Jes- 
se L.  Cox,  Assessor;  Anthony  Wells,  Collector; 
John  Swank,  John  Osborne,  John  C.  Cowley,  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace ;  Milton  Moore,  George  Cromp- 
ton,  Constables. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  Superintendent  of 
Public  Schools  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1885, 
there  were  312  persons  under  2  1  in  the  township,  of 
which  number  208  were  of  school  age,  160  of  whom 
were  enrolled  in  the  public  schools.  Tnere  were 
seven  school  districts,  each  having  a  good  frame 
school- house.  The  highest  wages  paid  was  $40  per 
month  and  the  lowest  $20.  The  school  property 
was  valued  at  $3,700. 

There  are  two  small  villages  in  the  township : 
Joslyn  and  Osborne,  each  of  which  are  located  on 
the  Sterling  Branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad.  Each  of  these  villages  were  laid 
out  shortly  after  the  completion  of  the  railroad. 

N.  B.  Joslyn  started  the  first  store  and  was  the 
first  Postmaster  in  the  village  bearing  his  name. 
The  business  was  commenced  in  1870.  Mr.  Joslyn 
sold  out  to  Golden  Brewster,  and  was  succeded  as 
Postmaster  by  Alexander  Dunbar,  who,  in  turn,  gave 
way  to  Golden  Brewster,  the  incumbent.  The  vil- 
lage has  made  no  great  headway,  and  in  1885  has 
but  two  general  stores,  one  by  Golden  Brewster,  the 
other    by   Chas.  Dipper,    the   latter  commencing  in 


1883 ;  one  blacksmith  shop,  a  warehouse,  depot, 
school-house  and  five  dwelling-houses.  The  ware- 
house was  erected  by  Rufus  Smith  in  1880.  Mr. 
Smith  purchased  grain  here  for  two  or  three  years. 
Chas.  Dipper  is  the  present  buyer.  The  blacksmith 
shop  was  rented  first  by  Nathan  Dow,  and  subse- 
quently  sold  to  Louis  Bender,  who  is  now  running  it. 
The  village  is  school  district  No.  3. 

Osborne  is  located  near  the  Rock  River  and  near 
the  Cleveland  Crossing.  Like  many  other  villages, 
it  illustrates  "  what  might  have  been."  About  half  a 
dozen  dwelling-houses  and  the  depot  building  com- 
prise the  village. 

In  1885  the  assessor  reported  the  following  items  : 
Improved  land,  14,884  acres;  unimproved  land,  227 
acres;  total  value,  $153,^22.  Of  horses  there  were 
369;  cattle,  2,226;  mules  and  asses,  19;  sheep,  399; 
hogs,  1,431;  carriages  and  wagons,  144;  watches 
and  clocks,  72  ;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  61  ; 
pianos,  8;  melodeons  and  organs,  13.  The  total 
value  of  personal  property  was  $34, 370. 

When  organized  in  1857  the  township  was  called 
Walker,  but  its  name  was  changed  the  following 
year.  The  following  named  have  served  the  town- 
ship as  supervisors  the  time  mentioned  : 

SUPERVISORS. 


Rinnah  Wells 1857-8 

Ambrose  Searle 1859 

Wesley  Hanna 1860-1 

Daniel  Beal   1862-3 

A.  F.    Russell 1864 

Daniel  N.  Beal 1865-6 

B.  B.    Joslin 1867-8 

Samuel  Wainwright 1860-70 

L.  W.  Beal 1871 


Madison   Bowles 1872-3 

Wesley  Hanna 1874-5 

George  C.  Wake 1876-7 

Wesley  Hanna 1878-9 

Fred.  Osborne 1880-1 

John  G.  Osborne 1882 

I.    S.    Knowles 1883 

J.   McEniry 1884 

John  L.    Noah 1885 


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Adams, Capt.  A 667 

Adams,  A.  B.  E 431 

Adams,  A.  C 642 

Adams,  John 23 

Adams,  John  Quincy 39 

Adams,  Lucian 553 

Adams,  Wm 384 

Ainsworth,  Charles  R 520 

Ainsworth,  H.  A 422 

Albrecht,  John  M 4?o 

Albrecht,  Joseph 506 

Allen,  George 272 

Allen,  Joseph  L 285 

Altimus,  Amos 34° 

Anderson,  A.  J 228 

Anderson,  A.  Q 345 

Appelquist,  Fred 542 

Armstrong,    Foster 301 

Armstrong,  Thomas 606 

Arthur,    Chester  A 99 

Ash,  Simeon  P 659 

Ashdown,    Alex 294 

Ashdown,  Henry 287 

Aster,  John 47= 

Atkinson,  Charles 645 

Atkinson,   John 463 

Atkinson,  J.  W 5=6 


B 


Babcock,  John  E 440 

Bailey,   Jacob  C 487 

Bailey,  James 192 

Bailey,  J.  V 413 

Bailey,  Wm.  S 194 

Ball.Wm.  T 578 

Barber,  Harlow  E 320 

Barber,  T.  P °3t 

Barge,  J  oh  n 404 

Barker,  L.  H 300 

Barnard,  II.  A 236 

Barns,  Martin  A 375 

Barth,  George   E.,  M.D 3S5 

Bartlett,  John  W 57 J 

Battersby,  Richard 463 


BIOGI^TOl?I<gfIlx 


Baumbach,  Carl 259 

Beal,  D    N 54<> 

BeaUS.  S 642 

Beers,  Evan  B   391 

Bennett,  Robert 52; 

Bennett,  W.   C 233 

Berg,  John  A.  P 649 

Berry,  Edwin  H 579 

Berry,  James  W 199 

Beveridge,  John  L 171 

Bissell,  William  H 151 

Black    Hawk 682 

Boggess,  H.  C 627 

Bond,  Shadrach in 

Bopes,  Daniel 

Bowes,  Thomes 658 

Bowles,  Madison 

Bowles,  Samuel 477 

Brackett,  A.  G 712 

Brooks,  Wm.  E 264 

Brown,  Gregory 663 

Browning,  Hon.  John  T 431 

Bryan,  Samuel 365 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Buffum,  John 312 

Bullen,  Henry  L. 234 

Burgston,  Fred  A 397 

Burrall ,  Edward 466 


Cady,  M.  Yale 3*3 

Cain,  John 624 

Caldwell,  Wm 539 

Candee,  H.W    274 

Carlin,    Thomas 13s 

Carlsson,  Rev.  Erl 615 

Carothers,   Samuel  L...  .414 

Carpenter,  Henry  B 263 

Carpenter,  Jacob  A 314 

Carson,  T    B 419 

Case,  Henry  S 641 

Cassel,  Israel 624 

Casteel.  Herbert  E 560 

Cheney,    Perry  M 307 

Chester,  Nelson 

Christy,  Joseph  M 580 

Clarke,  John 669 

Clarke,  Win 408 

Cleaveland,  Hon.  Henry  C  ..  .661 


Clendenin,  Wm 295 

Cleveland,  S-  G rover 103 

CHne,  Rev.  Henry  D 559 

Coe,  Albert  S 305 

Coles,  Edward .115 

Colgrove,  Willard 528 

Collins,  Stephen  J    -494 

Colseth ,  Peter 240 

Connelly,  Henry  C 503 

Conway,    Joseph 6it 

Cook,  William 626 

Cool,  Isaac 558 

Cool,  Jared  L 402 

Corbin,    John  G 611 

Corns,  Thomas 385 

Cox,  Joseph  B 432 

Cox,  Jesse   L 598 

Cozad,  James,  M.  D 551 

Crabs,  Wm.  D 260 

Crabtree,  Charles  C 364 

.  M.   D acS 

Cralle,  Levi  F 622 

Cram,  Wm.  F 312 

Crandell,  M.  C 194 

rd,    Ira 495 

Crist,  Daniel 710 

Crockett,  W.  K 557 

Cropper,  Edmond   363 

Cropper,  George  E 559 

Crouch,  John  E 448 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 175 

D 

Danforth,  J.  B     637 

Davenport,  Bailey 343 

Davenport,  Col.  George 189 

Davis,  James  M 192 

Davis,  Wm.  G 547 

Davison,  John  B  ,  M.  D 409 

Deal,  Philip  J 192 

Deere,  Charles  H 247 

Deere,  John 205 

Denison,  J.  J 603 

Den  linger,  M.  B 201 

Devinney,  John. ...   586 

Devinney,  Samuel 458 

Devore,  Wm.  H 284 

Dibbern,  Charles  H 496 

Dimock,  D.  C 4*5 


Dodge,  Capt.  George 25 

Donaldson,  Andrew 344 

Donaldson,  Richard  A..   618 

Dorman,  Henry 396 

Dorrance,  Nathaniel. ...    296 

Drury,  Elmer  A 433 

Dunbar,  A 439 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 

Dunlap,  Adolphus 419       f  \ 

Dunn,  Lewis  D.,  M.  D 500 

Dunn.  Thomas 273      S 


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Edgington,  Daniel 24S 

Edgington,  James... ..... 295 

Edwards,  George  H 551 

Edwards,  L.  D 421 

Edwards,    Ninian "9 

Edwards,  Wm    307 

Eells,  Charles  S 271 

Einfeldt,  Zacharias 395 

Elliott,  L.  C... 625 

Ellis,  Adam 471 

Ellsworth,  Calvin  R 364 

Entrikin,  Walter  J 246 

Erixon,  Rev.   K. 325 

Evans,  Wm 565 

Evener,  George 375 

Ewing,  W.   L.  D 127 


Farnham,  Russell 339 

Farrell,  Peter 478 

Fiebig,  Charles 566 

Field,  Michael  G 520 

Fillmore,  Millard 67 

Fish,  Lorenzo  E 293 

Fisk,  C.  B 447 

Flagler,  Col.  Daniel  W 317 

Fleming,  J.  E 623 

Ford,  Thomas 139 

Forgy,  John 660 

Forster,  Samuel  S 376 

Foster,  J  .  Herbert 333 

France,  Wm 333 


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INDEX. 


■~&®% 


-■■■■* 


Franklin,  J.    G 603 

Freek,  W.   R.,  M.  D 434 

French,  Augustus  C    143 

Freytag,   Fred 572 

Friberg,   Andrew 208 

G 


Gamble,  Win.    J 252 

Garfield,  James  A Q5 

Gatchell,  H.  P 711 

Gibson,   George 403 

Gilchrist,   Hugh 649 

Gillmore,  John  S 525 

Glanz,  Mrs.  Peter 420 

Goble,   Benj    401 

Goldsmith,  Wm 616 

Goodlow,  Stephen   E 440 

Goodrich,  Calvin 228 

Gould,  Charles  L 300 

Gould,  I>an    W 627 

Gould,  George  D.,  Sr 201 

Gould,  John   M 469 

Graham,  J.  W 522 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 87 

Grantz,  Conrad  F 521 

Gray,  Will 654 

Gregg,  Dr-  Patrick  P .234 

Griffith,   John 421 

Griffith,  John  R 420 

G  room,  J  .  K 668 


H 


Hains,  Daniel 531 

Hamilton,  John  M 179 

Hampton,  Joel  L) 5ig  ' 

Hanna,  James 326 

Har.sgen,  Charles 45S 

Hanson,  Albert 326 

Harris,  Frank  H 665 

Harrison,  Wm.  H 51 

Hartzell,   Michael 371 

Hasselquist,  Rev.  T.  N 653 

Hauberg,  Marx  D 634 

Hawes,  C-  W 572 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Hayes,  William 323 

Heald,  Charles  W 369 

Heath,  S.  W 655 

Heimbeck,  EmiJ 200 

Hemenway,  Charles  F 279 

Hemenway,  Luke  E    216 

Hepburn,  Charles  S 202 

Hess,  William  B 350 

Hesseman,  Lewis    E ^19 

Hillier,  George 396 

Hines,  Thomas  S. .    .t 251 

Hitchcock,  Rev.  A.  B 214 

Hofsteter,  John  A  . 633 

Hollister,  Albert  F 216 

Hollister,  Edmund 370 

Hollister,  Isaac   548 

Holmes,  George  E 479 

Holt,  John   M 235 

Hubbard,  Anson  M 193 

Huber,  Ignatz 516 


Hull,  George  E 296 

Hull,  Henry  J 363 

Humphrey,   Edgar 430 

Huntoon,  George  H 606 

Huntoon,   Jonathan 577 

Huntoon,  Joseph 522 

Hunter,  Dr.   Warren 415 

Huyett,  Dr.  Joseph 416 

Hyde,  H.  W 542 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jefferson,  Thomas 27 

Johnson,  A.  J 447 

Johnson,  Andrew S3 

Johnson,   F.   A 527 

Johnson,  Joseph  J 553 

Johnson,   Swan    J 644 

Johnson,  Rev  .  T.   R 277 

Johnson,  Wm.  N 311 

Johnston,  Edwin  H 433 

Johnston,  James  R 508 

Jones,  T.    M 287 

Jordan,  Capt.  John  A 6to 

Jordan,  Wm 662 

Josephson,  Win 359 


K 


Keator,  J.  S 407 

Keleher,  James 257 

Kennedy,  John    200 

Kennedy,  Samson 663 

Kerns,  Wm 241 

Ketcham,  Wm      505 

Killing,  F.  C 666 

Killing,   Wm 445 

King,  Peter 376 

Kinyon,C.   E  ,  M    D 487 

Kittelsen,  Andrew 202 

Kittilson,  Ed    592 

Knox,  Edwin    B 305 


Laflin,    Charles 278 

Lancashire,   John 487 

Larkin,  Charles  H 605 

Lee,  Mylo 585 

Le  Quatte,  Jeremiah 340 

Le  Quatte,  Jeremiah 227 

Lincoln,  Abraham   79 

Lind,  Peter   E   586 

Lindahl,  Prof.  Josua 597 

Lindeblad,  Rev.  Henry  O....284 

Lindstrom,  Albert 454 

Little,  Andrew  J 413 

Lloyd,  Joseph  W 279 

Loding,  John  H 401 

Long,  John  L 274 

Lowry,  Lazarus 43S 

Lundy,  W.  H   454 


M 


Mack,   William  S 289 

Madison,  James 31 

Mapes,  Ellsworth 639 

Mardock,  David 325 

Mardock,  Henry .466 

Marshall,  Jacob  H 494 

Marshall,  Jared 390 

Marshall,   John 479 

Marshall, Wm 208 

Marshall,   Wm.  <i 372 

Martin,  David  M 230 

Matteson,  Joel  A 149 

Matthews,  Dr.   J.  S 513 

Maurer,  Casper 369 

Maxwell,  Jesse 384 

McCain,  Levi   357 

McCall,  Hugh 258 

McCandless,  John  .    233 

McCarl,  Peter 472 

McClendon,  Y.  E 533 

McConnell,  Wm.      567 

McCreery,  Robert  D.      578 

McCulloch,    Howard 660 

McDonald,   J.  B 651 

McEniry,   Wm 580 

McGlynn,  P.  S =66 

McKinley,  Milton 626 

McMann,  Robert 666 

McNabney,  Julius  L 453 

Mi  Neal,  Dan 365 

McNeal,  George 366 

Merriman,  Timothy 505 

Metzgar,  D.  S 245 

Metzgar,    John 265 

Meyer,  Henry 618 

Mitchell,  P.  L 459 

Men  roe,  James 35 

Montgomery,  Daniel 657 

Montgomery,  Capt.  Robert  S.656 

Montgomery,  Wm.    G   242 

Moore,  George  S 457 

Moore,  Gilpin 594 

Moore,  John  C 236 

Morgan,  Rev.  Charles  L 377 

Morgan,  James  W„,  M  .  D. ..  .425 

Mosher,   Daniel 640 

Mott,  James   Z 460 

Mudge,  Lester  D 351 

Munger,  William  H 428 

Munro,  John 669 

Munro,  Robert  H 207 

N 

Nason,  Charles  O 623 

Nichols,   Fred  S 713 

Nicholson,  Miles T91 

Noah,  John  L. 639 

Norrish,  Joshua 514 

Nourse,  W.  A 286 

o 

Oakley,  H.  P 422 

Odendahl,  Peter , 358 

Ogden,  Hiram  L. ..    .600 


Oglesby,  Richard  J .   163 

Okerberg,  Eric * 568  ' 

Olsson,  Prof.  Olaf 669 

Oltmann,  Frederick 465  ' 

Oltmanns,  Wm 437 

Osborn,  Frederick-, 360 


Palmer,  James  F 337 

Palmer,  John  M   167 

Park ,  Joh  n 502 

Parks,  Henry  H 288 

Parks,  Jonathan    H 318 

Parks,  Wm.   S.,  Jr 386 

Paulsen,  Hans 592 

Paulsen,  Mattheas  M 414 

Payne,  William. 532 

Peal,  Oscar 319 

Pears,  John 515 

Pearsall,  George 290 

Pearsall,  J  ere.... 437 

Pearsall,  Luther  S 502 

Pearsall,  Robert  E 247 

Pearsall,  Wm.  C 591 

Pearsall,  W.   W 644 

Pershing,  E.   J 714 

Peterson,  Johannes 610 

Peterson,  John  A 585 

Peterson,  Peter   H 577 

Philleo,  Addison  N 214 

Phillips,  J.  S 485 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Pingree,  George  E 253 

Piper,  Dr.  Charles  E 643 

Polk,  James  K 59 

Porter,  John  H 605 

Potter,  John  William.. 643 


9 

Q 
ft 


R 


Ramsey,   B.    F 609 

Rasmussen,  J.  C 658 

Redecker,  B.  Henry 403 

Reed,  Helen  W 457 

Reeves,  L-  H 460 

Reid,  David  0 .334 

Reticker,  John  M 667 

Rettig,  Martin 615 

Reynolds, H.G 712 

Reynolds,  E.  P.,  Sr 446 

Reynolds,  James 358 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Reynolds,  William 599 

Rice,  CM 345 

Ricketts,  Anthony '  --352 

Richardson,  David 604 

tfinck,  William 447 

Robertson,  James 664 

Robinson,  James  F 404 

Robinson,  Thomas  J 480 

Robinson,  Winthrop 264 

Rodman,  Gen.  T.  J 655 

Rogers,  Dr.  E.  E 488 

Rosenfield,  Morris. 265 

Ruge,  Wm.  A.  F 464 

Runge,  Wm 31 : 


I 


■^g^ — ©A4*llfl»>^9 — :s^L 


816 


-*€£*: &7<fflmti> 


INDEX. 


(L 


P 


& 


Samuelson,  John 534 

Sayre,  A.  L  s73 

Schafer,  Charles  F 392 

Schafer,  John 229 

Schillinger,  Martin.. 338 

Schlueter,  Peter 664 

Schmid,  Carl  August -  ..662 

Schoon maker,  M 219 

Schroeder,  William  F 507 

Seaberg,  Charles  C 280 

Sear],  Ambrose 56S 

Searl,  J.  A 648 

Sears,  David  B 451 

Sears.   George  W 398 

Sears,  William 397 

Segur,  Gustavus  N. 415 

Seiver,  Jacob   A 322 

Sexton,  Jared 66S 

Shaffer,   Andrew  C 612 

Shall,  John 410 

Shallene,  John  A 628 

Shaw,    Fred 554 

Shaw,  James 349 

Sheldon,   Rev.  James -583 

Shepard,  Nathan ....632 

Shurtleff,  H.  S 621 

Silvis,  Richard  S 389 

Silvis,  Thomas  S 508 

Simmon,  Phillip. 622 

Simonson,  J.  W 617 

Simpson,  Thomas 427 

Sinnet,  Alanson 331 

Sinnet.  Francis  M 625 

Skidmore,  Dr .  Luther  W.    . . .  472 

Skinner,  Orrin 541 

Skinner,  Porter 501 

Sleight,  H.  O 499 

Sloan,  Samuel 493 

Sloan,  W.  K.,  M.  D 324 

Small,   Dr.  James  L 506 

Smith,  Ezra..    528 

Smith,  James  W 340 


Ashdown,  Henry 286 

Atkinson,  Charles 645 

Augustana  College 761 

Barnard,  H.   A 237 

Boggess,  Henry  C 249 

Bowles,  Madison 309 

Bowles,  Samuel ...  .475 

Cook,  William 249 

Cozad,  Dr-   James.. 297 

Davenport,  Bailey 196-7 

Deere,  John 210-n 

Dimock,  D.    C 483 

Edgington,  Daniel --349 




Smith,  John  S 632 

Spencer,  E  .  W 499 

Spencer,  J.  W 545 

Stafford,  S.L 526 

Stanley,  Clifton 567 

Stark,   Dr.  J.  W 392 

Starkey,  Joseph 500 

Stephens,  George-... 229 

Stewart,  Jacob,  M.  D 332 

Stoddard,    H     P    633 

Stuart,  Dr.  F 386 

Sundin,  Charles 600 

Swain,  Nathan 526 

Swensson,  Gustaf 427 

Swisher,  S.  L 239 


Taylor,  James 554 

Taylor,  S.  C 664 

Taylor,  Zachary 03 

Tew,  James 352 

Thede,  William  C 516 

Thomas,  Henry  F 286 

Thompson,  D.  \V 533 

Thulin,  Charles  G 661 

Tindall,  John 652 

Tindall,  Joseph  F 653 

Tindall,  W.  P 558 

Titterington,  Charles 301 

Titterington,  Moses 302 

Toothaker,  George  D 534 

Torpin,  Richard 539 

Towndrow,  B.  R. ,  Sr 617 

Trent,  Henry  C 302 

Truesdale,  Dr.  C 652 

Tubbs,    Parker  N 565 

Turner,  Elihu 515 

Turner,  Wm.  H 573 

Twigg,  Wm-  M.,  M.  D 56o 

Tyler,  John 55 

Tyrrell,   Nathan  C 495 


Elliott,  L.  C 275 

Einfeldt,  Z 399 

Fort  Armstrong 261 

Foster,  J.  H 297 

Hines,  T.  S 27s 

H uber,  Ignatz 517 

Killing,  Wm 443 

Marshall,  W.  G 373 

McEniry,  Wm 5&1 

Montgomery,  Daniel 657 

Montgomery,   R.  S 657 

Moore,  Gilpin 505 

Osborn,  Fred -  -301 


u 

t*  hi  man,  Wm 593 

Underwood,  James  R 434 

v 

Van  Buren,  Martin 47 

Van  Horn,  James 395 

Velie,  Stephen  H 604 

Venable,  James 240 

Vieriech,   Henry 531 

Vincent,   George,  M.  D 521 

Vitzthum,  Casper 609 

Vogel,  John  C 448 

w 

Wajner,  ( reorge 260 

Wain wright,   Isaac 631 

Wain wright,  Isaac 514 

Wait, William 308 

Waite,  C  B ..712 

Walker,   George  W 265 

Walker,    Rufus 378 

Warman,    E 324 

Warnock,  David 351 

Warnock,  John 252 

Warr.    J.  W    290 

Washington,  George 19 

Waters,  Chester  C 259 

Weatherhead,  D.  A 579 

W  eaiherhead,  Ira 398 

Weaver,  George 654 

Weaver,  George  W 650 

Weaver,  Jacob  M 612 

Weaver,  John 594 

Webb,  I).  J 486 

Webber,  Christopher  C. .. 215 

Webster,  Wm.  D 574 

Weckel,  Adolph 641 

Weidner,  Prof.  R.  F 465 

Welch,  Wm.   C 616 


Wells,  Albert 547 

Wells,  Edgar 478 

Wells,   Rinnah 425 

Wendel,  Frederick 654 

Westerberg,   Dr.  Fredrik 242 

Wheelock,  A.  H 640 

Wheelock,  Chapin  A 597 

Wheelock,  Everett 263 

Wheelock,  Lucius  P 366 

Wheelock,  Stillman   W 219 

Wheelock,  Theodore  D 540 

Whipple,  Henry  0 519 

White,  Marvel  H 245 

White  Cloud,  Indian  Prophet.678 

Whiteside,  Samuel 628 

Williams,   Alfred 277 

Williams,  Daniel  P 574 

Wilson,  Jacob  M 651 

Wilson,  John  H 507 

Wilson,  Lewis 283 

Winter,  Basilius.. 266 

Wistrand,  Jonas  H 258 

Wixon,  John 559 

Womacks,  Alvin  T... 338 

Womacks,  W.  H 359 

Wood,  John 155 

Wray,  John  E . 650 

Wright,  ArthurS.... 350 

Y 

Vates,  Richard 159 

Youngren,  Louis  P 299 

z 

Zeigler,  N.  R 541 

Zeigler,  Samuel  M 584 

Ziegler,  David 306 

Ziegler,  Emile  E   465 

Ziegler,  Henry 326 

Ziegler,  Jacob 548 

Zimmerman,  Daniel 426 

Zimmerman,  J.  Wr 584 

Zollinger,  John 390 


Palmer,  J.  F 

Parks,   J.   H 

Parks,  W.    H.    Jr. 
Pearsall,  L.  S.... 
Peaisall,  Jere 


336 

387 

387 

503 

436 

Pearsall,   Robert  E 665 

Pearsall,  W.   W 555 

Peterson,   John  A 275 

Rock  Island 725 

Sevier,  Jacob  A 399 

Shall,  John 411 

Shaw,  James 349 

Simonson,  J.   W 286 


— — 


A^reiiD?^^ — 


Sinnet,  Alanson 267 

Sinnet,  F.   M 297 

Spencer,  J.  W 267 

Stoddard,  H.  P 336 

Taylor,  James 555 

Taylor,  Samuel  C 665 

Twigg,  Dr-  Wm.   M 297 

Wagner,    George 261 

Warman,    E 349 

Weatherhead,  Mrs.  Jane  M..399 

Wheelock,  5.   W 224-5 

Zeigler,  Samuel  M 275 


INDEX. 


<k 


I 


XL 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John   Quincy 38 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Atkinson,  Charles 644 

Bartlett,  J.   W   570 

Battersby,  Richard 462 

Berg,  John  A.  P 648 

Beveridge,  John  L 170 

Bissell,  Wm.   H 150 

Black  Hawk 684 

Bond,  Shadrach no 

Bowles,  Madison, 380 

Bowles,  Mrs.    Rebecca....  -..381 

Bowles,  Samuel   -474 

Browning,  J.  T 430 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Caldwell,  Wm 537 

Caldwell,  Mrs.  Lydia  W 536 

Carlin,  Thomas 134 

Carlsson,  Rev.   Erl 614 

Chester,  Nelson 256 

Cleaveland,  H.   C 660 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 102 

Coles,  Edward 114 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 

Davenport,  Bailey 342 


PORTRAIT? 


A©i^& 


Davenport,  Col-   George 188 

Danforth,  J.    B 636 

Deere,  John 204 

Dimock,  D   C 482 

Duncan,  Joseph 130 

Dunlap,  Adolphus 418 

Edwards,  Geo.  H 550 

Edwards,  Ninian 11S 

Einfeldt,  Z . .    . .  394 

Ewing,  Wm.  L.  D 126 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 

Fish,  L.   E 292 

Flagler,  Col.  D.  W 316 

Ford,  Thomas 138 

Franklin,  J.  G 602 

French,  Augustus   C 142 

Garfield,  James  A 94 

Gillmore.  J.   S-    524 

Gould,  J.  M. 468 

Grant,   Ulysses  S      86 

Haines,  Dan 530 

Hamilton,  John  M 178 

Harrison,  Wm.  H so 

Hasselquist,   Rev.  T.  N 652 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 90 

Hayes,  Wm 322 


Heald,  C.  W 368 

Huntoon,  Jonathan 576 

Jackson,  Andrew.    42 

Jefferson,  Thomas 26 

Johnson,   Andrew 82 

Keator,  J  .   S 406 

Killing,  Wm 442 

Knox,   E.  B 304 

Lincoln,  Abraham 7° 

Madison,  James -   30 

Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

Mathews,  Dr.    J.    S 511 

Mathews,  Mrs.   Mary  J 510 

McCain,  Levi 35s 

McCain,    Mrs.  Harriett 354 

McCandless,    John 232 

Monroe,   James 34 

Morgan,    J  .  W 424 

Oglesby,  Ricnard  J 162 

Palmer,  John  M 166 

Pearsall,  Wm-   C 588 

Pearsall,   Mrs.  Jane 589 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk,  James  K 58 

Ramsey,  B.    F 608 


Reed,  Mrs.    Helen  W 456 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Sears,  D.  B 450 

Shaw,  James ....348 

Shurtleff,  H.  S 620 

Sin  net,  Alanson 328 

Sin  net,   Mrs.  Pauline  E 329 

Sinnet,   Mrs.    Julia  A 332 

Sleight,  H.  O 498 

Sloan,  Samuel 491 

Sloan,  Mrs.    Mary 490 

Spencer,  J.   W     544 

T  ay  lor,  Zachary 62 

Tubbs,  Parker  N 562 

Tubbs,   Mrs-   Hester  A 563 

Tyler,  John 54 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Wainwright,  Isaac. 630 

Washington,  George 18 

Wheelock,  S.   W 218 

White  Cloud 680 

White,  Marvel  H 244 

Wilson,  Lewis 282 

Wood,  John 154 

Yates,  Richard 158 


|||l|  HISTORICAL  ' 


(5 


Ci) 


INTRODUCTORY 
INDIAN  HISTORY 
Black  Hawk  War 
EARLY  SETTLERS 
CIVIL  GOVERNMENT 

Acts  of  the  Co.  Com'rs 
Acts  of  the  Co.  Court 

LEGAL  HISTORY 
Circuit  Court 
Criminal  Cases 

THE  BAR 

?Kr*v  •:■•  — 


671 

673 
677 

686 

687 
688 
693 
694 
694 
694-9 

699 


POLITICAL  7°° 

Representation  in  High 

Offices  7°2 

County  Officers  704 

WAR  FOR  THE  UNION  706 

Soldiers'  Monument  708 

THE  PRESS  709 

Illinois  Cultivator  709 

Upper  Mississippian  7  10 

Northwestern  Advertiser  7  1 1 

Rock  Island  Advertiser  712 

Liberty  Banner  7  1 2 


Rock  Island  Argus  7  13 
Daily  Argus  714 
Rock  Islander  714 
Daily  News  7 15 
Commercial  7  1 6 
Rock  Island  Register  716 
Rock  Island  Union  716 
American  Law  Reporter  718 
Liberty  League  718 
Beobachter  am  Mississip- 
pian 7 '  & 
Chronik  des  Westens  718 
Neue  Volks-Zeitung  719 
Moline  Workman  719 


<«» 


">'l 


liihrmtm* 


;<*?&, 


1 


^ 


-?y 


? 


(   ) 

> 


I 

J 


818 


INDEX. 


m'&? 


^ ■#@§K@Yfffi§ 


Moline  Independent 

720 

Mercantile  Licenses 

736 

Hampton 

800 

Moline  Citizen 

720 

County  Poor 

736 

Port  Byron 

805 
809 
810 

Moline  Republican 

720 

Geographical    and  Tope 

>- 

Rural 

Moline  Review 

721 

graphical 

739 

South  Moline 

Moline  Review-Dispatcl 

721 

Agricultural  Societies 

740 

South  Rock  Island 

810 

Swedish  Citizen 

721 

Pioneer  Association 

740 

Zuma 

811 

Daily  Republican 

722 

Marriages 

74i 

Port  Byron  Messenger 

722 

Statistical 

741 

CITIES  AJMD  VILLAGES : 

Port  Byron  Times 

722 

Black      Hawk's      Watch 

Andalusia 

783 
804 

Port  Byron  Weekly 

722 

Tower 

74i 

Barstow 

Port  Byron  Globe 

723 

CITY  OF  ROCK  ISLAND 

749 

Carbon  Cliff 

804 

People's  Friend 
Milan  Record 
ISLAND     OF    ROCK    ISL 

7^3 
723 

AUGTSTANA  COLLEGE 
CITY  OF  MOLINE 

760 
764 

Coal  Valley 

Cordova 

Edgington 

789 
792 

798 
802 

ANli 

724 

TOWNSHIPS. 

Hampton 

National  Arsenal 

724 

Andalusia 

781 

Illinois  City 

787 

RAILROADS 

732 

Black  Hawk 

783 

Milan 

785 

C,  B.  &Q. 

732 
733 
734 
734 
7  ?4 

Bowling 

793 

Moline 

764 

C.,R.  I.  &  P. 

Buffalo  Prairie 

786 

Port  Byron 

807 

P.  &  R.  I. 

Canoe  Creek 

787 

Rapids  City- 

801? 

R.  I.  &  Mer.  Co. 

Coal  Valley 

789 

Reynolds 

798 

C,  M.  &  St.  P. 

Coe 

791 

Rock  Island 

744 

Cordova 

792 

Sears 

811 

MISCELLANEOUS 

735 

Drury 

794 

Taylor  Ridge 

798 

Bridges 

73S 

Edgington 

795 

Watertown 

804 

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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM  OF  ROCK 


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30112 


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